What do the people really want? I am feeling a little dizzy these days when I hear politicians talking about billion dollar bailouts for Corporations. I think about my life in the 1980’s, fresh out of high school, and our elected officials were recklessly slashing the student aid programmes to ensure fiscal prudence. Jump forward to today, and these same voices that were calling for more free market and less government interference, are the first in line to collect state handouts, commonly known as the taxpayers money. Just as there are conditions put on the poor when they have to turn to the state for assistance, it seems only logical that there be conditions in place to ensure the Corporations are not receiving benefits that they are not entitled to.
If you apply for a student loan in BC and you have ever declared bankruptcy, you are ineligible. So it should also be for any government assistance to any company. If the company or it’s directors have ever declared bankruptcy, they should be ineligible. Fair is fair. Although I feel that the idea of preventing people from receiving further education due to their economic history is unreasonable, I think it should apply homogenously to all those wishing to access government funds.
I look forward to the day when all of the worlds citizens can enjoy the prospect of higher education based on desire not financial ability. I look forward to the day when sexual orientation is a deeply private matter and society can show all people respect for and admiration of personal values. Looking forward is all we have in times like these.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
BC and the Millennium Ponzi fiasco
With all the recent revelations regarding the development company Millennium and their financing problems with regards to the Vancouver Olympic Athletes Village, I feel there must be not only a audit of the Vancouver deal, but close scrutiny has to be given to all of this companies dealings.
They have several projects in Southwestern BC that warrant further investigation. Both their project in West Vancouver behind the Park Royal Shopping Centre and their Nanaimo Hotel project must be studied. I predict that the results of any such investigation will show several things.
I believe that both the West Van and Nanaimo projects were used by Millennium to finance the Olympic Village Project. In the case of Nanaimo, Millennium received land valued in the millions of dollars from the City for the paltry sum of $10 bucks. Furthermore the ponzi game was supported by the City of Nanaimo by paying management fees to Millennium for non-existent work. Sure the Nanaimo politicians claim that they have the right to get back any monies advanced if the deal does not go forward. But one must ask, “...do they actually have any money of their own?” Chances are no!
I think the old adage that if the price seems too good it probably is not a prudent investment applies here. There has to be an end to the continued corporate schemes where all the profits are private and all the risk is public. We have to demand complete transparency in all projects where the taxpayer is used as collateral. If these types of deals cannot be made transparent, I think the obvious is clear. The deal is crooked from inception and the public pays the price. A price that results in the further erosion of the social safety net, as monies for much needed programmes are diverted to cover bad financial decisions, as well as the continued loss of public confidence in the entire political process. A process that smells more rotten with each passing day.
Friday, January 2, 2009
There are other limits to growth..
I have always been suspicous of the mantra of growth. I had a feeling that no one wanted to address the fact we cannot continue to fill up the planet with people and garbage and toxic emmisions. I am happy to say I am not alone.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Economic Survival Plan (ESP)
Simple, short and effective. Every Canadian Citizen, will, for the next twelve months, receive a $2000 monthly payment. If you make more than $35,000 per year, it will be progressively taxed to ensure it gets to those whom need it the most. Simple.
This programme will run for one year only. Short.
As the lower income earners all know, this money would enter the economy almost completely, as there is little or no room for most to squirrel away their money. People could spend this money to buy a car, thus bailing out the auto industry. Or they could choose to spend it on housing, thus bailing out the housing industry. Or they may decide to invest in more education and go back to school, thus bailing out the education sector. What matters here is that the PEOPLE would decide where to put OUR hard earned tax dollars. The politicians would then be able to see where we chose to put our money and they could then craft legislation to reflect these investment choices made by Canadians. Effective.
Karl Marx felt that the underclass, the majority, would need the direction of the Party during the first stages of the revolution. I have turned this on its head and called on the population to direct the Governments policy. Canadians would have to start thinking about their collective desires and dreams and engage in responsible political behavior, voting to start with, wise consumer choices to follow.
Fine print...this offer requires that in order to be eligible, Canadian Citizens would have to register to vote and include proof of this in their application for the programme.
follow a discussion here; forum
This programme will run for one year only. Short.
As the lower income earners all know, this money would enter the economy almost completely, as there is little or no room for most to squirrel away their money. People could spend this money to buy a car, thus bailing out the auto industry. Or they could choose to spend it on housing, thus bailing out the housing industry. Or they may decide to invest in more education and go back to school, thus bailing out the education sector. What matters here is that the PEOPLE would decide where to put OUR hard earned tax dollars. The politicians would then be able to see where we chose to put our money and they could then craft legislation to reflect these investment choices made by Canadians. Effective.
Karl Marx felt that the underclass, the majority, would need the direction of the Party during the first stages of the revolution. I have turned this on its head and called on the population to direct the Governments policy. Canadians would have to start thinking about their collective desires and dreams and engage in responsible political behavior, voting to start with, wise consumer choices to follow.
Fine print...this offer requires that in order to be eligible, Canadian Citizens would have to register to vote and include proof of this in their application for the programme.
follow a discussion here; forum
Monday, December 1, 2008
I am a coalitionist !
Democracy is very basic. Each person gets one vote. The people whom receive the majority of these votes, have the right to form a government and make laws and policies. If the individual voter is not satisfied with these decisions, they can vote for the people whom offer policies more to their liking.
When no one receives a majority of votes, the candidates work out agreements and policies, that will allow coalitions to form . These can be informal, such as Harper’s last minority Government, or formal, like the various coalition Governments found throughout Western Democratic history. Israel, Italy and Spain are a few recent examples.
For the Canadian Conservatives like Stephen Harper, to scream out the socialists are coming, or to call the formation of a coalition government an undemocratic power grab, is nonsense, pure and simple, not to mention hypocritical(see above). We must always work together using clear rules and procedures, which are pragmatic in their conception. Governments that show the ability to work with their opposition are exactly what we need to foster. These coalitions ensure all sides of the political democracy are given a platform to express their ideas and to contribute constructive criticisms, not cheap political shots.
Perhaps Steve should pick up the phone and call the leader of the Opposition to inquire whether he would be interested in forming a coalition. This might be the only way Harper can remain in power, at a time we need to concentrate on the economy ‘stupid’. Calling an election now or having Dion the non leader as PM are not realistic options.
Let the Cons work with the NDP and the Liberals, in a coalition, for the next while. The Liberals are having a helm change in May and the coalition could have a best before date sometime in 2010, after the Liberals have formulated policy under their new leader and the NDP has had a chance to show it can work within a coalition of opposites. Thus reducing the Cons favorite battle cry of “the commies are coming” to a more reasonable,
“social democrats are kinda just like a gentle and strong person, one that looks out for the rest of us.
When no one receives a majority of votes, the candidates work out agreements and policies, that will allow coalitions to form . These can be informal, such as Harper’s last minority Government, or formal, like the various coalition Governments found throughout Western Democratic history. Israel, Italy and Spain are a few recent examples.
For the Canadian Conservatives like Stephen Harper, to scream out the socialists are coming, or to call the formation of a coalition government an undemocratic power grab, is nonsense, pure and simple, not to mention hypocritical(see above). We must always work together using clear rules and procedures, which are pragmatic in their conception. Governments that show the ability to work with their opposition are exactly what we need to foster. These coalitions ensure all sides of the political democracy are given a platform to express their ideas and to contribute constructive criticisms, not cheap political shots.
Perhaps Steve should pick up the phone and call the leader of the Opposition to inquire whether he would be interested in forming a coalition. This might be the only way Harper can remain in power, at a time we need to concentrate on the economy ‘stupid’. Calling an election now or having Dion the non leader as PM are not realistic options.
Let the Cons work with the NDP and the Liberals, in a coalition, for the next while. The Liberals are having a helm change in May and the coalition could have a best before date sometime in 2010, after the Liberals have formulated policy under their new leader and the NDP has had a chance to show it can work within a coalition of opposites. Thus reducing the Cons favorite battle cry of “the commies are coming” to a more reasonable,
“social democrats are kinda just like a gentle and strong person, one that looks out for the rest of us.
Free the Train!
Trains for our City!
Here in Nanaimo, the time has come to seriously consider the implementation of a major transit policy directional change,. We are fortunate to have, running the entire length of our City, an accessible track system. Moreover, due to its present under utilization, we can easily establish a local green energy powered transit system that will benefit everyone in the City.
Today we could buy several used train coaches and put them into service, going from the north to the south and all stops in between. This would allow us to synchronize our road based transit, with these trains and it would reduce congestion on the busy north south road corridors of Nanaimo. Benefiting even those whom do not use public transit, by reducing the number of transit vehicles going north and south. These trains would be small, efficient and frequent. Future coaches, would be sourced on island, from the shipbuilding and heavy industry sectors, both presently underutilized and high motivated with an excellent workforce skill set..
To move people east and west, small, fuel efficient van type vehicles, like those in Vancouver, would be used. In areas and times of high peak travel, such as the Vancouver Island University routes, large conventional buses would continue to move large numbers of passengers. The trick here is to gather the rider ship data and carefully plan around the evident patterns that emerge.
I feel it is time we all came onboard to foster real discussion and initiatives. Low start up costs, we have the tracks, excellent benefits to the local and regional economies, more money available for other City projects as we realize the savings from our transit efficiency programs, are just a few of the benefits we could manifest. What do you think?
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