Thoughts of the silent majority -- part 2

Yesterday I asked you to let me know what the issues and problems in BC are, the ones that affect you, your family, neighbours and friends.  Well it hasn’t taken long for the first responses to come in, and I can tell you they have covered a number of things – not just a few select items being mentioned over and over.

Those who read my Conservative Thoughts blog know that I will often touch on government accountability – that government and MLA’s need to be accountable to us for what they say and do (or do not do).  A comment that came has already touched on that as well:

“One issue which is very important to me is Transparency. Wrapped up within it we have such elements as Trust and Integrity both of which fit nicely into our core values.  The Basi Virk case has the stench of corruption related, as it is, to the BC Rail case. If we don't go after that one we will miss a huge chance. People around here are utterly disgusted with the matter.”

Many Liberal supporters have indicated that the BC Rail issue is over and done with … that it’s old history … and elections have already been won with that controversy known.  Perhaps that it is true to the extent that BC voters figured it’s a done deal that BC Rail has been sold (and don’t give me any crap about a zillion year lease not being a sale); however details that came out in the rather hurriedly ended Basi-Virk trail were never known previously – and voters ARE upset …

“There should be an independent public inquiry into this sordid mess and any person(s) who broke the law should be punished (and not with a simple "slap on the hand.)  The other two bidders for BC Rail have publicly condemned the way that the bidding was handled - they claim that it was rigged from the beginning.  If this is so (rigged) then some person(s) likely made a lot of illegal money on the deal and I'd love to see them exposed and punished.  For far too long politicians of every stripe have treated this province as a means for self-aggrandizement and this has to stop.”

There have also been several great comments about services provided by the government, and their cost, and I expect to see many more yet in coming days …

“In my humble opinion an effective government should not be inflating the cost of government controlled services, such as what is now being done with BC Hydro, Terasen and ICBC. Where competition for these services does not exist the taxation of an essentially captive market is egregious. To eliminate provincial taxes from these services would put more money into the pockets of the public thereby making people less hostile toward the government run agency.”

And then of course there is BC’s health care system, that both the BC Liberals and New Democrats have both had two decades to work on.  How has that worked for you?

“Health care or the lack of it in the Kamloops area is a problem as surgical wait times are horrific.  However if your prepared to drive to Vernon and book a motel room for the night, some items have a wait time of 2 or 3 days to a week compared to 9 months to a year in Kamloops.”

“The delivery of medical services is on everyone’s mind as the Boomers go senior and the Golden Agers enjoy longevity previously unmet. So, at the risk of being accused of an act of high treason, perhaps it is time for the province to start encouraging private health care services to take some of the burden off the public system; thereby shortening wait times and Code Purple situations in the bargain.”

Last night I was at the home of a family member who was having computer difficulties, and I saw a small poster that had been part of a BC Children’s Hospital calendar; it read … “Children are 1/3^rd of the population, and all of our future”

People do care about the children of our province, which is likely why have I already received several responses along the lines of the following:

“The closure of schools, and the shortfall in funding for many districts, has made the news far too frequently in the past decade or so. Understandably, with an aging population in BC, and the lean towards one or two child families, it is reasonable to downsize the system. However, this should make more funding available, rather then less; which leaves one to wonder where the Liberals put the cash.  At any rate, the children of today deserve the best education that we as a province can give them. We need to do better by our children, and for the record both my children are adults. This is something we should all be concerned about, not just those with young children.”
 
Well I’m off to see what else has come in over night now.  Thank you to those who have already responded, to those how haven’t, take a moment over the next day or two and let me know about what’s important to you in government services, delivery, priorities, accountability, etc.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops, and those are the thoughts of one conservative.