British Columbians will soon be facing a recurring political dilemma. Deciding which provincial party to vote for is much like purchasing a new vehicle in a town with four dealerships. The smallest dealership sells high-end conservative vehicles; the second smallest, eco-friendly electric and hybrid vehicles; the second biggest, station wagons and minivans; and the largest up-sells customers anything and everything. The bosses at the smallest two dealerships are known to be thoughtful and sincere; the boss at the second biggest dealership, vague and illusive and the boss at the biggest dealership, brash, devious and self-serving. What do you do when you are not in the market for what the three smaller dealers are offering, but you hate the thought of being taken for another ride, i.e., ripped off, by the slick advertising and hollow promises of that deceitful operator running the biggest dealership? Not buying anything is one option, but that will only perpetuate the status quo, allowing that notorious and glitzy operation to become even more arrogant, more secretive and more corrupt.
Perhaps it’s time a couple of the smaller lot operators formed a partnership and started selling British Columbians what most of us want: enduring honesty, managerial competence and fiscal prudence. If the Green Party and NDP don’t get their acts together, they will continue to be ideologically-driven losers.
Lloyd Atkins