LETTER – Trump would be proud of tag team pros Harrison and Forseth
(Screengrab, B.C. Fed video)
Dear Armchair Mayor:
I’m glad to see that your publication is open to the inclusion of a range of views and opinions on current issues. But, two recent, concerted attacks on the NDP from the tag team of Jim Harrison and Alan Forseth cause me to wish for a little more balance. These frequent contributors to the Armchair Mayor choreographed their Oct. 24 moves like two old ring pros from Wrestlemania . Sure, they were a little stiff maybe, with way too much make-up, but they knew how to dish it out.
Harrison’s assertion that people should postpone having kids until they can afford the costs of providing daycare for them was the pair’s most impressive move. His “if you can’t afford ‘em, don’t have ‘em” approach took the usual right wing rant against anything progressive to a new level. Donald Trump himself would have been proud! It was huge!
In Harrison’s British Columbia, if you do make the mistake of having children before you’re wealthy, you’re on your own. Don’t expect his kind of government to commit any funds at all to pay for your childcare, or for that matter, any other services that your children may need: education, healthcare, libraries, social services, or parks. After all, they’re not his kids!
Harrison’s current opposition to the BCNDP’s $10-per-day childcare initiative is not new. It’s just a new verse to the same old reactionary tune that has always opposed genuine social progress. It was whistled against public education when it was first proposed. It was whistled again in Canada when people like Tommy Douglas championed a publicly funded healthcare system. And now, Harrison and his team-mate Forseth, join in with their opposition to the B.C. Federation of Labour’s $15 per hour minimum wage campaign.
Mistakenly referring to the B.C. Fed as a union, Forseth castigates it and the BCNDP for their proposal. He states boldly, that raising minimum wages “kills jobs” but, offers no evidence for his claim. In fact, he ignores considerable information which indicates the exact opposite. I encourage readers of the Armchair Mayor to visit the B.C. Fed’s website to see why its campaign is garnering so much support.
In the meantime, I look forward to the next edition of the Armchair Mayor.
PETER NORTHCOTT
Kamloops
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Hi Alan:
Thanks for your response. And, if I may, a couple of my own . . .
First, I agree with you that increasing the number of well-paid unionized jobs would be a major benefit to our economy. It’s quite likely that we may differ on what are the best areas of the economy in which to place our future job growth plans.
Second, on the issue of minimum wage, you mention that it is your own personal observation that forms the basis for your opinion. Who am I to say that your eyes have deceived you? All I would suggest, is that you glance at some of the studies that have been done on the subject. While, the conclusions are far from unanimous, there is ample evidence to show that, in many circumstances, increasing minimum wages have positively affected the economies in question.
Regards
Peter
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Good evening Peter …
You are correct that I mistakenly referred to the BC Fed as a union. Of course it is not, it is an organization umbrella group of unions in BC, of which I was very much aware.
As to raising minimum wages and decreasing jobs. I guess I am old enough to see with my own eyes how non-skilled minimum wages jobs just keep decreasing, and all in tandem with increases in minimum wages.
I stand by my statement that the NDP standing with, and in partnership with, their BC Federation of Labour buddies to get GOOD well paying union jobs, will accomplish a LOT more than increasing the minimum wage ever will. More construction / industrial jobs equals more taxpayers with higher taxes being paid, more spin-off jobs for the particular construction / trades suppliers which again equals more taxes … and with more people working, there will be more people shopping so that mom and pop stores and chains will need to hire more staff.
Win Win for everyone … including the government which will now have more revenue for social services, education, and health.
As for $10 a day daycare, again I guess I’m old enough to recall when parents had families that were in line with what they could support and look after themselves.
Surprise surprise … the more that gets dished out to people who want / expect a handout, the more taxes everyone ends up paying. Unfortunately too many people don’t see / recognize that we need to again take a look at whether we should expect the government to look after us, no matter what we decide we want / should have / deserve … or take responsibility for ourselves.
Nuff said
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