Don’t vote for change for the sake of change
Re: “The quakes that led to a seismic shift in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ politics ahead of provincial election,” Sept. 1.
It’s understandable that BC United Leader Kevin Falcon would justify his unilateral decision to dissolve ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ United and endorse the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Conservatives, as doing “the right thing, for our party and province.”
But Joe Biden he’s not.
Falcon went from criticizing Conservatives for being a party of anti-science, extremists, to surrendering to John Rustad, who still appears to believe that carbon dioxide emissions don’t contribute to climate change.
Is it the “right thing” to vote for a party that refuses to accept the that the unbridled burning of fossil fuels will lead to a cataclysmic future, for our children and grandchildren?
A party whose “energy and environment policy” is to expand fossil fuel production, and build pipelines to sustain the global consumption of oil and gas?
How does that inspire trust that Conservatives will respond wisely to other critical challenges, like homelessness, addiction, and access to health care?
I can find fault with a number of policy decisions made by the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ NDP. But I’m far from convinced that voting for change, for change’s sake, is the right thing to do.
Ira Shorr
Victoria
Leaving the voter with nowhere to go
Re: “The quakes that led to a seismic shift in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ politics ahead of provincial election,” Sept. 1.
Interesting read regarding the implosion that Kevin Falcon has created. To say it has thrown a spanner in the works is an understatement.
So, here is how this regular Joe sees it.
Despite how many times Falcon said it, saying you get the anger and disappointment and take full blame for it is small comfort.
What he has done, without consultation with the very people who backed him and his inconceivable rebranding, is disenfranchised a very sizable voting block of citizens.
He is working hard on the sidelines to elect a party that was tinfoil-hat-worthy on one day and then the best choice the next day.
I am not affiliated with any party however, I am a bit of a politics junkie and with a looming election I was fully in on being up to date with policy and (lack of) platforms of all the actors in this upcoming vote.
It was neither necessary nor brave for Falcon to quit. A look in the mirror is all he needed to see the reason for flagging polling numbers.
Bottom line, I’m left with nowhere to go. I could no more back the NDP as I could this sudden bastion of sober thought (to believe Falcon) ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Conservatives.
For me, the NDP are bullies within municipal jurisdiction and weak on forestry and the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Cons are not Triple A ready, let alone major league.
I can only hope some United candidates stay in the race, it could be the balance of power difference (how ironic). Let the courts look at it too.
I will always exercise my franchise no matter what, but this time my ballot has already been spoiled by Falcon and his decision to quit.
Murray Ostler
Campbell River
Business community is a political force
Re: “The quakes that led to a seismic shift in ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ politics ahead of provincial election,” Sept. 1.
The most important item in that story was a throw-away line: “... a withdrawal of endorsements and donations from the business community.”
In 1991 a college teacher named Gordon Wilson took over the reins of a moribund ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Liberal Party, which had not elected anyone in 12 years.
During a leaders’ debate he wiped out the Social Credit party and made the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Liberals the opposition.
In almost no time Wilson got a phone call from an influential member of the business community, who said, essentially, “Well done! Now, here’s what we hope you’ll do.”
And Wilson said, “Who are you and why should I do what you want? You didn’t support my party during the election.”
Again, in no time at all, the press was full of stories about Wilson’s “affair” with one of his newly elected MLAs, Judy Tyabji, both having had marital problems at the time.
Wilson was forced from the leadership, which was taken by Gordon Campbell, then mayor of Vancouver.
It was common knowledge that “the business community” had arranged to get a leader with whom they do business.
Some things don’t change.
Ian Cameron
Brentwood Bay
Meet the new party, same as the old party
Seems to me that the BC United has just made another name change! First it was the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Liberals then it was the BC United party, reportedly because of their unpopular past record.
Then a dispute sees John Rustad kicked out of the party by leader Kevin Falcon.
So Rustad finds a new political home with one other guy to become a party of two, the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Conservative party.
Then as other BC United (Liberal) members who don’t like or didn’t think they had a chance with Falcon started to jump to the “new” Conservative party.
So as the BC United begins to sink, Falcon decides it’s time to beat the rest of his members and join with his old nemesis Rustad, actually joining members of his old Liberal party.
What we really have is just a series of name changes, from ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Liberals to BC United to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Conservatives.
Maybe it soon will become the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ United Conservatives. Why not? It’s all the same people, just a different name.
The problem is that on Oct. 19, voters will only have a choice between the NDP and the ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Conservatives, in reality mostly the same old Liberals who’ve jumped ship.
Can you imagine the infighting of the new Conservatives who won’t know if their constituents’ views are Conservative or Liberal.
Certainly not a good situation for taxpayers. As for the Greens, they seem to be left in the dust again, missing a great opportunity.
After the election I expect we will see a continuation of the NDP government, since there is no other real choice.
But at least the NDP (like them or not), seem to know who they are.
Shan O’Hara
Langford
Beyond the spending, what about drug policies
Re: “Kevin Falcon: He sacrificed for the greater good,” editorial, Aug. 31.
Apart from the important negative issues Premier David Eby and the NDP have brought upon the province as outlined in the editorial, it should be noted that Eby is still crisscrossing the province promising billions of borrowed dollars on any project that moves.
A Skytrain system from Surrey to Langley has doubled in cost to some $6 billion, and will be years late, and it is business as usual for the NDP.
That type of financial incompetence is commonplace with the NDP. Massive debt and deficits with not a comment on balance.
But for all the missteps, the true social disaster across the province has been the “decriminalization” of drugs.
All Eby had to do was travel to Portland, Oregon, along with many local reporters, to find what a disaster such a policy would enact in not only primarily in our larger cities, but in every corner of the province.
Drug taking even in public places like school areas and parks and untouched by police
But Eby came from managing the Lower Mainland anti-police, free drug empire, the Pivot Society, so decriminalization and free drugs is part of his socialist mentality.
And the NDP paradigm has spread, so we have anti-police school boards, out-of-control spending municipal governments such as Saanich, Victoria and Langford, addicted health authorities like Fraser Health mailing drugs and paraphernalia to unfortunate addicts, and addicts interfering with the proper functioning of emergency wards.
At every level of governance, Eby and his government epitomize sheer incompetence.
Thanks to the courage of Falcon there will be competition, in order to bring some common sense leadership and balance to ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½
H.J. Rice
Victoria
Thanks for columns by Geoff Johnson
On the eve of our children’s return to school, college and university, what a welcome return of columnist Geoff Johnson and his thought-provoking examination of our public education system.
Always well researched and ahead of the curve, his insightful analysis and pragmatic approach to this and any subject he writes about are always worth reading.
I’m very pleased to see his work again.
Carolyn M. Brady
Brentwood Bay
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