Dan Cebuliak
WHAT REASON IS NOTHING REALLY HAPPENING IN PORT ALBERNI?
The biggest reason "nothing" is happening, is a pure and simple answer, there is no money available to facilitate those idea's that may help propel Port Alberni. Since the recession of 1981/82 Port Alberni has been struggling, and the problems keep mounting because there is no, and has been no concrete vision put out by it's citizens. As many have pinned their hopes on some white night with billions of dollars to spend, and resurrect the second coming. Most idea's that have been put forth are strictly for the benefit of a few, this formula hasn't changed in over 30 years. People talk about shopping local. Well local to me is buying goods MADE IN CANADA, not made in China, Taiwan, Viet Nam, Haiti, India etcetera. Buying these goods where wages are low, and then selling them for the highest possible price, how is that good for economies? There are many people in many trades where you can buy tools, no longer made in Canada, but elsewhere, Even tools that I used to buy for woodworking are no longer made in Canada. Geez even our lumber that we buy is no longer made in Canada, and the product we do get is of lower quality, while the better quality wood is sold overseas. We talk about log exports, our mills are almost to the starving point of getting raw material here. There goes the economy. Yes it all sounds negative, but problems are rarely positive. It is the solutions that are positive!
Research has shown that as many as 87 people have as much money as half the world's population. Can you see where there is an economic problem? Picture a pyramid. We, as working people make up the base, money filters to the top, not the bottom, and many wonder the reason we are in economic despair. Until WE get our proverbial poop in a group, we will always be hewers of wood, and drawers of water. It is time for an all out Town Hall meeting to address these problems and come up with workable solutions. We will continue in a downhill slide otherwise. Our increasing underemployment and unemployment are a testament to that. We live in a system that was designed to fail, and create shortages; money, food, housing, jobs, and we fight over what is left, the meager scraps thrown out to us! How many businesses are going to open and chase after money that is in short supply? There are many people who refuse to address the problem and only focus on the glitz and glitter. They are focused on what can be done tomorrow, without addressing the problems of today, or learning from the lessons of yesterday!