Pubdate: Thu, 14 Sep 2006
Source: North Island Gazette (CN BC)
Copyright: 2006 North Island Gazette
Contact:  http://www.northislandgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2783
Author: Thomas Toye

'BUMS' IN SCOTLAND TOO

Dear Editor,

Re: Bums Prefer Ocean Views (B.c. Views, Sept. 7).

I have just returned from a two-week holiday visiting my family, most 
of whom emigrated to B.C. around 50 years ago.

I now have two aunts, three cousins and their extended families 
living in Maple Ridge, and I always receive a warm welcome.

I congratulate you on your article, which I read on the internet.

Here in Scotland we have the same problems, with the so-called 
"homeless drug addicts," and we also have the same bleeding heart 
politicians and social workers with their schemes, projects and 
solutions to the problems of crime, illegal squatting on private 
property and vandalism caused by these people.

Throwing public money at them, giving them sympathy, free needles and 
places to inject is all futile.

I know -- I'm a civil servant in the Department of Work and Pensions, 
and the word "work" is simply not in their vocabulary.

We have them here too: people who would rather commit suicide rather 
than do one day's honest hard work in their natural lives.

And why should they do more when our government and its agencies give 
them welfare, so-called community care grants and everything they 
need to lead a very, very comfortable life, all at the taxpayers' expense?

We live in crazy times, and with increasingly crazy liberal 
governments not only tolerating these parasites in our midst but 
encouraging them, things will never change.

Your article was accurate, not only describing the junkie issue in 
Canada, but throughout the Western world.

Thank you.

Thomas Toye

Paisley, Scotland
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MAP posted-by: Elaine