Bc's confusing politics

I believe that many voters in BC are faced with a difficult choice in the next provincial elections. We have a choice from among three political parties, the ruling Liberal party, the NDP and the  untested Conservative party. The polls show that the Liberal party is no longer the popular choice of the majority of voters. The NDP are  by far the leaders in the polls. The Conservatives are led by a man of unknown quality formerly active in the Federal government.
Should I vote for the NDP who brought economic disaster during their previous terms in office. Is Adrian Dix  any better than previous leaders of the NDP with a policy of tax and spend? Is he a radical social democrat? Can Christie Clark regain the confidence of BC voters?
This is the dilemma that I face as a voter in the next Provincial elections.

Environmentalists/scaremongers

When I hear the outcry from environmentalists about the proposed pipeline to Kitimat, I wonder what is behind this outburst to protect the environment.These protectors of nature do not seem to be individuals voicing their own convinced opinions, but rather people with a lot of money behind them. What about the number of working men who cannot find jobs? For them this project would open the door to employment. What about the economy of our country that needs in the present economic downturn a means to bring about an upturn?

Environmentalists talk about accidents that could cause disasters to our pristine waters. Do they remember what happened in the second world war?

How many ships were torpedoed by German u-boats in the English Channel, in the Atlantic ocean and the Mediterranean? Yet, tourists still enjoy the beauty of the beaches of the English coast, the magnificent coastline of Normandy and the numerous Mediterranean resorts. Hundreds of ships sank with their cargo of oil, but nature seems to have its own way of repairing the damage.

Occupation Vancouver

What message did the occupiers send out to us in Vancouver? It is certainly not very clear whether they knew themselves what they wanted to tell us. We did hear in a garbled way that they were protesting the economic inequalities that exist in our society. But did they present any solution to these inequalities? I cannot remember any solution presented by the occupiers.What we saw was people camping on the steps of the Art Gallery and being fed and cared for free of charge. I wonder if they were there because they had nothing better to do. Were these the people who received welfare, but were not looking for work?

The reaction of the Mayor of Vancouver was in it self questionable. While the majority of the population were becoming incensed by the lengthy occupation of the Art gallery,the Mayor was in no hurry to end the occupation. Since the municipal elections were about to take place, did he see this as an opportunity to gain votes?

BC Mayors vote for gas tax increase

How little imagination do the BC Mayors show about financing the needs of Translink and building the Evergreeen line. Don't they realize that any increase in the price of gas brings about a corresponding increase in the cost of living. Families in BC are already finding it hard to find the resources to pay for the high cost of food and housing in this province. BC is the most expensive province in Canada.

Isn't there anything else that can be taxed to bring in the funds needed for public transportation?This is the only place in the world where you can walk on to a skytrain without showing that you have paid the required fare. I have been in Paris, London, Barcelona, Montreal and New York,and in all these cities I had to show that I bought a ticket before I could get on public transport.

What else can be taxed ? I suggest that we tax luxury items such as liquor, tobacco and other items that cause disease and conduct that leads to crime. We recently saw the effects of liquor during the hockey cup final. Why don't the Mayors suggest an extra tax on tickets to view these events?

Smart meters beneficial to whom?

Smart meters will cost the BC taxpayer $930 million up front. BC hydro claims that they are safe and will save you money. There is no proof that these meters that emit wireless radiation are safe.

David Carpenter, director of the University of Albany's Institute of health and the Environment, says there is evidence that the exposure to radiofrequency radiation at elevated levels for long periods of time increases the risk of cancer and damage to the nervous system.

Why is the BC government still insisting on this misuse of public funds for something that is of no benefit to the BC taxpayer.? What is certain is that they are benefiting a select group of BC Liberal Party-connected insiders who have been awarded lucrative smart meter contracts.

Former BC Hydro engineer and two term Vision Vancouver councillor, George Chow, questions this program. He does not see how typical residential users will benefit from these meters. The Union of BC Municipalities is also urging the government to suspend this project.

Smart meters is the dumbest idea from this government, a $1-billion waste of money with no benefit to the BC taxpayer.

Unfair taxation

Taxation is usually based on income. The more you earn the higher your rate of taxation. The imposition of the HST in British Columbia is the attempt by the Provincial government to change this method of taxation. Instead of taxing income, taxation will be based on consumption of goods. Taxation will be moved from the wealthiest, and spread over the whole population regardless on how much you earn. Politicians can thus claim that they are lowering taxes on corporations and rich individuals, by making even the poorest section of society subject to taxation on everything that they consume. They claim that the tax savings on rich corporations and individuals will lead to the creation of more jobs.

Are we to believe that wealthy corporations and individuals will use the new found profits for the benefit of society instead of paying out their savings in taxes to themselves and stockholders? There is no proof that the adoption of the HST in other provinces has led to the creation of new jobs.

The HST is an unjust tax that spreads taxation from the richest to the poorest.

Example of too little spending on Seniors

I am working with a group of seniors called the "expansion Committee", who are worried about the current overcrowding in the Cameron Seniors Centre. I have studied the historical reason for this current lack of sufficient space in the building. This study has led me to believe that the local authority responsible for this Seniors Centre and three other centres has not given the financial funding that this centre should have received from the very beginning.

This Seniors Centre was not the product of planning by the city planners. It came about by the work of some senior women, who were convinced that Cameron needed a Seniors Centre. Their hard work resulted, as their numbers grew, in recognition by Victoria of their efforts, by approving

a constitution and Charter. At first, they operated in a room that the Recreation Centre did not need, and today they occupy the entire upper floor of this centre.

The seniors have kept on growing in number, and can now count about 1000 members. In fact the

modifications to the Rec centre have been made by the seniors funding 1/3 of the cost of these

improvements. Now they need more than a few modifications to the building, if their activities are not to stagnate. They are presenting a petition to the City of Burnaby to expand the building.

If you , my blog readers, can use whatever influence you have to help these seniors get what

they want from from the Burnaby City Council, I ask you to do so.