U.S. has beaten world’s ‘big bullies,’ not been one
Letter-writer Ken Linforth, commenting on the U.S., wrote, “imagine if they built new avenues for the betterment of mankind” instead of being “big bullies on the block.”
These “bullies,” with their allies, defeated Nazi Germany, Japan and Italy in the Second World War, who were attempting world domination. Peaceful/appeasement overtures were offered and rejected. More than 60 million people were slaughtered before the Allies won.
Currently, we have North Korea, Iran, Russia, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah, al-Qaida and 56 other terrorist groups all wanting to destroy Western civilization. As to the armament companies, soldiers and armies can’t fight these enemies with nice words and flowers.
Of course, most desire a peaceful world. But it’s Pollyannaish not to recognize that others don’t. Cherryl Katnich, Maple Ridge
Transit savings suggested
Re: Transit survey. As a transit-user of 15 years, I have the following thoughts:
n The current three-zone transit system already fulfils the pay-for-distance thinking in the survey.
n Reducing fares in non-peak hours doesn’t best serve the majority of transit riders who use the system to commute.
n The SkyTrain and bus-transit companies should be merged as the cost savings would be large.
n Now that the fare gates are installed, there should be a review of transit policing and security to save money.Savings should be passed along to transit-users.
Bob Atchison, Surrey
Grants must change
If school taxes are unfair because they’re tied to property assessments, the solution is simple. Tie the Homeowner Grant to property assessments.
The really unfair part of the tax system is that the provincial government gives the exact same amount of grant to all property owners no matter where they live in B.C.
Dale Laird, Vancouver
Young should open eyes
Having been a post-secondary instructor for 25 years, and thereby aware of how uninterested many 18- to 25-year-olds are about learning history, I’m inclined to accept the validity of a recent survey that indicated nearly 50 per cent of that age group are indifferent to the issue of preserving democratic ideals and forms of governance.
Their appallingly low turnout to vote in elections is one manifestation of their disconnect from the issues and systems that profoundly affect the character and quality of all our lives.
If you don’t pay attention, make little or no effort to understand what is happening in politics and why, you surrender your to right to complain when you raise your head from your digital devices and realize that the world doesn’t care about you either. Ray Arnold, Richmond
Pet-sale ban hasty
I was shocked at the quick decision made by Vancouver councillors to prohibit sales of dogs and cats at pet stores, which was induced by an outcry of people who may not know all the facts about this particular pet store.
Our justice system usually takes more than two years to convict or release a murder suspect, but it only took some emails to convince Vancouver councillors to halt the sale of pets in a retail environment. Hmm ...
I have always adopted my pets from the SPCA, usually old dogs that need a loving retirement home and they have exuded their appreciation for the caring provided as they near the end of life. That being said, I feel for Ernest Ang, because he has been in business for almost 40 years and nothing I have read suggests that it has been disreputable. I didn’t see any complaints about the health of the cats and dogs that have been sold from his store.
I’m just questioning the quick, knee-jerk reaction of Vancouver politicians to a small group of people who may not have all the facts.
Dee McCuaig, Gibsons