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This page provides an Index to my columns for 2011 published in the Kamloops Daily News
EYE VIEW 
2011
Health
Canada inconsistent on issue of legal marijuana use
“I get high with a little help from my friends,” croons Prime Minister Stephen
Harper in his annual outpouring of camaraderie. But Carl Anderson of Kamloops is
not feeling the love from Harper’s government. When Health Canada failed to
renew his licence to grow medical marijuana, he was left high and dry. Without a
licence he is vulnerable to arrest and Anderson’s prescription means nothing. He
can’t rely on the government to send the annual licence on time. And if he
doesn’t get the licence on time, he could be arrested for possession of
marijuana. January 20, 2011
Humans, cats and weeds will thrive The Earth is headed towards a mass extinction not seen since dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago. The exception will be invasive species like cats and humans. Songbirds might not make it. While one-half to two-thirds of Earth's species will perish, weed species will do fine. Sad but true, humans are one of those weed species; just another invasive species ready to ravage some and cherish others to suit our own whims. So much for our noble reputation as caretakers of the Earth. The only good thing that might come of it is the realization of our true place in nature as weeds. February 3, 2011
Internet debate reminiscent of water meter vote Kamloopsians will sense a certain déjà vu over the debate on internet metering. When asked in a referendum whether they wanted to pay a flat rate for water or pay according to usage, most rejected metering. Canadians feel the same way about internet metering. In an Angus Reid poll, 75 per cent of Canadians wanted unlimited access to the internet despite the fact that only a small fraction are heavy users. It's the equivalent of paying for someone else's excessive use of water. Other users counter that metering is a cash-grab. Not only are the extra fees excessive but there is no way of knowing how much data you are using; the equivalent of driving a car without a fuel gage, running out of gas and paying a premium to go further. It's disingenuous for cable companies to levy a surcharge on a limit you don't know you've exceeded until it's too late. February 17, 2011
Courage needed to change dying with dignity laws Canada needs a brave doctor who will challenge our antiquated laws that prevent the terminally ill from dying with dignity. Someone like Dr. Henry Morgentaler who made personal sacrifices to bring freedom to women to choose abortions. It's not going to be easy but that courageous doctor will have public opinion on their side. The struggle will be to tear down existing laws that wrongly prohibit assisted suicides. March 3, 2011
Gene testing has some value, but not much Promoters of genetic tests say results could lead to preventative steps but Dr. Caulfield wonders how likely that is. Especially when we don't heed the warnings we already have. We are told ad nauseam that we should eat our vegetables, exercise and lose weight but who actually does any of that? While gene tests hold promise, they currently are not much more useful than simple devices like a tape measure for waist size, a bathroom scale, and a blood pressure cuff. March 24, 2011
Conservatives deceitful with in-out scheme While Harper was preaching honesty during the 2006 campaign, he was practicing the deceit - - now known as the "in-and-out" scheme. Even Conservative candidates found it dishonest, one of those being David Marler. "When I got a call from a party operative telling me they were going move $30,000 into my campaign account, my heart took blip." That money would be greatly appreciated. But those hopes were dashed in a heartbeat. "Then he told me I had to sign a form that was being faxed that allowed the party to transfer the money back out." When Marler questioned the transfer, the operative said "as a party member, do as you are told." But as a lawyer, Marler knew better and told the caller that he wouldn't because he was legally responsible for his account. April 7 2011
The wealthy and powerful enjoy our low voter turnout Unless something dramatic happens, voter turnout in this federal election will be as low as the last one. While the causes of voter indifference may be uncertain, the motivations that drive it are clear. Who benefits from low voter turnout and apathy? First, low turnout is a political strategy. Parties purposely discourage voters through attack ads. It's a calculated risk to demoralize opposition supporters by bashing their leaders. Who else benefits from low voter turnout? This requires a look at the bigger picture. Voter participation has been on the decline since the 1980s. April 21 2011
Most Canadians prefer NDP's progressive values Canadians flocked to Montreal in 1995 to save Canada from the separation of Quebec. Quebecers flocked to the polls in 2011 to save Canada from the separation of its senses. As in the 1995 referendum of, the establishment is crying foul. Back then, separatists claimed that the Canadian invaders broke election laws by making unauthorized contributions to the campaign. Now Canada's corporate media are deriding the youthful contingent of Quebec's new MPs. Political pundits have to get over it. The NDP is a new force. May 12, 2011
Canada could feed itself but won't The promise of spring brings thoughts of a bountiful harvest and notions of living off the land. But just how realistic is it for Canadians to be self-sufficient? It's possible that B.C. could grow all the food we need. We currently produce 48 per cent of the food we eat. Do we have enough land to feed ourselves? Let's do the math. May 26, 2011
Free CBC TV remains elusive CBC's new radio bureau will help put Kamloops on the map. For the first time our voices will be added to those across Canada on a national network. It's recognition that our city is a source of interest countywide. For years, CBC radio listeners have had to tolerate the morning show out Kelowna. Getting CBC services in Kamloops has been a constant struggle. When I first arrived here in 1980, our CBC radio transmitter would quit for days. I discovered that CBC didn't even know that our station had failed because they had no remote alarm system monitoring it. Only after someone from Kamloops complained would they send a technician from Kelowna to repair it. June 9, 2011
HST decision a tough one Who will vote on the merits of the HST without political entanglement? The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives offers two perspectives. On one side Iglika Ivanova, a researcher for the CCPA, will vote to keep the HST despite the unfairness of the tax. Ivanova thinks the unfairness in the HST can be fixed and that it's worth saving because it's more efficient than the old PST/GST. Another researcher for the CCPA, Seth Klein, will reluctantly vote to eliminate the HST; reluctant for two reasons. First, he loathes being part of any perceived tax revolt such as those that have devastated governments in the U.S. And like Ivanova, he is hesitant to vote against a good idea. But unlike her, he is unconvinced that the government will come up with a reasonable repair. June 23, 2011
Scourge of meth ruins lives The link between crystal meth and the pharmaceutical industry is not immediately obvious. Meth production doesn't depend on agriculture. While the ingredients of narcotics must be grown, meth depends on pseudoephedrine. It's the active ingredient found in decongestants. Illegal labs easily convert pseudoephedrine into methamphetamine. Oregon finally took decisive action and enacted legislation banning the sale of pseudoephedrine without prescription. Seven more states are considering similar legislation. The effect has been dramatic. Meth-associated arrests in Oregon are down to just five per cent of totals from the previous total of fifty. Meanwhile, "smurfs" find easy pickings in Canada where decongestants are readily purchased over the counter. As long as there is easy access in any part of North America, the scourge of meth will continue to devastate lives and drive up crime rates. July 7, 2011
LGBT seniors facing challenges Kamloops' gay and lesbian senior citizens have come a long way in the last five decades. And they still have a way to go as they move into retirement homes. It's been a long struggle for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) Canadians. The frailty of aging complicates the lives of LGBT seniors. They need assurance that they won't face the victimization and misinformation of earlier decades. It will take more than good intentions. LGBT seniors are more likely to be victimized than their straight peers, even as straight seniors are at greater risk than others. July 21, 2011
Dependency on gas is damaging the planet What did one frustrated oil man say to the other? "Let's get fracking." Hydraulic fracturing would be a joke if the oil and gas industry didn't take it so seriously. Fracking gives gas a bad name. Natural gas was supposed to be the "bridging" fuel that would cover our energy needs until renewal sources could be found. Conventional gas has been the darling of conservationists because it burns so cleanly. But success has been its downfall. So many U.S. electricity generating plants use it that supplies have been running low - - until garbage-bucket loads of shale gas was found. It's easy to ridicule big oil and gas tycoons as money-grubbers but there are other beneficiaries. Governments love big oil and gas finds because they generate revenues without raising taxes. August 4, 2011
Xenophobes surface while we sleep Was I sleeping when the far-right became respectable? I thought Scandinavian countries were models of social progress, not Islamaphobic fear-mongers. The massacre of young government supporters in Norway was an eye-opener. It's becoming clear that the right wing has captured a veneer of respectability. Anti-immigration fears have not reached epidemic proportions in Canada but we have to be constantly vigilant. Look what happened when a boat-load of 500 Tamils approached B.C. last year. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews had a chance to reassure Canadians. Instead, Toews incited "distrust and anger" according to the Canadian Tamil Congress. August 18, 2011
Window opens for television viewers Last night while you slept, a digital wave swept across Canada. It barely caused a ripple in Kamloops. At midnight on August 31, as mandated by the CRTC, a window of opportunity opened for millions of TV viewers. It doesn't have to be this way. Kamloops could follow the lead of small communities across Canada they are putting up their own transmitters. Places like Valemount, B.C., where a community-owned transmitter broadcasts six TV channels for about $40 per household per year. New digital technology would allow all six to be broadcast on one channel. They belong to the Canadian Association of Community TV Users and Stations (CACTUS). Kamloopsians don't have to be fleeced like sheep by dishing out big bucks for high quality TV. I think you get the picture. September 1, 2011
Fluoride is natural, necessary, beneficial If fluoridated water is harmful, then we are in big trouble. All the water in the world is naturally fluoridated -- every drop that makes contact with the earth. All river water, well water, filtered water, reverse osmosis water, bottled water, and tap water is fluoridated. The only water that isn't is rain water collected in sterile containers, and distilled water. As soon as rain contacts the earth it begins to dissolve natural fluorine compounds, like calcium fluoride, found in soil and rocks. Reprinted from September 18, 2001. September 8, 2011
Anarchy aims to eliminate oppression It may have looked like anarchy but don’t blame the anarchists. The rioting in Vancouver was not the work of anarchists, despite what police Chief Jim Chu says. He blamed the riots on: “Anarchists . . . disguised as Canucks fans” who were politically motivated. But an investigation into the causes of the riot pointed to excessive booze and poor police deployment, not anarchists. September 15,2011
Suspicions about new migrants misplaced Contrary to popular opinion, immigrants do not contribute to crime. Like other myths such as the general growth in crime, the immigrant crime illusion persists in spite of the facts. According to Statistics Canada: "the proportion of recent immigrants lowers the violent crime rate; it acts as a protective factor." Instead, socio-economic factors contribute to crime, not immigration. September 29, 2011
Science, common sense are there You don't have to be a scientist to determine risk of smart meters. Simply buy or borrow a radio frequency meter and make your own measurements. Hold your RF meter next to a smart meter and read the display. The reading will be about 10 microwatts. Now move back three metres (10 feet) and you'll find the power drops to one thousandth the earlier reading. That's because the strength of the radiation drops off dramatically with distance. If smart meters are dangerous, a reasonable person might wonder, how did we ever survive sunlight? If humans are that sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, we never would have evolved in the first place. October 20, 2011
Crime bill actually scheme to create jobs Now I get it. At first I couldn't figure out why the government would want to build more prisons and arrest more people to fill them. It's all about jobs. The U.S. imprisons more citizens per capita than any other industrialized country. Canada has a lot of catching up to do. We only incarcerate about one-sixth of the U.S. but the Harper government is well on the way to correct that problem. Their "tough on crime" plan is build more prisons and arrest more people at great expense to taxpayers. Harper also plans to arrest more marijuana users to improve the quality of the prison workforce. More has to be done to make get the prison industry up and running in Canada. Harper needs to reduce fair union wages by privatizing prisons and prison services such as food service and laundry. November 3, 2011
Cutting Taxes Mostly Helps the Rich If you are in the top one per cent, you might be feeling a bit alienated these days with all those Occupy protests. It can be uncomfortable when you and money are targeted by the ninety-nine percent. I have a way in which you can redeem yourself. Come out of your gated communities and from behind your tax shelters and join your fellow citizens in rebuilding a just society. It will take more than money. Take your kids out of private schools. Add your voices to improve public education. Refuse to pay for health care and insist on the best care for all. November 17, 2011
Support for CBC is not a subsidy Kamloops city council sensibly voted in favour of the new CBC radio station. What followed the vote was bewildering. Approval of the proposed station is a no-brainer. Kamloops will become the centre of a broadcast region that stretches all the way from the Suswap Lakes, east to Lytton, and north to 100 Mile House. We will finally be recognized as a cultural and business centre similar to the way that CBC helped root Kelowna as the hub of the Okanagan. After a stirring presentation to city council by former Socred MLA, the discussion when awry. He made a passionate pitch for councilors to call for the removal of what he called a “subsidy” for the CBC and have the money directed to infrastructure. December 1, 2011
Sudbury offers a cautionary tale to Kamloops Sudbury's experience with a foreign-owned global giant could be instructive for Kamloops. Both cities are about the same size and both are trying to shed their industrial image. Kamloops rebranded itself as the Tournament Capital of Canada. Sudbury is reshaping its landscape after decades of environmental damage. Kamloops hasn't had the labour problems of Sudbury. Sudbury's troubles began when the mine was sold to a Brazilian global mining giant. There had been labour disputes when Inco owned the mine but Sudbury wasn't prepared for the tactics of the new owner. Earlier disputes with the Canadian owners had been resolved to mutual benefit of workers and owners. The workers made good wages, the city grew, and Inco became the largest mine in Canada. December 15, 2011
Occupiers
will out-live hippies The Occupy
protestors are more principled than hippies were. Both started with good
intentions. Both were driven by world events. The Hippy movement grew out of
opposition to the Vietnam War and had roots in the Haight-Ashbury district of
San Francisco. The Occupy movement sprang up in the heart of capitalism, Wall
Street, but was inspired by the courage of the Arab Spring protestors. The
Occupy movement has a better chance of success. They are more dedicated and less
hedonistic than hippies; more substance than style. Organizers of the Occupy
movement are less interested in dropping out of society than they are in
changing it. Their gritty camping-out in freezing temperatures has not only
brought them closer to the disenfranchised homeless, drug-addicted and mentally
ill street people. They certainly have won the admiration of this ex-hippy.
December 29, 2011