Bashing the homeless solves nothing
Re: “Plenty of people could take those jobs,” letter, Jan. 4.
There seems to be an animus against the homeless. Please allow me to point out a few things.
Firstly, due to some weird alchemy, the moment one becomes homeless, s/he immediately loses about 70 IQ points, his or her morals drop down the toilet, s/he turns lazy and flaccid and is all of a sudden a fentanyl addict into the bargain.
I only have the job I do because of knowing someone connected with it. The stigma is incredible; not to be believed unless experienced personally.
What chance does the average homeless person have?
Furthermore, working full-time at these low-paid jobs will not enable one to rent a place. My job only enables me to buy food and the odd textbook.
I believe the letter-writer is stuck in a time when life made sense, when one could afford a decent place to live even with part-time work, when wages were reasonably fair, as used to be the case right here 50 years ago.
Bashing the homeless solves nothing (does it make you feel better?). The problem is system-wide, the name of it is neoliberalism, a morally bankrupt policy that rewards the greedy and predatory, and causes hardship for the vast majority.
Willi Boepple
Victoria
MAID is kindness, despite the nay-sayers
Re: “Expand the debate on assisted dying,” letter, Jan. 5.
Recently a dear friend who was mortally ill and in great pain chose to die peacefully at home with the kind help of MAID. I miss him but he is no longer suffering. He made the decision with a clear head and could have changed his mind at the last minute.
The implications of the anti-MAID letter-writers is that entering into the MAID process is a simple one. It is not.
His doctor had to agree to begin the process. He was interviewed on two separate occasions by experienced medical professionals. He had those interviews alone with the interviewers to make sure no one was putting pressure on him to make the decision.
The interviewers had thoroughly reviewed his medical files and were completely aware of the prognosis. The interviewers were very caring.
Ultimately he got to choose when he would leave.
There has to be a very, very good reason to approve MAID.
MAID is a great kindness.
Susanne Barker
Victoria
Let’s live, and support medical assistance
Re: “Expand the debate on assisted dying,” letter, Jan. 5.
Perhaps the letter-writer is unaware that — for the new Medical Assistance in Dying law — more than 300,000 Canadians, experts, practitioners, stakeholders, Indigenous groups, and provinces and territories already provided feedback during consultations in January and February 2020. Additionally, more than 120 expert witnesses provided testimony to the House of Commons and the Senate.
The law requires that a person must have a “grievous and irremediable medical condition,” and it also includes procedural safeguards and final consent requirements as part of the eligibility criteria.
Yes, there are differences between California and Canada with regard to the numbers, including the fact that federal funding (such as Medicaid and Medicare) cannot be used for MAID expenses in California — whereas these expenses are covered for those eligible for publicly funded health care services in Canada. (One could make the argument that the MAID law in Canada is more effective than the one in California.)
I understand the writer may be personally opposed to MAID, but one’s personal opposition should not deny that right to others.
The debate is done. Let us move forward to live and let live … and allow for medical assistance in dying.
Stan Davis
Saanich
Educate youth, keep them from addiction
I am the father of two recovering addicts. It’s been a long road of addiction, relapse and recovery. We are always hopeful of a sustained recovery.
My question to all health-care officials looking for ways of treating the addict would be: “Is there a way we can identify a high-risk youth for addiction and then incorporate ways of preventing it?”
I understand that some young people in their teenage years usually develop the need for an “escape” from their fears or anxiety through alcohol or weed.
Ten years down the road they have become full-blown addicts, and then society tries to treat them. Is there a way we might prevent this very sad downward slide to addiction?
I think we can. Let’s start educating our youth of the more healthier ways of handling their anxieties and fears. Let’s start educating our fragile youth about addiction. Let’s start shedding the stigma of mental illnesses in the schools so our children can flourish.
I think it would be a good start.
Ross Ferguson
Victoria
To save money later, use more electricity
After I had upgraded my home by adding extra insulation to reduce my electrical consumption, I submitted a rebate application to B.C. Hydro under a program to reduce consumption. I was advised that I should be eligible to receive $900, about one-third of what I paid for my insulation upgrade.
Imagine my bafflement when I was advised that my application was denied because I had not used enough electricity to reach the threshold required to qualify.
I would have thought that the purpose of this rebate program was to encourage consumers to use less electricity. So as a result of keeping the temperature down and wearing sweaters, I am being penalized because I have not consumed enough power.
Ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous, and another example of barmy B.C.
David B. Collins
Victoria
Don’t travel, and get ready for a quake
Re: “Not the best time to plan a vacation,” letter, and Raeside cartoon, Dec. 29.
The letter and the cartoon express two things correctly. First, people shouldn’t go out in snowstorms to Aunt Mary’s house just because “it’s the holidays.”
And second, the cartoon shows that if you live in an earthquake-prone area, get your house ready for them.
I’ve lived through four major earthquakes in southern California and after the first one you learn to bolt things down. Bookcases, pictures, secure cupboards and anything else that can go flying.
Mother Nature always gets the last at-bat. Be smart. Be prepared.
Gerald Marantz
Parksville
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email letters to: letters@timescolonist.com
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
• Submissions should be no more than 250 words; subject to editing for length and clarity. Provide your contact information; it will not be published. Avoid sending your letter as an email attachment.
