I left a “What’s on your mind” on facebook about
British Columbia politics
2010 Winter Olympics
22% cut to our library system
$50,000 grant to our island for a ½ day olympic torch relay party
…let me explain my thoughts in more detail…
My Perspective
I work with the mentally ill and severely addicted (usually from trauma – residential school survivors – fasd…etc…), so I see the lack of services available for my clients. We’re extremely isolated here, and unfortunately the money that does come in is taken by corrupt politicians (as is too common in politics) leaving a community inundated with sexual abuse, heavy drug use, extreme alcoholism etc…
The Athletes
yes yes…the olympic athletes are incredible, and their dedication and discipline is something to be admired…we can all learn from that determination…
BUT…
well, does that justify the government cutting back on social service programs and hobnob with the corporations to help pick up the olympic tab…do the olympics help the local economy? Ask Montreal, QC…anyway doesn't the old saying go something like this:
“A society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate,”
British Columbia politics
2010 Winter Olympics
22% cut to our library system
$50,000 grant to our island for a ½ day olympic torch relay party
…let me explain my thoughts in more detail…
My Perspective
I work with the mentally ill and severely addicted (usually from trauma – residential school survivors – fasd…etc…), so I see the lack of services available for my clients. We’re extremely isolated here, and unfortunately the money that does come in is taken by corrupt politicians (as is too common in politics) leaving a community inundated with sexual abuse, heavy drug use, extreme alcoholism etc…
The Athletes
yes yes…the olympic athletes are incredible, and their dedication and discipline is something to be admired…we can all learn from that determination…
BUT…
well, does that justify the government cutting back on social service programs and hobnob with the corporations to help pick up the olympic tab…do the olympics help the local economy? Ask Montreal, QC…anyway doesn't the old saying go something like this:
“A society is judged by how it treats it’s least fortunate,”
NOT
“A society is judged by how it treats it’s athletes.”
ALSO
what’s more important to our culture? Literacy? The Arts? Music? nope…
it’s fucking beer-sponsored sporting events…and hey, if these sporting events don’t have any government backing, then more power to everyone!
Go Cats Go!!
Have fun…but don’t ignore the least fortunate to satiate the middle to upper classes…
Politics and Politicians
The politicians talk a lot about the importance of education – but they don’t fucking back it up…if Coca-Cola (and I’m an addicted coke drinker) would donate more to the public education system, including libraries, maybe that would get the attention of politicians.
anyway...
politics shouldn’t be about money and profit…it should be about balance, smart finances, and allowing everybody (including the ostracized) an opportunity to better themselves…to reach their potential…whatever that may be…
ALSO
what’s more important to our culture? Literacy? The Arts? Music? nope…
it’s fucking beer-sponsored sporting events…and hey, if these sporting events don’t have any government backing, then more power to everyone!
Go Cats Go!!
Have fun…but don’t ignore the least fortunate to satiate the middle to upper classes…
Politics and Politicians
The politicians talk a lot about the importance of education – but they don’t fucking back it up…if Coca-Cola (and I’m an addicted coke drinker) would donate more to the public education system, including libraries, maybe that would get the attention of politicians.
anyway...
politics shouldn’t be about money and profit…it should be about balance, smart finances, and allowing everybody (including the ostracized) an opportunity to better themselves…to reach their potential…whatever that may be…
it may mean going a day or two without booze
it may mean keeping an $8.00/hr job
it may mean taking your medication every day
it may mean running 20 miles a day and studying for your 3rd degree
…whatever…everybody’s potential is different…
so…
when I see a community that’s riddled with so many problems, and they cut library funds by 22% (which many clients & the community rely on) it angers me…have they cut politician expenses by 22%? have they removed bullshit tax loopholes that enable the rich to get richer?
Final Thoughts
I know there are rebuttals out there…
so…
when I see a community that’s riddled with so many problems, and they cut library funds by 22% (which many clients & the community rely on) it angers me…have they cut politician expenses by 22%? have they removed bullshit tax loopholes that enable the rich to get richer?
Final Thoughts
I know there are rebuttals out there…
"oh, it’s good for the community"
"builds community spirit"
"brings tourist dollars in"
(I don’t believe that one for a minute)
"you think $50,000 really makes a difference?"
Well…it’s $53,000 – to be precise it’s $40,000 to our island communities from the province and another $13,000 from Gwaii Trust which is basically taking the money out of the same well...and it’s actually $2.86 million the province is doling out to communities for the fucking torch relay…
...yes, taken into account with 22% in library cuts I do think it makes a difference…
Well…it’s $53,000 – to be precise it’s $40,000 to our island communities from the province and another $13,000 from Gwaii Trust which is basically taking the money out of the same well...and it’s actually $2.86 million the province is doling out to communities for the fucking torch relay…
...yes, taken into account with 22% in library cuts I do think it makes a difference…
"libraries can’t expect the government to keep forking over money"
…well, they do get money from other sources, but it would be a shame to deny anybody the opportunity to use public computers or god forbid, to take a book out and read for enjoyment, because they can’t afford the new fees put in place…which is where I think this is heading…
I believe that there are so many more vital, important things the government could be spending money on –
I believe that there are so many more vital, important things the government could be spending money on –
in our community? let’s see???
a group home, a teen centre - the one here is in a building that should be condemned - if you want sports – how about equipment for the rec centre – a swimming pool – public transportation – a recovery house for people returning from treatment – a full-time psychiatrist (hopefully a good one - instead of coming on-island once every 3 months) – more services for sexual abuse victims...
This is my personal viewpoint, my gut feeling.
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Let's Talk About the U.S.A
and on a somewhat related note…this whole Acorn bizness in the good ol US fucking A…
alright, I’ll even grant you that it’s a crooked organization
This is my personal viewpoint, my gut feeling.
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Let's Talk About the U.S.A
and on a somewhat related note…this whole Acorn bizness in the good ol US fucking A…
alright, I’ll even grant you that it’s a crooked organization
(I don’t know and really don’t care, that’s not my point)
BUT
it’s "supposed" to be an organization that helps the least fortunate with tax advice
(I won’t pretend to know much about it, but they are “supposed” to be dealing with the people in the underbelly of it’s society),
YET
the rich corporations don’t go to an organization like Acorn for it’s tax advice on how to find tax loopholes…they hire high-priced fucking lawyers to find these loopholes and keep millions, if not billions of dollars in the hands of the mega corporations…
...and a network like FOX (Fucking Obnoxious Xenophobes) continues to perpetuate this myth of the US being a land for the working middle class…if they could show just a little bit of humanity and compassion for the fuck-ups in society,
well,
it would be a hell of a lot nicer and influential country than it currently is…
ALSO
there are fantastic big-hearted people who do try to change things for the better, but so many people are duped by the "news" they’re fed every night and the fears instilled into them that it’s hard for them to believe anything else…
Amen.
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Further Study
I didn't even talk about the homeless and the olympics!! Check out Megaphone Magazine (Vancouver's Street Paper) for more research.
http://www.megaphonemagazine.com/
Some more insight:
http://mostlywater.org/why_we_resist_2010_winter_olympics
And some scary insight:
http://oilsandstruth.org/topics/2010-olympics
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Amen.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Further Study
I didn't even talk about the homeless and the olympics!! Check out Megaphone Magazine (Vancouver's Street Paper) for more research.
http://www.megaphonemagazine.com/
Some more insight:
http://mostlywater.org/why_we_resist_2010_winter_olympics
And some scary insight:
http://oilsandstruth.org/topics/2010-olympics
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