Yes, there will never be a single solution to poverty or social injustices that we see on a daily basis. But one thing remains true, our governmental institutions will always cater to the political class ( aka. the rich) and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future. As we all know, this practice has been ongoing since the formation of our modern day economies.

(I suggest that you read the book “Understanding Power” by Noam Chomsky).

Education remains a key factor if you want to help change the world. If people can see beyond the smoke and mirrors presented by mainstream media outlets (MEGA-CORPORATIONS) or western forms of propaganda, we can all make a difference. It may not happen today or tomorrow, but as history has shown, empires and systems inevitably crumble, only to be replaced by something new or, hopefully, more progressive.

My opinions are generally a bit radical - but we need both sides to pull on an issue. I’m never too neutral or too much of a softie when it comes to political issues.

Politics in Canada, in my opinion, still have a decent balance. There’s of course the influence from the rich that put lobbying pressure on the government, but there’s also the masses that need to be satisfied - to be elected you need to win the heart of not-so-rich people as well so there is always a compromise made. That’s more than enough catering for “those” people, in my opinion.

It’s just rewarding the deserving. Money makes money, right?

I don’t want a single penny spent on re-locating them UNLESS it will get rid of them from the city for good.

Some kind of a labour camp/rehab would be good. That thing you mentioned once (I think it was you) about how Atlanta managed to clean out the city by deporting them - very tempting for me.

It’s my tax dollars. They didn’t pay into the pool. I don’t understand how so many upper-class white people and other social activists think that everybody should be guranteed a certain standard of life regardless of how they have lived? For all I care, I wouldn’t spare a piece of bread if I saw one dying on teh streets from hunger.

I’d rather donate that to Africa - where they got raped by the global corporate injustice and now live in a world of povery which is largely dependent upon the global import/export scheme, as well as the currency exchange system which is essentially there to keep the disparity of wealth and poor between different nations.

They’re the ones who ended up in that situation without much of a choice. Not the people on Hastings/Main. An $8/hour (which is minimum wage, I’m sure you know) job can get them help.

And of course there’s the argument for the 10%(or whatever the figure may be) of homeless people or so that were actually born with mental disabilities or so - we can’t tell the difference, and we can’t justify helping the whole lot so that we don’t sacrifice the few who didn’t have a choice. In any case. Shit happens, and some people are born with disabilities which hinder their ability to survive and that’s how it is.

The reasons the downtown eastside exsists as a the poorest postal code in Canada are complex. However, regardless of why it is exists it is up to the rest of us to take responsibility for its existence rather than wanting to move it somewhere else out of view. A truly responsible society takes care of all its members not just those who have some level of affluence. Just because you and I have done well since immigrating to Canada does not give us the right to villify others that have not done so.

We must work together to remove the root causes of drug addiction, the four pillars approach is one of the most innovative methods that Canada has come up with.

I believe in a federally regulated guaranteed annual income for all Canadian citizens. We as working individuals need to demand that our taxes go to more than overly ambitious public-private partnerships such as the 2010 Olympics.

Did you know that Hastings between Cambie and Main used to be the “Robson Street” of Vancouver when Robson Street was still a dirt road ? It has only been in the last 25 years that Robson has risen to prominence as a commercial district.

before i go further I’d like to comment that you’re probably one of the more intelligent and proactive individuals I’ve met. Unlike that other Jessica bitch we saw on the Facebook group (where this all stemmed from) your arguments are valid, respectable. Whereas Jessica, I felt, was one of those unrealistic dreamy upper-class canadian trying to sound all humanitarian by being so freakin sweet etc.. kinda like that dumb woman from New Orleans who refused to leave with the evacuation team unless she coudl bring her dogs. Give me a break!!!

Anyhow.

Federally regulated income - I don’t agree. Some people are not fit to survive and that’s the law of nature as far as i’m concerned.

As for drug addiction campaigns - I agree. But most peopel who are already tehre are too late to get out of it. Education for those under 20 who still have the Y split ahead of them are the ones who do need to be targeted.

I’ve personally seen a friend (well, semi-quasi ex-gf sorta woman) turn from a wild child to a homeless person. I’ve seen the dynamics and psychology of those who are.. well. beyond help, beyond return. I know the Led Zeppelin song goes “there’s always time to change the road you’re on” but that’s a rarity, and I don’t see justification to pour that much resources on them.

Education and proper guidance to the future generation is what will solve this problem in the long run. I also support creating a city environment where it’s very difficult to survive without a proper lifestyle and a job - it will motivate more people to live a “proper” life.

I support our tax funds going into drug-busting. Hells Angels must go, really.

But then, I must make the point - compared to other places in the world, canada’s very very very very easy to succeed in. And I say that because I’ve lived outside of Canada most of my life! I’ve seen a tough world to make money in. I’ve seen a society where people try adn try but because of the lack of resources they can’t make it. Insurance frauds by getting hit by cars, suicide and such were so common in Korea, espeically druing the depression that happened in 1997 and spread all across asia.

As much as I may come across as a cold-hearted bastard, I’m not. I do believe in creating a world where corporates create a good balance with the people and the ecosystem. I do believe in creating a world with less crimes, less drugs, less beatings, less pollution.

I personally will never drive a large car, ever, unless it ran on electricity, or if I ended up in trades where I need to haul luggage (which i probabliy wont..).

Take the criminal justice system for example. In Singapore, first time drug traffickers get the death penalty. The repeat offenders percentage is zero. The principle is they would rather have 9 innocent guys in prison than to let that one guilty one go free. In the west it is the exact opposite. 9 guilty criminal go free just so we can prevent the one innocent guy from being punished. In either scenario, there are sad and infuriating instances of injustice. Just depends on which you would prefer.

I think that for myself, since I have chosen to be Canadian, I will accept the pros and cons of this system. I understand it is not perfect and the roots of the problems are extremely deep and often very emotional, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like human rights, unions, the justice system, environment, health care, etc. I believe that I have a better chance of obtaining that so called ‘American Dream’ here than in Singapore. I believe that in the West, we live to enjoy life, not just to get through life working to pay for material things. I took the family on a shopping trip to Washington on a weekday last week. In Singapore? Ya right.

What is the cost of your dream ? To drive around in an Escalade, polluting the environment or to make the world better than when you arrived.

To some people driving around in an Escalade or Hummer is all they need to realise the American dream. Some of us think the American dream is what is causing this global catastophe.

If the American dream means SUV and being an over weight chubby who easts fast food morning , noon and night then count me out.

If we are to reward those who make the effort, we cannot reward those who didn’t. they should be punished.

What is the incentive to make more money if it is only to consume more and therefore degrade the planet even more ?

I make an effort to save the planet everyday, I don’t own a car, I don’t own a house [I live in a co-op].

The rewards I seek are to preserve this planet for future generations, however if we continue as you suggest I believe we will be killing our future generations; at the very least subjecting them to extreme conditions that make our lives heavenly.

Check out London England for an idea of what happens when you attempt to give social housing to the poor, the system overloads, some poor get everything, raise their kids to live on dole and others get nothing (on a waitlist), the situation staggered London, and they got rid of all social housing in return for fair (market value) rent supplements welfare recipients ( but, the Recipient had to be Londoners - born or immigrated to the place).

So a fair question is, why should Vancouver have to subsidize housing for non-locals or out-of-province people who just choose the most expensive city in Canada? I personally am not able to afford a SFH in decent condition in Vancouver, so I live in the burbs, why should some who is not raised here get that privilage, there are many more affordable places to live. Reality is: beggars can’t be choosers. Somehow, I don’t feel this is unfair or heartless, just what we all live with.