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This page provides an Index to my columns for 2003 published in the Kamloops Daily News
EYE
VIEW 
What has the U.S. learned from Vietnam? Absolutely nothing. The new year illuminates the ugly face of U.S. aggression in Iraq. President Bush is doing Osama bin Laden a favour by exterminating Saddam Hussein. Bin Laden has called Hussein "an apostate, an infidel." The only way to get Hussein is to move U.S. troops into Baghdad, where the U.S. technological advantage will be lost and the ghosts of Vietnam will return to haunt the U.S. January 7, 2003
Feds Should do Nothing to Decriminalize Marijuana For years, pro-marijuana advocates have been lobbying the Government of Canada to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Now they should hope that the feds to do nothing. In 2000, the laws that criminalize marijuana were struck down and nothing has been done to plug that loophole. All the feds have to do is nothing. January 21, 2003
Campbell showed bad judgment long before he took to the road Campbell's lack of judgment of driving while drunk is a metaphor for the way he has governed. He has recklessly endangered the lives of B.C.'s most vulnerable citizens. While at the wheel of government, he hurt those who live in small communities by shutting down government agencies and jobs. And these are the communities that generate a lot of B.C.'s resource sector wealth. February 4, 2003
U.S. attack on Iraq will be imperialistic drive for oil The United States pretends that it is going to war with Iraq. War is what happens when there are hostilities between countries. Iraq has not been hostile to any country for 12 years and then it was Kuwait, not the U.S. If it was wrong for Iraq to invade Iraq, then it is wrong for the U.S. to invade Iraq. Bush is out of touch with the American people who would rather export freedom to Iraq than bombs. February 18, 2003
Government must act now to curb Canada's obesity epidemic The increase of obesity threatens our health care system on a scale that rivals that of our aging population. Obesity causes early onset diabetes and hypertension. The sad fact is that there is little money to be made in selling healthy food and exercise - - unless the food is reduced to a pill and the exercise is on a machine. Only governments can do anything about it. It is governments (us) who will pay the bill for the increased costs of health care. March 4, 2003
In pensions, governments need to understand effect of actions The inclusion of worker-represented trustees on public pension boards has brought a new sensibility to the process of investment strategy. The problem is how to provide good returns while investing in worker and environment friendly businesses. March 18, 2003
Coalition's battle in Iraq has barely touched war on terrorism The U.S. led invasion of Iraq is fighting the war on terrorism with the wrong army in the wrong place. The invasion is a show of military might but the enemy uses a new tactics that defy military might. They are lean, flexible and globalized. Terrorists will not be waiting in Iraq with bright red uniforms and bulls-eyes on their backs. April 1, 2003
Becoming friendly with U.S. President an oily question Why is president George W. Bush calling on Canada's friendship now? When he first came to office, Mexico was the first country he visited. He said "This is a recognition that the United States has no more important relationship in the world than the one we have with Mexico." Apparently the president forgot that our two countries share the world's greatest trade ($1.4 billion a day) and the longest undefended boarder in the world (although President Bush seems to have a problem with that too). April 15, 2003
Liberal's treaty deal with Snuneymuxw sounds very familiar When Gordon Campbell was still leader of the opposition, he took the governments of British Columbia and Canada to court over the proposed Nisga'a treaty. He claimed that the treaty was contrary to the Constitution and that the NDP government didn't have the mandate to negotiate the treaty. Yet, after his court case and after his controversial referendum on treaty negotiations last year, the new Snuneymuxw treaty looks much like the one Campbell was so opposed to. April 29, 2003
SARS reaction out of whack, but it does serve as a warning North Americans have lived in a world sheltered from the sickness and terrorism that are routine in the majority world. Globalism has spread the grief of the rest of the world to North America. First, it was the terrorist attacks of September 11 on New York and Washington and now the terrorism of SARS. Although both threats are serious the reaction has been worse than the attacks. The rational response to SARS should be a re-examination of our public health care system -- it's that front line of defense that needs proper funding. Private clinics can't serve a national, public, service. May 13, 2003
Acts of vandalism disturbing in what they say about perpetrators If idle hands are the devil's tools, then the devil's work is labour intensive. There is no shortage of theories of why vandals kill animals and destroy property. Maybe they don't have anything better to do. May 20, 2003
Government's solution to pot 'problem' doesn't go far enough Marijuana was made illegal 80 years ago in a puritanical panic. Now, the Government of Canada wants to decriminalize marijuana possession but leave it illegal. The government is looking for a political compromise -- one that will satisfy the religious right in Washington, D.C., while satisfying the desire of Canadians to have sensible laws. The solution is to let the courts of Canada decide. The Ontario Superior Court has already ruled that it's legal to possess 30 grams of marijuana or less. The Supreme Court of Canada is ready to hear constitutional challenges to our arcane marijuana laws. The easy way out of for the government of Canada is to let the bill fail and let the courts decide. June 10, 2003
Bush as peacemaker biased by one-sided religious view The separation of church and state has been the hallmark of modern democratic governments. The reasons for this separation are never more clear than in the case of the current U.S. administration. President Bush is biased by Christian Zionists who believe that the return of the Jews to Israel is God's plan. This plan conveniently ignores the millions of Palestinians who want a homeland too. June 24, 2003
In BC Hydro's case, ideology means higher electricity costs In an attempt to improve Accenture's image, they have opened an office in B.C. The branch office will make a profit and save money. How is that possible when B.C. Hydro did the same work as crown corporation while delivering the lowest price electricity rate in North America? The answer is easy. BC Hydro will increase rates to provide a profit for Accenture. Accenture will pay their employees less to save money, or transfer operations to where workers are paid less. July 8, 2003
After many cuts, Liberals go on spending spree with Games After telling us that he will make his B.C. Liberal government smaller, the government will become a big employer. With the successful bid of the Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010, the government will go in a spending spree. It won't be the premier's favourite free enterprise that will pull us out of our economic slump, it will be public spending. Yes, our tax dollars are bankrolling the whole deal. With a bit of luck, we won't loose too much. July 22, 2003
Change in plans for Coquihalla doesn't signal a new outlook Premier Campbell has decided not to lease the Coquihalla. That would be a great relief for residents of the Interior of B.C. if it meant that Campbell had given up his plans to sell what ever he can. He believes in short term gain for long term pain to get himself out of the predicament he is in. Campbell is desperate to balance the budget, otherwise he would break his own legislation. August 5, 2003
Same-sex couples might restore shine to tarnished institution Why are so many people getting upset over same-sex marriages when it's opposite-sex marriage that is the problem. It's not just those marriages in which half will end up in divorce. At least they start off with love in their hearts. No, it's those men and women who enter marriage with greed and deception in their hearts that are the problem. August 29, 2003.
World domination plan falling into place for U.S. president
After the attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001,
U.S. President Bush's mentors didn't know whether to laugh or cry. They were looking for a provocation that would
justify their plan but this was beyond their wildest visions. September 2,
2003
Tournament Capital program gives us control of our identity If we don't project an image of who we are and what Kamloops is about, others will form their own ideas. Visitors find friendly people, spectacular vistas, and a pleasant climate. But for those who don't visit, any misconceptions might apply. The Tournament Capital of Canada is a exaggerated claim but most Canadians will forgive the hype. September 16. 2003.
Canadians learned little from bombing of Air India flight 182 Canadians can tell you what terrorist attack took place on September 11, 2001. But they will be hard pressed to tell you the terrorist attack of June 23, 1985. No wonder. RCMP dropped the investigation. Canada's intelligence agency, CSIS, destroyed evidence relevant to the bombing. The Canadian Aviation Safety Board refused to believe it was a terrorist attack. Prime minister Mulroney didn't think Canadians even died, --he gave condolences to the Indian prime minister. September 30. 2003.
Governor General fulfills important role, performs it well. Canada's Governor General is an important position that should be strengthened, not weakened through the self-serving witch hunts of the Commons committee on spending. The Governor General acts in the best interests of Canada as our quasi-head of state when the Queen can't or won't. She does a excellent job promoting our arts industry abroad. The spread of Canadian culture generates jobs at home. October 14, 2003. Sports facilities, or any amenities, will attract people to city
Sports facilities, or any amenities, will attract people to city If Kamloops wants to attract business to the city, it must first attract young, bright people. And the only way that people are attracted to a place is by what it has to offer in terms of climate, people, lifestyle and amenities. Kamloops already has much to offer and the proposed borrowing to build a sports complex here fits into the climate and open spaces of the city. Voters decide on the borrowing in a referendum on November 29. October 28, 2003.
NDP's public insurance corporation is saving the BC Liberals from heat B.C.'s Premier Campbell would like to get rid of our public vehicle insurance corporation, ICBC. It's everything that his right-wing government disapproves of -- its public, non-profit, and intervenes to reduce accidents. But if Campbell got rid of ICBC, the rates would rise to those in other provinces that have private insurers, and that would be political suicide. So he will grin and bear being the only right-wing premier in Canada with a socialist insurance corporation. November 25, 2003.
Kamloopsians scold, enlighten, lecture committee members When the Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services came to town, Kamloopsians had a lot to say. David Charbonneau gets his two bits worth in. He is puzzled about the government paid advertisements in newspapers and on television for something called Achieve BC. What do they mean? What do they cost? December 9, 2003.
So many memories and dreams placed on tiny plot of land Christians, Jews, Arab Palestinians, all want to return to the Holy Land of their dreams at Christmas. The focus of so many people for thousands of generations have heated this tiny plot of land, only half the size of Nova Scotia. December 9, 2003.
