Letters
Dear Republic:
Re: “How about the Vancouver ducat,” Republic issue 148
I think it is a great idea. This kind of closed barter system has been used on some of the Gulf Islands, and there is a similar system in Lund.
However, I believe the answer to the lack of employment would be better addressed if the Canadian economy were to switch from the present monopoly capital system to a competitive free market capital system more like the economies of the undeveloped world.
In the undeveloped world where local business is not dependent on bank credit to operate, there is a vibrant street vendor economy. I've attached a photo I took of a woman who came to me this morning as I waited at the scooter wash. She was selling watches, pens, scissors and flashlights, to name but a few items.
Her capital overhead is very small as she carries her stock around town and uses public transport. The businesses she is competing with that are at fixed locations are more capital intensive with a much larger stock as well as rent and utilities to pay and therefore must charge more for their goods; however they have no means of preventing this low overhead competition.
There are no laws restricting a person's ability to feed their family. Here in Loas, capital that is invested in consumer goods freely competes. We do not allow this in Vancouver; there are laws preventing people from walking the streets selling merchandise in competition with “established” businesses.
The reason we have these restrictions is that in Vancouver, all businesses rely on bank credit and banks will not lend to a business unless they feel that the business has a good chance of success. Street vendors would hinder that chance of success without providing any benefit to the bank as they do not rely on bank credit for their capital needs.
Hence the modern merchant guild known as City Hall creates laws to protect bank capital from competition. That is the function in the developed world of the central banking system—to prevent free competition for available capital. Since people are, by law, in the developed world prevented from feeding their families as they wish, we have institutionalized charity in the form of handouts.
—Guy Hawkins, Pakse, Laos Dear Republic:
Matt Goody's fine column review of Bob Dylan's Modern Times (issue 148) brought The Republic to my attention. My family and I will emigrate to Vancouver on December 1st. I'd like to subscribe as soon as we settle in.
—Dr. Peter J. Glassman, Palo Alto, CA
Dear Republic
Your letter writer Jon Scop (issue 147) is apparently puzzled and maligned by the "go away" signs left on cars with US license plates. Well Mr Scop, welcome to the real world outside Fortress America. I can assure you that most Canadians, including myself, would happily shake your hand at immigrating to Canada, especially since you evidently have a social conscience and are aware of the problems on the other side of the border.
I suspect however that you have not traveled that much outside North America, otherwise you would know that anti-American signs (Go home Yanqui! etc) are commonplace all over the world, and have been for decades. If you don't know why then you need to read up on your history, for the US has invaded most countries of the world, militarily, culturally, and religiously, often violently, for more than a century. The Republic often documents or refers to some of these atrocities.
So while you may have escaped the imprisoned, blindfolded, culture that is "America," as an American you will carry your heritage with you, and you will have to suffer the consequences. I wish you and your family luck, but don't expect an easy path, and learn to live with fact that most of the world hates your nation and all it stands for.
—Jim Hudson, Delta BC
Dear Republic:
What a nice photo on the cover of the October 4th issue of the Burnaby Now newspaper: Anglican priestess Stephanie Shepard practicing one of the rituals of the Old Ways.
Similarly, it'll be even nicer when we have ringside seats at authentic services held to honor the ancient dieties, in the 2010 Olympic Games. Then, as the religion of the antichrist takes pride of place—“first among equals”—all state-licensed churches which actually practice the Babylonian mysteries can dispense with the cover story of pretending to be “Christian.”
Readers may be forgiven if they’ve never heard that Baron de Coubertin revived the Olympics primarily as the vector for a one-world religion. It’s been well hidden. Especially the financial aspect.
How droll it will be when the bills come due, listening to the cries of outrage as British Columbians learn that not only has the Olympic fantasy cost many times what we were misled to believe, taxes are being misappropriated by shameless charlatans.
I urge true Christians who’ve been deceived until now, to study, to show yourselves approved, find out why the Olympiad was banned. Then figure out for yourselves what Jesus Christ meant when he said “Render to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar; render to God that which belongs to God”
—Gordon Watson, Burnaby BC
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