Skip to content

Gap between rich and poor is not a new development

Re: Government’s job isn’t job creation, Letters, June 9.

To the Editor,

Re: Government’s job isn’t job creation, Letters, June 9.

G.J. Demmons’s letter reads like a homily from one of those protesting students.

An “opinion on the definition of progress” lacks any sense, but, “Is progress related to global warming?”

Totally, if you can believe David Suzuki, maybe marginally if you believe real scientists.

We all want steady progress in our economy. Global warming will continue its usual undulant cycles.

Of course, progress must consider the environment and that’s another subject.

Then there’s the hubris of one who doesn’t know the difference between tar and oil, but sees fit to pass judgment on the economics knowledge of others.

I will admit though that, unlike Prime Minister Stephen Harper, I don’t have a master’s degree in economics. Speaking of the PM, his “home turf” happens to be Canada, which would appear to be news to Demmons.

Anyone who has only seen the gap between rich and poor expanding since 2008 needs to get out more. It’s been going on since the 1930’s Depression.

There has always been and always will be people who are smarter, more ambitious and thus wealthier than others. Get used to it and perhaps try to emulate them.

Rather than crying in envy of the ultra-rich, one might seek a way to mitigate their distance from the poor, other than the stupidity of raising taxes. A good subject for another letter.

And the oil sands a waste of money?

The real waste is the billions of dollars that Alberta et al. pour into the equalization pot that provides Quebec with social programs the rest of us can’t afford, as well as the lowest post-secondary tuition fees in the country.

But that still doesn’t satisfy Montreal’s narcissistic protesters.

Jim Corder

Nanaimo