Election results May 12, 2009
For a deeper perspective and greater context, here's an article by Howard Zinn, a veteran activist for progressive causes (whole article at http://www.peace.ca/ongettingalong.htm ) I find it poignant and relevant for us progressives at this juncture:
"Don't look for a moment of total triumph. See it as an ongoing struggle, with victories and defeats, but in the long run the consciousness of people growing. So you need patience, persistence, and need to understand that even when you don't "win," there is fun and fulfillment in the fact that you have been involved, with other good people, in something worthwhile. "
And still we must deal with the fact that the citizens of BC have gone to the polls. The results are amazing to me, as is the disappointingly low turnout, about 50%. We now must pick up the pieces, knowing that we now have to remain particularly on guard, and still fully and deeply appreciate that we live in a country with countless resources and blessings.
Here's what we've got: (quoting from an open letter to BC's environmental leaders by Dan Bouman):
The common theme of the Liberal Party is the well-orchestrated destruction of progressive democratic processes. In British Columbia we are seeing the rise of a plutocracy; government for the rich. My friends working in other social justice fields advise me that the same pattern of destruction of accountability, transparency and public empowerment has occurred in many other areas such as health, education, housing, poverty law, labour relations, social welfare, management of the judiciary etc. The Liberal government has also used this theme to address environmental policies; deregulation, public disempowerment, destruction of accountability, elimination of transparency, and disdain towards the democratic processes. ..." Daniel Bouman, founding member Sunshine Coast Conservation Association
You can read the full article here: http://billtieleman.blogspot.com/2009/05/environmentalist-da...
We gotta keep on keeping on. Together.
