What does it say about us as a society that a science fiction fictional character reflects more common sense on the question of ending homelessness than our so-called leaders. We must make a choice about homelessness – either we end it or we don’t.
As Mr. Philip Mangano’s visit to Abbotsford makes clear, as evidenced by the experience of U.S. cities including some of similar size to Abbotsford, ending homelessness is a matter of our choice.
If we choose to end homelessness then the symptoms that come with homelessness will end and we will have nothing to bitch about; if we choose to not end homelessness then stop bitching about the symptoms – you chose to live with them.
In either case stop bitching. All our “trying” has accomplishing is nothing – except to waste the resources we could bring to bear on ending homelessness.
Our local MLA Mike de Jong was on TV recently, calling NDP leader Carole James ‘hypocritical’ for her stand on the Liberals’ salary and pension bill.
The report also showed de Jong’s leader, Gordon Campbell, decrying ‘gold-plated pensions’ when he was opposition leader.
De Jong is a tad perplexed since James has cleverly managed to put the spotlight back where it belongs – on the greedy and hypocritical Liberals themselves.
Why can’t MLAs be like all other self-respecting workers and go on strike until we, as taxpayers, come up with a reasonable rate of increase for them?
Then we could find out whether we would actually miss them or not.
I see in news from Abbotsford City Hall that senior staff and council continues to rush, like a pack of lemmings, over the edge of catastrophe that their Plan A represents. It would appear they are determined to prove the old adage: “One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain’t nothin’ can beat teamwork.”
The entire debacle has more in common with a Keystone Kops movie than with the thoughtful, careful planned capital building strategy the citizens of Abbotsford should be getting.
Except for humour, since the far reaching financial and delivery of services effects are straight out of a Shakespearian tragedy.
