Vancouver’s Anti-Poverty Committee’s vandalism of provincial cabinet minister Ken Dobell’s office is bad for the city’s image, bad for democracy and ultimately bad for the people the APC claims to be representing.
Since APC members posed as media to gain entrance before trashing the office, regular folks who actually want to speak with their elected representative will now face heightened security. Basically, it inconveniences those who want to participate in our democracy, since all visitors will now be suspects.
Meanwhile, Vancouverites will be even less disposed to sympathize with those falling through the cracks of our society. People generally don’t respond well to threats and ultimatums.
Actually, if one looks at the APC’s demands, there is no way that our society could even come close to meeting them:
IMMEDIATE CANCELLATION OF THE 2010 OLYMPIC GAMES. Yes, well, we had a referrendum. The Olympics won out. Deal with it.
DIRECTION OF ALL OLYMPIC FUNDS TO NEW HOUSING AND SOCIAL PROGRAMS. Hahahahahahahahaha!
WITHDRAWAL OF COLONIAL OCCUPIERS FROM ALL UNCEDED INDIGENOUS TERRITORY. Um, my ancestors are from Russia. They never gave any smallpox-infested blankets to the locals. Can my family stay at least?
DOLLAR-FOR-DOLLAR REINSTATEMENT OF ALL FUNDING CUT TO SOCIAL PROGRAMS BY THE PROVINCIAL LIBERAL GOVERNMENT. Ah, yes. Let’s determine our budget according to a socialist fiat. Bleah.
KEN DOBELL’S IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION FROM AT LEAST TWO OF THREE CONFLICTING POSITIONS. Well, maybe.
Here’s a thought, APC: We have a democratic system that is the envy of most nations of the world. Join it.