Editor:
Every single minute of every single day and every single week, month and now, all of a sudden, years, we hear of the same old same old problems with no real solutions, blasted at us every day through the media. Health care is a disaster (actually almost non-existent). Inflation is out of control. Crime is out of control. Addicts are dying by the thousands; the homeless problem is getting worse; one-bedroom rentals are $2,000-plus.
It goes on and on and on. And the common denominator? Government in control.
And this is where, much to the chagrin of my critics, I insert: ”What the hell did you think Donald Trump was complaining about, and why was Bill Davis supporting his 'drain the swamp'?" Maybe take an honest minute in your own bright mind, without the influence of the media telling you to not dare to think unless they tell you to.
Take a second and ask yourself that if you about to die and can’t get government-monopoly-controlled surgery for a year and you actually had the money, why can’t you go and pay to get private doctors? Remember, that presently in Canada is illegal. And we buy that. Just die! Don’t like that? Well, it’s the law.
So how about us, the people, finally pushing the “tilt sign” and saying: “You, every single layer of government are not doing your job, and your time is up. You told us that you needed to pay insane salaries and benefit and pension programs to attract the 'best of the bunch' to work in government! Well, how do you like an F for Failure?"
Oh, yeah, take a minute to remember that when a government employee was actually fired, do you remember reading what their “severance package” was worth? And I’m talking about mid to low firings, not the General Motors size. Doesn’t happen in private industry, folks, and I know, as I worked there for 50+ years in very serious positions and was part of many firings.
And what happened to the notion that government employees were supposedly working for us? Kinda thinking about the word "arrogance" here.
I don’t know of any private business in the entire world that would put up with such incompetence. I don’t think a single private corporation would be so generous with this lack of performance, including zero plan ideas for a better future plan with their new selected executives.
Now, when it comes to who gets to work in government big-time jobs, it boils down to two. Yes, unions have an inordinate say and control with a powerful control on who can or cannot get appointed and fired.
But the main culprit? It’s us. Yeah, so stop your complaining, it’s really you and me. We “elect” these top incompetent people, who in turn hire below their own pay grade to protect their jobs.
Time to privatize serious levels of all governments. And, yes, with term limits and again, yes, you and I can fire them without giving them zillions of dollars in severance.
And this is a good time to think that we are constantly told that we never want "the American system."
Oh, why not? Down there you do have a medical system that you can pay for, instead of just dying. You actually elect or reject a judge if he/she is not doing a good job. You do the same with the police chief, the prosecutor, the coroner, even the dog-catcher, for God’s sake. What the hell is wrong with that? Our judges are not elected, and they are “appointed” for life. Suck it up, buttercup!
So, how do we change that? Well, to start with, stop eating the b.s. that every level is feeding you. If you don’t like your insurance agent, you change to another, right? If you don’t like your plumber, you go to a different company, etc., etc., etc., and they only represent a pittance of your hard-earned money. But thousands and thousands of your money are being wasted big-time by every single layer of government. And it’s not their money.
And, please, don’t just agree with me. Discuss this with your family and then decide to speak up. Demand that a person or a group solicit your confidence, pay them probably not much more, if any, of what we are presently paying for non-performance. When you finally speak up, a number of honest, high-profile leaders will stand up for “the new jobs."
Finally, don’t feel that bad on “getting had." They slowly, over the years, snuck up on us while we were asleep. Go back a long time in history and you will discover that “government jobs” were not the "end-all and be-all." They were supposed to be servicing our need, not ruling them.
Now, keep reading. Hope is not lost. However, all of us have to stop being so easy to convince by the Minister Adrian Dixes or the Dr. Bonnie Henrys of the world. They may or may not be concerned, but they are only one voice. The human race is smart, and we will survive. But we have to continually pay attention and speak up.
There is no free ride. Change is good!
Bill Davis, New Westminster
