Editorials are NOT news … they are the comments, and opinions, of an individual

By now some of you have seen, or heard, about two editorials that ran in Kamloops area newspapers yesterday (09/11/12)

One was written by Mel Rothenberger in the Kamloops Daily News; "Rothenburger: Where are the Kamloops Tories?" … 

... the second by Christopher Foulds in Kamloops This Week; "FOULDS: B.C. Conservative discord gives B.C. Liberals jolt of hope".  

I have posted responses to both editorials in the online editions of the newspapers, as well as submitting Letters to the Editors.

My comments to Mel, at the Kamloops Daily News, were as follows:

I'm puzzled by your comments Mel.

As I stated to you yesterday when you called, the BC Conservative Party has been clear for quite some time now, that candidates across the province would be nominated by Constituency Associations, in the later part of the year. Just because you are NOT privy to information you wish to have (before you retire) on who will be running, is unfortunate.

That said, we are moving forward on our timetable, not yours.

To Christopher at Kamloops This Week, the comments I posted online, and sent as a Letter to the Editor were as follows:

You have said that I have, "unquestionable allegiance to the party" -- fair enough. I would say that your comments in this editorial have basically been fair, and to the point.

Some may question whether John Cummins is the right person to ...lead the party -- fair enough, and that will be decided, and put to rest, on September 22nd.

No one person, or group of persons, IS the BC Conservative Party. It's strength is in the entire membership who are the grassroots foundation and core of the party... and who have the important task of ensuring we focus on a message of accountability, fiscal responsibility, and integrity in government.

POINT / COUNTERPOINT: Elect an MLA who works for you

The following is an editorial piece I was invited to write for Kamloops This Week.  It was published in today's edition (May 29th).

BC’s next provincial election will focus on issues of big government, and its twin big spending … concerns about increasing fees and high taxes … trust … and accountability.   These have been issues which have drawn many to the BC Conservatives … and reinforced our commitment to present a clear and well-defined vision of how to deal with them.

                

Christy Clark BC Liberals proudly boast of being fiscally responsible, and yet they are well on their way to doubling our provincial debt.  By 2014 it will top $60 BILLION dollars!   Is it the hallmark of a fiscally conservative government, to make interest payments of over $6 million dollars a day, on this ever increasing debt?

 

That’s $6 MILLION dollars a day which is NOT available to:

… improve our deteriorating health care system

… go into classrooms and to build new schools

… provide better services for seniors

… provide programs to help our children get a good start in life

… better assist people in BC that face mental and physical challenges

… make making improvements to our highways and ferry system.

Our commitment, as BC Conservatives, is to provide government that lives within its means.

Here is something else you won’t hear from Christy Clark.  Last year more people left BC, for other parts of Canada, than moved here.  Our children, skilled trades’ people, and professionals are leaving because provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan are offering more jobs … and a lower cost of living.

I could list many things which have created concerns in recent years; but you already know what they are.  Each of those concerns has added to an ever increasing number, who have a growing distrust of those who seek elected office.

All I can say is, "This should be interesting"

Yesterday I received a message from the Editor of Kamloops This Week, Christopher Foulds.  Actually it was a message to me, and Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger:

To: Kevin Krueger and Alan Forseth:

OK. I think it's time for a point/counterpoint feature in Kamloops This Week.  Here is my proposal:

I will clear an entire page and we will run a column from each of you addressing this topic: "Why the B.C. Liberals / B.C. Conservatives" should receive the right-of-centre vote in the next election".

….  this will run in Thursday, May 24, edition of KTW … What do you say, guys?

This gives you an unfiltered avenue to readers / voters and would likely elicit a good response from readers.

Let me know if you are in. Cheers

Christopher Foulds

Editor

Kamloops This Week

I’m in … and so is Kevin.  Not wanting to give my head a chance to start over thinking this, I went ahead and wrote a draft yesterday … did some edits last night … and a few final tweaks this morning.

I’m going to leave it for a few days now, and come back for a final look on Monday.  All I can say is, “This should be interesting”.

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.

An ad is an ad --- and news is news --- and never the twain should meet

For those who get Kamloops This Week, you may have been wondering about what you saw at the bottom right of page A12 (Thursday February 23, 2012).

Well it's actually an ad for the BC government "BC Jobs Plan", which was confirmed by KTW's News Editor, Christopher Foulds.

One would have been right in wondering however, as this has the layout of a news story ... complete with headline, picture and two column of what appears to be the text of a news story.

Much of what this BC Liberal government has been advertising is blatant promo for the BC Liberals -- this falls into that category.

It is a blatant attempt to make some, giving it a quick glance, think it is a 'good news' story, written by the news department, on what the government is doing.

It is an ad however --- it should be noted as such --- and by not doing so this Liberal government has again shows disrespect to the people of BC.

An ad is an ad --- and news is news --- and never the twain should meet.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.

 

FOLLOW UP @ 11:23am

And here’s more on this governments arrogance and deceit.  A news headline in the Vancouver Sun today stated “BC Taxpayers are shelling out $15 million dollars to promote BC Liberal Party Jobs Plan election platform.”

The story said that Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell ... ‘did not shy away from the fact the ads will likely cast the government in a positive light.’

"I think the message is pretty clear: We've got a jobs strategy; that's what we're hanging our hats on. We believe strongly that is the position that our party has going forward and we're pre-pared to run on that."

I have to ask … wasn’t the Job’s Plan a program alleged to help the people of BC?  How has it become a taxpayer funded advertising program to promote the re-election of the BC Liberal Party?

Put those ideas forward John ... but be prepared to fully back them up ... because that is what we are asking to see happen!

It has been said that the only political poll that counts is the one that takes place on election day – I agree.  That said however, when two polls come out the same week, showing the political party you support is increasing, well you have to like that.

I recent years the BC Conservative Party has been found lumped in with a group called “Others” -- not so any more!  In the last week or so two polls have come out that show the BC Conservatives gaining in popular support.

In the poll taken by Ipsos Reid they show the party at 10%, while the one by the Mustel Group poll had the BC Conservatives at 18%! These results have to be encouraging for John Cummins who will soon become leader of the party – they show BC voters are responding in a positive way to a message of change, government accountability, and electing a government that puts

folks ahead of the special interests.

The Ipsos Reid poll, which can be found HERE, shows that compared to the May 2009 election, voter support for the BC Liberals is down 5 points from 46% ... and the NDP are down 3 points from 42%.  (NOTE ... both of these polls have of course been conducted since the Liberals and New Democrats elected new leaders.)

WAY too much talk happens … not much gets done

In a posting on Facebook, Dale Bass (Kamloops This Week) made note of a blog she had seen from Ron Unrah.  The posting was entitled THE NEED FOR REFORM / 532 (Thursday, May 19, 2011) and can be found online at http://ronunruhgps.blogspot.com/2011/05/need-for-reform-532.html?spref=fb

In his blog post, Mr. Unrah stated that, “Child protection in the English speaking world has failed so frequently because it is fundamentally flawed at so many levels. It appears to have become a system preoccupied with forensics rather than determined and successful at helping families.”