Letters - September 25

Vote and shut up

Re: “Vote or Shut Up,” September 18-24

No matter who “wins” this farce of an election, Canadians lose. Isn’t it about time for some real democracy instead of the inevitability that one of two corrupt entities—Liberal or Conservative —will form the next government. If we Canadians actually demanded a mixed-member proportional system (Google it if you don’t know what it is), we would actually get some of the things that the majority of Canadians support and all sections of society would have a voice in parliament, instead of mainly elitist corporate types from Ontario or Alberta.

Until we demand more democracy, the British parliamentary system will continue to deliver government selected by elites and merely endorsed by voters—as it was designed to do. Canadians voters have about as much power in deciding who governs as they do in what cereal they buy in the supermarket: they only decide which brand is more popular, but the ingredients are beyond their control. Same in politics.

This is not democracy. As it stands, only a small elite continues to decide what is best for you—and by voting in this system you endorse your own slavery.

I think actually what Canadians are being told is vote and shut up—we the elite know best and your only role is to vote for the limited choices and that is all the democracy you are entitled to. I personally reject this model and as long as we have this undemocratic farce in Canada, I will neither vote—why endorse a corrupt system?—nor will I shut up.

I prefer to challenge the elite with non-violent civil disobedience as we did at Clayoquot, or in the courts or on the streets or on strike. I find this much more democratic and fulfilling than the passive endorsement of corrupt non-democratic rule by political and corporate elites.

Al Reford, Victoria

I don’t normally waste my time writing to newspapers, as they are the propaganda machine of the corporate politicians, as evidenced by John Threlfall’s  recent editorial. However, getting told to shut up motivated me to reply to all the fools who actually think they are creating change by voting for criminally insane people, and then complaining about what those people do, decade after decade. Isn’t that the sign of an insane person—doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?

It only took me about the first 20 of my 43 years on the planet to see that it makes no significant difference which party was in office. To be told to vote or shut up is like being told to pick between three people to receive anal intercourse from, and that if I don’t choose one, I’m not helping myself.

Well, I’m helping myself not get abused and I’m not giving my power to some sick person, so I’m definitely not voting—and shutting up ain’t my style. I doubt you’ll print this, so I leave it at that.

   Treok Galaxy Walker, Victoria

I wanted to thank you for mentioning STV in your current editorial.  While I’d certainly agree that we’d like to see more people come out and vote, I can also understand why many don’t. 

Those frustrated that our voting system doesn’t properly reflect how we vote can actually do something though—they can support Fair Vote Canada (fairvotecanada.org). They can join with Fair Voting BC (stv.ca) to get the word out about the upcoming referendum here in B.C. and they can help inform people about this chance that we will have to change how we vote for our MLAs.

We can change the voting system itself.  And B.C. can lead the way.

Wendy Bergerud, president,

Victoria Chapter of FVC

How many of us think Harper rushed into the election before the challenge to Bill C-31—which limits voter eligibility—can get to the Supreme Court? Go figure.

Roger W. Smeeth, Victoria

Warming to the election

Re: “Natural Evidence,” September 18-24

It’s an unfortunate reality that there is still a need for writers such as Gwynne Dyer to raise important questions about the very real—and what should be obvious—threat of climate change.

Since we’re headed into a federal election, we should remember the track record of Stephen Harper’s cabinet minister Gary Lunn (Saanich-Gulf Islands) who said in an issue of Island Tides, “Everywhere I look I see more uncertainty regarding the science used by the pro-Kyoto forces.” While this quote—which begs the question, where did he look?—is from the end of the 2002, nothing the Harper government has done of late convinces me they are taking climate change seriously.

For the sake of future generations, I hope this issue is foremost amongst voters’ concerns.

Mark Fornataro, Victoria

That’s so gay

Re: “Homos Away From Home,” September 18-24

I am Colin and Justin’s publicist and I find the headline of the article about them in the current Monday Magazine offensive and juvenile. Using the word “homo” is pejorative, no matter how cute the quasi-alliteration sounds. It is not only insulting to Colin and Justin, it reflects an inappropriate and unacceptable bias towards Canada’s gay community. I think this demonstrates a remarkable lack of judgment from your editorial staff. I will most certainly hesitate to book any of my clients for future interviews with your publication.

Martha Watson, Toronto

Busted journalists

Re: “Vote Your Conscience,” September 11-17

There is some misunderstanding regarding the arrests of U.S. journalists at the St. Paul, MN convention of Republicans. While a free press is the foundation of non-governmental oversight in a democracy, there are problems arising from unaccredited freelance journalists in the field. In St. Paul, it appears that there were actually only nine accredited journalists arrested.  This is not to say that indie papers, students, bloggers, videographers do not have equal First Amendment rights—they do. But in any fast-breaking news story involving hundreds or thousands of people, unaccredited journalists must expect to be treated like regular citizens. Likewise, accredited journalists like Amy Goodman are already aware that they may not cross police lines at a crime scene or site of police action. 

While Ms. Goodman was inquiring about her colleagues, she was warned not to cross a police line—she did, she was arrested and the charges were dropped within hours. Of the other accredited journalists, all but one appear to have been caught in an action where they were not given or did not take an opportunity to separate themselves from protesters. They were swept up in the arrests and cited for unlawful assembly.  According to accredited photographer Tom Aviles, St. Paul police gave journalists fair warning of intent to arrest protestors prior to doing so.  Journalists were given opportunity to separate themselves from the action and avoid getting caught in group arrests.  All but these nine did so. 

While the First Amendment and a free press does protect the content of what Americans say and write, it does not protect methods by which that content is gathered. It is imperative that journalists in the field become familiar with rules of engagement in police actions and at crime scenes. To do otherwise is tantamount to entering a war zone not expecting bullets to fly.

Richard Ryfe, Victoria

Harping on Harper

Re: “In Praise of Cultural Resistance,” September 4-10

Thank you, Lynne Van Luven, for the superb article about the deplorable state of our so-called democracy under Stephen Harper. “In short, we have a prime minister who is a small-time dictator.” Exactly my sentiments. God help us if they return at all but especially with a majority.

We must beware of the corporate-sponsored smear campaign of the prime minister. Let us all wake up and dig deeper than the sound bites and the flyers in our mail.

Joanna Wilkinson, Victoria

Gosh, we’re blushing

Cafe Fairfield is now entering a hiatus, its funding having ended, but we want to thank the Monday Calendar for faithfully listing our events over the past two years—it’s been a huge help and many attendees have said they found us through Monday’s listings. We’ve taken up a lot of your space and we appreciate it. What would the arts and literary community do without publicity through Monday?

Barbara Julian, Victoria