Hearing the Telus radio ad promoting getting Telus high speed internet and a laptop computer reminded me of a friend who had taken advantage of (or is that had been taken advantage of by) a previous Telus high speed internet plus computer “special” offer.

Signed up for 3 years of high speed internet and received a free computer, but downloading took forever. Enquiry revealed that the computer lacked the RAM to take advantage of high speed internet.

Being willing to be a self-advocate and being persistent eventually got Telus to pay for a RAM upgrade which a friend installed. Now the high speed internet being paid for is useable.

Whether corporate greed, a lack of concern about customer care, a Dilbert-esque triumph of marketing over engineering realities or some combination thereof – it is a cautionary tale.

So if you are thinking of signing up for this latest “special” offer, be sure to check out the technical specifications first. You also might want to a little price, model and features research.

And if “took advantage of” the earlier computer offer applies to you and your internet is anything but high speed … you might want to check your RAM.

I do not know Mr. Grant Granger so I cannot say if his words in “Casino’s will strike you Out” in the Saturday December 15th Abbotsford News are a result of prejudice, ignorance or a parochial mind set.

All I can definitely state is that I and other low income people I have spoken with about his scurrilous aspersions, find his words demeaning, defamatory and highly offensive.

As low income earners we do not have the money to waste on gambling. As responsible citizens we need all our funds to pay our bills.

Despite Mr. Granger’s assertion that we are brain dead to the point we “…mechanically put their money down the drain (i.e. slots)…” we have far too many better things to do and accomplish, than to waste precious time and money in this manner. We also understand mathematics, more than well enough to appreciate the statistical futility of counting on chance to solve our tight financial situations.

Mr. Granger would appear to be the one lacking in a grasp of basic mathematics. A simple application of mathematics makes clear that there is not enough cash in the hands of low income earners to generate the cash flow and profits casinos and gambling in general enjoy. A look in the mirror would reveal to Mr. Granger the economic class who are the bread and butter of the gambling industry.

Most condescending is the implicit assumption that the richness, enjoyment and value of a life are a function of income. While it is true a more substantial cash flow would make life easier, it would not, in and of itself, increase my joie de vie. His words would suggest that Mr. Granger is in serious need of re-evaluating his values and seeking a better spiritual understanding of what is of value in life.

Mr. Granger needs to stop displaying his contemptuousness for those with low incomes, insulting our intelligence and the value of our lives. He and his like especially need to stop the disrespectful behaviour of deceptively trotting out low income earners, crying counterfeit tears over us, in order to further their anti-gambling agenda.

If you are truly concerned for and about low income earners stop, worrying about YOUR agenda and start worrying about and addressing THEIR NEEDS.

Postscript: the newspapers that printed this piece of slanderous injustice owe an apology to all low income earners for disseminating this insulting claptrap.

Ms. Hamilton’s statement about “weekly opportunities for dialogue” with city council show just how little awareness of Dialogue in Abbotsford she has. Discussion is permitted only when demanded by city statutes. Otherwise citizens are to be seen paying their taxes but not heard.

Which probably goes a long way to explain how she could consider cancelling a dialogue the way Imagine Abbotsford did would be considered to have allowed them to “… complete this first year of dialogues successfully”. Avoiding unpleasant topics does not seem to me to be successful dialogue.

Ms Hamilton’s statements would seem to suggest that councilor Dave Lowen is not a policy maker as he was present at the January dialogue, fully participated, was listened to and not attacked by the numerous opponents of Plan A participating in the dialogue that day.

Perhaps it is merely that Ms Hamilton considers only the Thought Leaders of Imagine Abbotsford to be capable of conveying the thoughts and concerns of the uncouth citizens to the policy makers in an appropriately gentile manner? Thus necessitating the cancellation of the meeting lest the peasants put in an appearance. It would also serve to explain why the results of the January dialogue would be made available to the “thought leaders” and “policy makers” before being shared with those who put forth the ideas.

Finally: I am aware that there was some concern expressed about Vince Dimanno’s call on the Abbotsford Monitor’s webpage for the public to get together at the Clearbrook Library. If this is what gave rise to the cancellation all I can do is shake my head at the poor judgment shown. Mr. Dimanno and the citizens he was speaking to and for live in the real world. Meaning, with the Library closing at 5PM on Fridays, people who have to actually work hard to pay their city property taxes would be unable to attend. Which is why, in order to be inclusive of every citizen including self proclaimed thought leaders and even policy makers it was rescheduled to Saturday at 2PM at Clearbrook Library