Letters  

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Dear Republic:

The trouble with regional transit planning in the GVRD is that it's “retarded” and stuck in the 1950s. The reason? The SkyTrain. SkyTrain is a very expensive proprietary system first developed by Ontario's Urban Transportation Development Corporation and was very notable for its lack of sales. In a crass political deal, the then Bill Bennett Social Credit government bought the system, renamed it ALRT, renamed it again SkyTrain, and forced it on the region.

So expensive was SkyTrain that instead of getting originally planned-for LRT to Coquitlam, Surrey, and Richmond, the region got SkyTrain to New Westminster only.

The Glen Clark government again forced more SkyTrain on the region at a cost of about four times that of light rapid transit construction. The Canada Line to the airport is just more of the same, except the so-called P-3 consortium realizes how expensive SkyTrain is and opted for a generic "Hyundai" system instead.

To date, including the now over $200 million annual subsidy paid to SkyTrain, the taxpayer has invested over $5 billion into the system, but with little positive results, as TransLink can't show a noticeable modal shift.

So expensive is SkyTrain that it has given rise to the myth that "there isn't the density for rapid transit in Surrey, Langley, and beyond." Utter rubbish, as there are scores of light rail operations that operate quite happily in low density areas. For the cost to date for SkyTrain, the region could have had 200 km of LRT route, not only serving Vancouver and Burnaby, but Richmond, Surrey, Langley, and the Coquitlams! Such an extensive network would have provided an attractive alternative to the car.

But it is not to be; the TransLink "Ship of fools," abetted by their equally inept bureaucrats, still plan for hugely expensive rapid transit systems. The so-called Evergreen LRT line costing over $90 million/km to build, has more in common with SkyTrain than LRT. In Spain LRT is being built for as low as $5.75 million/km.

Here lies the problem: the GVRD has become unique in the world, planning for hugely expensive systems on routes that do not and will not have the ridership to sustain the mode. Massive hidden annual subsidies keep the truth from the public that SkyTrain is bankrupting the region, yet TransLink still plans for more. SkyTrain's huge construction costs mean that new highway building programs are and will be a cheaper option.

TransLink and GVRD transportation planners couldn't even plan and design an outhouse, let alone understand its function.

—Malcolm Johnston, Light Rail Committee, Delta, BC

Dear Republic:

It was very interesting to read about today's Eastern Ukaine (“Got chicken heads?” Republic issue 154), though Pushkin has very little to do with the Ukrainian spirit. Gogol, yes.

But I would dare to mention one thing: though the life in that part of Ukraine resembles a black and white film, the Ukrainians still invite the Americans to help to brighten that “film” hoping that they cannot only be critics but also good partners to update the situation and to participate in the construction of a new Ukraine, a real friend for the American and Western democracies.

—Ivan Petryshyn

Dear Republic:

I myself have lived in Ukraine and yes there is a big difference between rich and poor.

But do not forget the revolution only took place just over ten years ago, and look at your own country ten years after you became independent. Your reporter did not look at all sides of this country: farming is big and there is the up and coming capital city. I think he could have put a lot more positives in his article .

You are lucky to be in a well-developed country, so please do not put Ukraine down. They are learning faster than most people in third world countries.

So please keep your rich country reporting to yourself.

I was born in England and now reside in Australia when not working in Ukraine. Keep a more open mind.

—Steve Schaap, Ukraine

Dear Republic:

It is apparent to me that Mr Bostock’s understanding of the current situation in the Middle East is limited to US propaganda. (Letters, Republic issue 154).

The answer to both of your questions is “Israel.” You are obviously too young to have defended this great country at anytime in its history, since you seem to feel the defence of a person’s home and family from military tyranny is a criminal act.

You are both a coward and a poor representation of a Canadian and I hope you are never forced to choose like the people of the occupied territories have had to.

—Eric Hughes

Dear Republic:

I was very happy to read your article, “Building number 7 is the key” (Republic issue 154). Unfortunately, after convincing, rational, and reasoned explanations are given of the actual event, speculation is then introduced as to the perpetrators and it goes from the military to international bankers to illuminati to . . . .

I have no idea and no way to form an opinion as to who perpetrated 9/11, but that is inconsequential. We need only to know that what happened and what is officially presented as happening are not the same. Those people giving us the incorrect information are lying to us.

Now the people responsible for 9/11 aren't about to go “Oh, oops, yeah I guess you caught us.” No, these people are extremely powerful and have the resources to carry on regardless of what we think. But it is not just the US government that is implicated. Canada has the second command position at NORAD, and, also, our CSIS personnel would not settle for “unknown causes”; these are professionals and know differently.

I'm not suggesting that these people know the perpetrators, but they knew at the time of the events that the official version was a lie. But so did all the allies: no one said anything. Why? Because the word “allies” is only a more modern form of the word “vassal.” We allies are all vassals of America.

—Guy Hawkins, Laos

Dear Republic:

Your clearly unresearched opinion article on the events surrounding the World Trade Centre (“Building number 7 is the key”) focuses the voice of reason on Ben Chertoff, research editor for Popular Mechanics magazine, and cousin to Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security.

I find this detail disturbing since the focus of Popular Mechanics magazine is articles promoting the sophistication of advanced weaponry and new technology used by police in areas such as crowd control and “anti-terror” operations. A hefty chunk of its advertising revenue relies on the military and defence contractors. Since the invasions of Afghanistan, Iraq, and in the future, Iran, all cite 9/11 as a pretext. What motivation does the magazine have to conduct a balanced investigation and risk upsetting its most coveted clientele?

The details of the controlled demolition of WTC 7 brought down by thermane cutter charges was deliberately omitted from the 9/11 Commission Report because even mention of this glaring smoking gun would cause an investigation into the other two buildings that experienced global collapse and fell at the speed of free fall (defying physics) from fire.

I am only observing facts, not playing the conspiracy card. I find it equally disturbing to witness pools of thermite (liquid metal) pouring out of the building seconds before structural collapse and demolition squibs bursting out of the buildings 20 to 30 floors below any damaged areas. I hope we have enough freedoms left, and people with the strength to find answers can manifest change right now.

The conspiracy theory I find most interesting is the history of Fluoride which never existed on earth before the process was invented for refining uranium for weapon use. It was first used by the Nazis and added to the water supply to make the camp inmates docile so they could be marched into ovens without protest. Today it is added to 80% of municipal water supplies and given to children in pill form for oral health. The result is presidents like Bush because only half of the population votes and the other half couldn’t give a shit if Dibold voting machines actually worked or buildings fell to the ground on CNN.

—Leonard Reibin

Dear Republic:

In “Number 7 is the key,” thank you for articulating how large groups of people “engage in the common telling of lies . . . to sustain their place in life,” and how “people may not even be consciously aware of their participation in a conspiracy,” e.g., how the racist belief that Jews were not human facilitated the Holocaust.

Another such fallacy that comes to mind is homelessness—the classist belief that it’s acceptable for some to be without homes. We must rigorously examine our belief systems to debunk the idea that that homelessness is naturally occurring, rather than a social injustice, and find more constructive responses to the problem than guilt. By not doing so, we perpetuate and participate in this terrible lie.

Of course, large groups of people from all classes can examine their belief systems and engage in resistance, e.g., getting involved with grassroots groups fighting the injustice, or writing to BC Liberal Finance Minister Carole Taylor (carole.taylor.mla@leg.bc.ca, David Emerson, “Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics” (emersd@ parl.gc.ca), and the mayor & city council (mayorandcouncil@ vancouver.ca). There’s also a meeting coming up on Thursday January 25 at City Hall, 9:30 am regarding a motion for a moratorium on SRO conversion.

– A. Schmidt, Vancouver

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