Pubdate: Sun, 22 Jan 2006
Source: Kelowna Capital News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006, West Partners Publishing Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.kelownacapnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1294
Author: Katherine Couch

THOUGHTS BEHIND ONE VOTER'S CHOICE

To the editor:

The turning point in the election polls was the dreadful Boxing Day 
Shooting of a 15 year old girl in Toronto. The next day the 
Conservative support increased by six per cent.

Understandably, those persons polled, made an emotional choice. And 
the reaction by party leaders was immediate. Get tough on crime, 
mandatory minimums.

However, the Conservative Party was the only party that did not make 
any effort to address the real issues that underlie violence. If the 
Conservative Party becomes the ruling party, I fear for the country. 
Surely the people of Canada are smarter than to be sucked into "get 
tough on crime" rhetoric. It's all feel good nonsense that makes a 
surface appearance of doing something.

The gun violence in Canada has little to do with being "soft on 
crime" and everything to do with the highly unsuccessful American 
style "war on drugs," a drug war that the Conservatives would support 
and perpetuate.

Let's not forget the horrible violence during alcohol prohibition and 
how it stopped overnight when alcohol was made legal and became a 
regulated substance.

Even right wing Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan has stated emphatically 
in a recent interview on CBC Newsworld that the gun violence problem 
in his city will not be solved by more "get tough on crime" legislation.

If you are thinking of voting Conservative, please reconsider. Think 
about what is truly best for the country. Please don't condemn our 
sons, daughters, nephews, nieces and grandchildren to death on the 
battlefield in a U.S. initiated war. Don't re-stigmatize our gay 
citizens who want to marry. Don't condemn our young women who choose 
abortion to dangerous back alley surgery. Don't endanger our 
environment further by voting for a government that thinks nothing of 
breaking an international agreement by pulling out of the Kyoto 
accord. And don't let the poor suffer while waiting for surgery, 
while our country's surgeons are busy operating on rich people who 
don't have to wait in line.

Katherine Couch,

Nelson
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