THE RECORD
October 10, 2001

Fiat Lux

by Ed Deak

What surprises me about the slowly growing uproar over Gordon Campbell's search and destroy policies is that anybody is surprised. It was quite obvious for many years that when Gord got power in his hands he would go on a rampage to steal from the poor to feed the rich. Big business didn't buy the BC Liberal Party for him to be a nice guy. Now he must deliver for the millions received in donations and earn his post-politics directorships.

How could anybody, capable of thinking with a grain of logic, really believe in what he and his crew promised in their endless, sugary TV commercials? How can anybody believe this constantly repeated wealth creation nonsense? Wealth can not be created, only taken from other sectors, despite the brainwashing institutions all around the world that preach this lie as good economics.

Even our usually corporate friendly media can no longer ignore the transparent lies, double-talk and idiocies in Campbell policies. The honeymoon the BC Liberals enjoyed is already getting a bit scorched around the edges, as more and more cutbacks and expropriations cause more and more damage and destitution. The lines at all the food banks are growing without any hope of help and improvement in the situation. The government's solution is to put people out of work and give away BC to sectors that already control too much.

Stories in this paper show the weekly growing desperation in Tahsis, but the same thing is being repeated all over the province. We are seeing the bitter consequences of globalization and phony free trade. Now more of this crime is being negotiated as we speak. The truth is that what is being called "trade" in the terms of globalization is in reality profit demanding commerce with the benefits concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. According to the Fraser Institute and the Campbell entourage this is the economic theory that will bring us wealth, while in reality the whole world is going down the tube to fill the insatiable demands of a self appointed few

Economies and industries built around exports must sooner or later collapse, as the buyers run out of cash to pay for the goods, because everybody selling to everybody at profit is a mathematical impossibility.

Canada was always a large exporter of natural resources, and in the past there have been a lot of small industries to take up the slack of world market fluctuations. Large industries on the other hand, which are the main beneficiaries of globalization, do not create the most jobs, and now with hi tech and automation they are eliminating them to syphon off the benefits to the shareholders.

The largest job creators have always been localized small industries that filled local needs, using local materials. These have been ruined by globalization, destituting millions of people around the world and here in Canada. It is a bitter irony that in the three countries involved in NAFTA the rich of Mexico have been the biggest beneficiaries, while the poor the biggest losers, with much of the middle class gone down the toilet.

Here in BC we can see the harsh results of irresponsible economic theories even in the smallest communities. The Polley Mt. copper mine opened up near Likely only a few years ago with the promise of good jobs for people in the area. Now, with the world's economy going into recession it is closing, throwing 300 people to the dogs. Some 40 good, hard working families in our tiny community alone. This almost happened a couple of years ago, but at that time the dastardly NDP government stepped in and saved their necks with some adjustments and other benefits. Now, the communities send tearful pleas to the Liberal government only to be brushed off . No help to the mine, no help with any local initiatives.

People are now moving out, we're losing some of the best members of our fire department and community associations. Homes are empty with nobody to buy them. The Big Lake firehall, just a year old, was financed by the Lottery Corporation and sustained by the community. We don't know how long we can keep it up. Not too long ago, before we had this wonderful group of volunteers, all we could do is watch houses burn to the ground, including my daughter's, with a lot of our personal possessions burning in it.

In the community of Horsefly, about an hour's drive from here, a very active and intelligent community started a development program that included a museum, small art gallery, computer centre where people could get on the Web and get their e-mails, many other activities, amateur theatricals and so on. Although we don't live there, we are members of the Association and have been involved in some of their programs, especially in the arts and are doing everything we possible can to save something.

The Horsefly Community Development Centre has been on the road of self sufficiency within a year, or so, but the planning relied on a government grant, which was promised. On July 31 they received a notice from the BC Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services that their $47,900 grant has been frozen and cancelled. Just like that, without any warnings, any examination of the facts and circumstances. More tearful pleas to the government and the local MLAs John Wilson and Walt Cobb, more brush-offs by the wealth creating Campbell wrecking crew. Meanwhile Campbell predicts a $6. billion deficit, while cutting and privatizing services.
Just yesterday we received a questionnaire from BC Assessment about our farming activities. This is not unusual and quite legit, provided it is combined with inspection and assessment. But the way this latest one is worded it is obvious that the intent of the government is to wipe out small farmers, eliminate the ALR and permit the takeover of the lands by speculators and large corporations. The attack on the citizens of this province continues.

Copyright (c) 2001, West's International