To the editor,
There is anger and frustration galore being directed to the residents of Discontent City. They are the symptom of disease in our society and that is that the rich are getting richer and taking an enormous piece of the pie, which is all the wealth that Canada holds. The estimated stash of Canadian money being hidden in offshore tax-free accounts is now trillions of dollars.
Just barely above the tenters are the hidden working class poor with children. Rents are rising, food costs are rising, wages are stagnant, it has become impossible to buy a home, and emergencies are soon going to force them into “vans down by the river” from a Saturday Night Live sketch, which is now becoming a brutal reality.
People are enraged at the drug addiction of the poor. Why is it happening? The longer a person is homeless, the harder it is to lift themselves out of it, because of the shame and worthlessness that they feel, and that is how society views them and treats them. Not worth speaking to.
If they steal something they might end up in a jail cell for a few days, so a bed and three meals a day. But housing people in jails is very expensive and renders them possibly unemployable in the future. It is not an answer.
The addicts are risking death from overdose and/or fentanyl. I think they feel hopeless anyway about themselves and about this society, which loves the rich and hates the poor.
What does our society have to say for itself these days?
Madeline A. Bruce, Nanaimo
The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press or the Nanaimo News Bulletin. If you have a different view, we encourage you to write to us or contribute to the discussion below.