Columns: What is enough?

Media pundits aren’t talking much about a recent study suggesting that a mind boggling $21 trillion in assets have been lost.

Media pundits aren’t talking much about a recent study suggesting that a mind boggling $21 trillion (yes that’s a ‘t’) in assets have been lost because the affluent amongst us use global tax havens.

These days politicians talk casually about millions of dollars, even billions (BC Hydro debt) as if it was chump change but even they haven’t gotten to the comfort stage when it comes to trillions. Imagine what a different world this would be if those trillions were shared around.

No more hungry children, no more — well, take your pick. Question: how much money does anyone really need? What is enough?

***

Lower utility costs, federal incentives and business-friendly regulations are driving the growth of solar power among central San Joaquin Valley farmers.

No strangers to using the sun for power, agriculture companies in California are building bigger solar systems with the capacity to supply most of the power they need.

One farm company has installed a solar system to stabilize its own current and future energy needs as well as contributing to the community. Question: will hyrdo power be passé?

***

The B.C. government and the  anti-gang agency are uniting to form a co-ordinated Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team.

The team will crack down on illegal gaming and money-laundering in B.C.’s gaming facilities and “disrupt” organized crime and gang involvement in illegal gaming.

The plan is to prevent criminals from using B.C. gaming facilities to legalize the proceeds of crime. The team intends to raise public awareness of the role service providers play in identifying and reporting illegal gaming and financial transactions.

The team will be located within CFSEU-BC, the government’s anti-gang police agency which is the largest integrated joint forces police unit in Canada. This funding is separate from the $23 million the province is putting into the fight against gangs.

***

A young member of my family has just acquired a car with a standard gear shift. It’s a new experience for her but has memories for me. Been there, done that, with the rabbit hops and stalling at stop signs. She likes it. She says it isn’t boring.

Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.

Williams Lake Tribune