The Times Colonist is a Victoria paper....and as you know, Victoria is the capital of BC. So hardly a rag.
Most of the people we spoke with, felt that their own government had "let down" the US...and they were distinctly unhappy about that and said so. They seemed to want to bring up the subject....we didn't go out of our way to do so.
One young man, early 40's, owned a very impressive antique shop, stopped what he was doing, pulled out chairs for all 3 of us, and we just talked. He trades with people all over the world. It is quite evident from the merchandise he carries and the condition and care of that merchandise, that he cares about a good many things. He was also curious about a good many things. One thing he said surprised me...He noted that Leno and Letterman don't joke about 9-11....From other things he had said, it seemed the might be thinking that perhaps the Administration had "stopped" that....Both of us were startled....and both of us, nearly in unison, said that Americans everywhere don't laugh about 9-11. The Administration had nothing to do with that. The fundamental Islamists had everything to do with 9-11, and so we don't laugh about it.....neither do Leno and Letterman.
Nearly all the folks we talked with are upset about the taxes they are paying....! Most of them brought it up....Nearly all the shop keepers are more than a little concerned about it!
Where we could see the result of high taxes was in the houses...no, not the big lovely estates, nor the ones on the 'tourist trails'....but the ordinary houses around the area....most are in need of painting, cleaning, and landscaping maintanace...things that people let go when money is scarce.
One other thing....Evidently Canada did have a few years ago, about 60,000 troops in the entire Country. Now, there are about 20,000. Is THIS correct????
>>>>p.s. Did the population that you encountered appear to be robust and happy or were they gray and lethargic in a morass of socialistic despondency as the US right would have us believe? <<<< |
