DEMOCRACY:
government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
OLIGARCHY:
A form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
DECEIVE:
to mislead by a false appearance or statement; delude: They deceived the enemy by disguising the destroyer as a freighter.
Are we living in a democracy
or is that just a deception crafted by the oligarchy?
If you asked most folk living in Nanaimo if we are living in a democracy the answer is likely to be 'yes'. If a democracy is a government by the people, and 73% of them don't vote, is it really a democracy?
Is it really a democracy when a city council offers some good sounding ear-pleasers at election time, and then goes stone-deaf during their term in office?
Do our city councilors truly represent the community or the special interest group that helped them get elected?
The 'arts' community - one member of the oligarchy
There is a well organized group in Nanaimo who would like to call themselves members of the arts and culture community. Whether they truly are artists or just ardent hobbyists is for someone with better judgement than I to determine, but my opinion is that they fall into the later category. Judging by the fact they are unable to support their projects in spite of having a rent and tax free building at their disposal speaks loudly to their credibility.
So, how does this little group manage to cajole one city council a few years ago into throwing at least $600,000 tax dollars into a building of questionable value? They since have had the city taxpayer throw another $100,000 or so at their building and this spring convinced the new council and city manager to waste another $200,000 replacing loose stucco on one end wall.
They now have their hand out for another $120,000 claiming that they are now so successful they need to hire another person. I presume if they get any more successful they will be asking for a million before long.
After this ask, it only makes sense for a future council to throw another $600,000 at the other building envelope issues, either that or just let the building fall into worse shape as water continues to penetrate the outer envelope.
Why, you may ask would nine intelligent people and a highly paid professional staff think it is a good idea to keep throwing good tax dollars into that derelict old building?? The answer is quite simple as one of the oligarchy members seem to have convinced council they can deliver votes come election day, and given that less than 10% of the eligible vote can get you on the city hall gravy train, that promise packs a lot of weight.
What a waste of money!!
Can you imagine how much of an impact $200,000 could have in our community, if we put that kind of money up for grabs to some professional promoters in our town and asked them to just go nuts this year and see what kind of an event they can fund with $200,000 to leverage?
The yield to the community could be many multiples and could give birth to a spectacular event that draws crowds to our little city during the summer festival season.
Instead this city council is choosing to squander $200,000 on a run down building, and another $120,000 in operating subsidies so some little group of hobbyists has a place to play.
That, dear reader is a perfect example of how we have been deceived by the oligarchy into thinking we are in a functioning democracy.
Let them know you choose a democracy
If you want to see this waste of YOUR tax dollars end so some little group of hobbyists can play act, send your city councillor an email, better yet give them a phone call. After all, those are the exact tactics this little band uses to take money out of your pocket so they can play their little games.
This is an election year, councilors do listen during this year, let them hear your voice, and see if they will listen, or continue to be led around by the privileged members of Nanaimo's oligarchy.
It is possible there is far more theatrical performances taking place in the city council chamber, than ever occurs at 25 Victoria Road. It could be argued that is the difference between professionals and rank amateurs.
