While I’m an outsider and don’t know all the details it seems to be that it’s a rather strange world we live in when a compassion club is busted and arrests are made and a full blown crack house continues to operate although every provincial, city, and RCMP official know of its existence and have tied hands because of the constitution.

The police claim the compassion club became a front for selling marijuana on the street. It seems while the use of medical marijuana is legal for the few that hold licenses selling or giving that marijuana to anyone (even licensed folk) is a criminal offence.

Come on Canada – It’s a well known fact that marijuana is an important pain medication. The only reason it is not legal is because it would hurt pharmaceutical companies. In fact, there are two pharmaceutical pills now available that contain THC. Why is it okay if distributed by the government but a “go to jail card” if in it’s natural form.

So while our dear RCMP dedicated their resources to busting Compassion Clubs (this one has been operating for 10 years) the destructive, filthy, crack houses remain in business – blatantly defying the law because “the constitution” protects them. Sure didn’t protect the Compassion Club and those very ill people who depend on it.

Come on Prime Minister Harper, Premier Gordon Campbell, and City Mayors – Isn’t it time to grow some balls and bust those who should be busted and leave the terminally ill alone.

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The crazy part is it took him this long to figure out there was no coming back. Or perhaps that’s not what it was at all. Perhaps he just didn’t have the courage to stand there and take the whipping he was being dished out for his actions.

Now the trouble is we’ve still got Carole James trudging along. A person who was really there for the party and not personal gain would have walked away from being leader long ago. She seams to be slow to catch on that BC voters simply don’t like her and don’t have the trust in her necessary to run the province.

In fact, on the news tonight she was actually quite annoying. Using this photo op to plug for herself. To be honest I really have my suspicions that she and her party actually knew something about the HST before the election as well. Somehow I don’t think they’re as innocent as they’d like us to believe.

So what’s next for BC politics. Who will lead us into the future. If I’m being honest right now the pickins are pretty darn slim. So I guess we just sit back and wait. After all can it really get any worse.

Then again how many of you would like to wager that even with Campbell gone we will not lose the HST.

Anyone who has lived in Nanaimo for any length of time has heard about the  ‘Yellow house” that’s been a drug house for decades. Yet it seems our local police can’t seem to prove that is what it is.

Last year when one of the neighbors called the police because of ongoing traffic into the wee hours of the morning dispatch told them that they couldn’t do anything unless the complainant could prove they were dealing drugs. Would it not make sense to stick an undercover on the street/corner somewhere and find out for oneself what is going on.

The neighbors do their part to move them on. To stop them from parking in front of their house but they have little to no community support. This summer apparently the place changed hands for the hundredth time and neighbors were told it will be different everyone will be kicked out, and student housing will be offered. It’s like a stuck record.

Nothing changes and its all lies. When it becomes a nuisance property they just bounce it to another absent Vancouver owner, yet the same faces, the same vehicles, the same activity goes on – nothing changes.

This is not the only house in the city with these problems. There are plenty. So here is the question:
1. Why are the police dept’s hands so tied they cannot arrest and make charges stick on an obvious drug house.
2. Why have the neighbor let it go on so long without taking matters into their own hands. While a handful react most bury their head in the sand.
3. What has happened to our society.
4. Since when has meth, cocaine, heroin, or any of these nasty drugs become okay to just ignore. These are our children that are becoming victims. Some of the hookers we see coming out of that house or acting as a mule are little more than children themselves.

I continue to put my neck on the line voicing my opinion about this problem, moving traffic along outside, and being in their face. For that I have taken verbal abuse, physical threats, and vehicle damage. What are my rights? Well not much since I can’t prove who did any of it.

It’s a little ironic don’t you think? The criminal has more rights than they know what to do with, and the taxpayer is supposed pay up and shut up. Kinda makes you wonder doesn’t it.

How did we get here where our values have become so messed up. This is only one episode of a society spiraling downhill. We let criminals who kill people out on the streets and we lock up little old ladies who are trying to protect our forests.

How is it a drunk driver can run a child down and serve little or no jail time but someone who gets caught smoking a joint can go to jail.

Folks we really do need to wake up. We are turning into puppets who just go along with the ridiculous values and laws of our country that do little more than destroy the very core this city was built on.

Food for thought – enjoy the poem and feel free to share.

A Poem Worth Reading

He was getting old and paunchy
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in
And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, every one.

And ‘tho sometimes to his neighbors
His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly
For they knew where of he spoke.
But we’ll hear his tales no longer,
For ol’ Bob has passed away,
And the world’s a little poorer

For a Soldier died today.
He won’t be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary,
Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family,
Going quietly on his way;
And the world won’t note his passing,
‘Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories
From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise
And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country
And offers up his life?

The politician’s stipend
And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate,
To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal
And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians
With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom
That our country now enjoys.
Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier–
His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier,
Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
We find the Soldier’s part
Is to clean up all the troubles
That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor
While he’s here to hear the praise,
Then at least let’s give him homage
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simply headline
In the paper that might say:
“OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.”

I don’t know when the last time was that you were at an SPCA but when I was in with a friend recently I learned the process and cost for adoption has changed dramatically since the last time I was there, which was several years ago. The first thing you need to do is fill out an application, which is understandable, but one has to ask if we’ve gone too far.

Questions regarding having a vet and contacting them. What if this is your first pet? Questions about whether you rent or own. While I understand renters are at risk of having to move and not being able to take their pet but that happens less often than one might think. Besides the lives of homeowners changes too.

Then there are questions about whether children visit and how often, where your dog will stay at night or during the day. How long you will leave your dog at home alone. It becomes a bet overwhelming and the list goes on.

If you aren’t scared away by the application you might be by the prices.

Dogs – General
 $225.00
Dogs – Toy Size
$325.00
Dogs – Purebred (documented by appropriate paperwork)
 $325.00
Puppies (under 6 months) – General
 $315.00
Puppies (under 6 months) – Toy Size
$415.00
Puppies (under 6 months) – Purebred (documented by appropriate paperwork)
 $415.00
Cats
 $110.00
Kittens (under 6 months)
 $140.00

Now at first glance they may not seem all that high, but considering most pets from the SPCA often have issues that have to be dealt with it can make potential adopters consider whether they opt for a dog that they can train from a pup up or take on the problems of an adoption dog. Now don’t get me wrong I’m a strong believer of adoption and have a rescue in my own pack of dogs. But the reality is when prices go up people begin to consider all other options.

The dog adoption fees might not be digestible but the cat prices will make many a person think twice, after all pickup your local paper and you can buy kittens for under $30. The problem with cats is that once they are set in their ways that’s pretty much it so you really don’t know what type of pet you’re going to have until you have the cat home. Dogs will try to please try to learn, cats for the most part see you as their servant.

The argument to lowering prices is we want forever homes for these pets. While that’s wonderful in theory and its hopeful that is the outcome, the reality we don’t have forever homes for children, and marriages break down more times than they succeed so are we being a bit too naive here?

All I’m saying is that perhaps we are so busy making sure that these animals get not just a good home but the very best home that we are missing opportunities to provide them with the love of a good home, instead living out their lives in shelters.