Democracy Defined. Olympics YES or NO ?!?
 

Next Saturday, February 22nd, I get to cast my vote in a citywide plebiscite on whether or not we the taxpayers of Vancouver support the city/province bid for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

And while there's been a lot of doubts about the legitimacy and weight of the outcome...I'm pretty excited to be part of a unique test of democracy...and depending on the results will probably seen in news media across the world.

Here's the wording of the Plebiscite:

"Do you support or do you oppose the city of Vancouver's participation in hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Para-olympic winter games?"

My question for you is....In the face of the above question, would you vote "Yes" or "No".....

Im voting a big fat NO and not for the obvious lefty reasons....Vancouver has a long history of efficient and intelligent urban planning. A fantastic balanced work-live-play environment and thats what everybody supposedly loves about this place. I think the 7 years of construction development hell and overall disruption caused to a 40 year tradition of respect for urban development will be jeopardized and thats not worth some lame ass two week adverisement for stupid ROOTS Berets.

Using The Big Dig in Boston as an example, I'm pretty sure all the business owners and residents of those neighbourhoods decimated by an eternity of boondoggled development would have loved a chance to vote on that megawaste project...

My hubby is in the 115 union and he received a letter from his union imploring him to vote YES. Of course this is due to the fact that the amount of construction that will be needed will create alot of new work for union members.

He will vote no, as will I.

BUT, don't be fooled into thinking this vote is going to make even the slightest of difference. The liberals have already stated it's 'just to see' what the public opinion is, and will not sway their bid.

It's pretty sad....all this money for a vote that won't even count....not to mention that the Liberals, yet again, won't listen to what their public desires.

But then again, what can we expect from a premier who's a drunk and a criminal in Hawaii. :glugglug