To the editor:
After reading Tom Fletcher’s latest word of wisdom; this time on the seemingly empty-headed squealing expected from environmentalists (Another Year of Enviro-wars Begins, Jan. 7 Capital News), some sort of reaction seemed appropriate.
His persistent rants against anything left of far- right would, by now, be hilarious, if they weren’t all such obvious examples of an attitude intent upon building a society obedient to a wealth-creating corporate system, unhindered by regulations, social programs, “overpaid” workers,’ and especially “do gooders” who might upset the whole apple cart by actually putting some thought into the provision of a good, reasonably prosperous, healthy life for each and every citizen, with pleasant living conditions, education, and sufficient nourishment and recreation in a healthy environment.
To Mr. Fletcher, it would appear from the content of his columns, all social programs, wage hikes in general, socialized, single payer healthcare, most things about teachers, environmental caution, or any of a host of genuine concerns which might affect the welfare of his fellow man, and with which good, honest men come to grips daily, are nothing more than annoying inconveniences getting in the way of what he would call “progress” and “wealth creation.”
Wealth creation for whom, I wonder? Does he think that the objects of his attacks are somehow selfishly benefiting personally from the work they do or that his own hard-bitten ideas will produce benefits that will flow freely to all mankind? If so, he should take another good look at what actually goes on, and measure carefully the growing well-being gap that is, as we read this, developing at a rapidly increasing rate throughout the world; mainly due to the very systems that Mr. Fletcher is writing to uphold. It would be a good thing if we were to convince Mr. Fletcher to take a more careful look at the present state of his world, before condemning, out of hand, those who are working, mostly unselfishly, to improve it.
John Ryder,
Kelowna
