Live From China

Isn't that the problem we are now starting to face? The size of the skilled labor force is decreasing. This is a worry in many sectors.

Almost as beautiful as Sanya, Hainan Island, China or Jasper National Park. I would have thought that with such beautiful scenery you would like Vancouver. Why do hate it so much, Jerry? Traffic, not a millionaire, etc.?

Then you haven't thought about or researched the issue very carefully. I was talking about commuting large distances in a private automobile. I have a friend, a published author, who has written several books about the changing world of work. He has been the keynote speaker at several conferences and has been on radio and TV talk shows. One of the areas on which he speaks is the fact that commuting in such a manner is detrimental financially, environmentally, socially and physically. If it wasn't, then urban and regional planners wouldn't waste the time, money and effort trying to "plan around" this problem. Of course, you are doing your part by using public transit. But then it sounds like you aren't coming in from Abbotsford or Chilliwack. What's absurb or preposterous is trying to use the fact that men won't be using a women's hospital as some sort of an analogy. Hospitals form part of an essential service and are not part of the environmental nature of a place. When you spend virtually all your time inside, the outdoor environment will not be of a huge benefit to you whether you live in Vancouver, or Calgary, or Edmonton. I am, of course, excluding a place like Beijing which is horrendously crowded, noisy and polluted. Canadian cities do not approach this extreme. And most people don't! Speaking only of outdoor recreation here.

Here is some food for thought for you. A disabled single mother, who became disabled at work who gets screwed over by WCB, and receives less than $700 a month in disability and social services, is raising two children. Children who should be entitled to post secondary education, but who can forget it - there wont be any money for that. Yet. this persons mother, who never worked a day in her life, never contributed one cent to taxes, CPP or anything else, is raking in almost $1400 a month with all the different programs. It would never occur to mommy dearest to contribute one cent to her daughter or her grandchildren because she is a senior citizen and deserves her free ride. Where is the justice or the rational in this scenario? Seniors purchased homes for their families when it cost them about $10,000.00 for a new and nice house. Now they are sitting pretty on property worth anywhere from $500,000.00 to $1 million - The buying power of today's families is very much reduced from that of their parents at the same age. Kids should support their parents? Not bloody likely when you consider how many parents refuse to help out their kids these days. If your child hits 21 does that mean all your responsibility is finished? But when you hit 65 you are suddenly entitled to financial support from your kids? Hell no. I know several people who have taken mom or dad to ER and left them there, and I support them their own families should come first. The sandwich generation are raising their own families, trying to put kids through college, working two jobs, paying exorbitant mortgages and the last thing they need is to take on the care of a parent who didnt plan for their own retirement. Raising children is much harder these days, they still need to be fed, cared for, they still generate laundry etc just like they did in the 1950's and 60's but now there is the presence of the media, and the internet to supervise and control, there are much more pitfalls and dangers out there. Kids are more mobile these days and there is more violence in society. And drugs etc. Here's another situation a friend told me about . "One time I was in the drugstore and this old bat pulled up in a $60,000 car, wearing a fur coat, dripping with rings - expensive ones and then bitched her head off that she had to pay a $5 dispensing fee for her FREE medication. The Pharmacist looked at her and said "Mam there is a single parent behind you who is going to pay $200 for her childs prescriptions, please step aside, I have more important things to do then listen to you ."

If one has to spend anywhere from an hour to two hours commuting to work this automatically negates any benefit they gain from where they are living. The stress would just not be worth it! In fact, the stress is probably strong enough to eventually chop years off your life. Or the fatigue of that daily grind could inevitably lead to a fatal accident. Ah, the-least-of-many-evils theory. You definitely wouldn't like Shanghai

In reality, the recipients are just part of society.

Kamloops, Kelowna, Comox, Campbell River, Penticton and Vernon. I think the Rockies are far more beautiful and spectacular (not warmer of course) than the area around Vancouver. And I lived in Vancouver for 8 years and I grew up in BC.

Part of me really wants to by a home for all the advantages stated above. There are currently "forces" stopping me from doing that. It's a long story! In a sense, I am "throwing away" money on rent, but on the other paying rent ensures my survival, which is what life is really about - I guess.

My paraphrasing of kimmy's post was intended to show that many Vancouverites are no more outdoor or recreationally oriented than anywhere else. Nor are they any more cultured or urbane (it all fits together). In fact, many are probably not oriented that way at all. And, in a way, whether or not they utilize the "backyard" is relevant. When you spend most of your time driving to work, in front of the TV, at the mall, etc., why is where you live so important? (Of course, I am excluding places like Inuvik or Lower Post). I seem to recall a mind-boggling statistic that said the average Canadian (whatever that is) spends on average 15 minutes per day outside. Of course, I would rather drive to the mall in the rain than in a blizzard I think a huge part of the attraction of places like Vancouver and Victoria is the weather, and specifically, the winter weather. Just think if our ancestors had been afraid of the cold the way many people are today, Canada wouldn't even exist. If I was still involved climbing and ski touring I would rather live in Jasper, Banff or Squamish, than Vancouver.

Have to agree with you there, geoffrey. Having done climbing and ski touring in both areas, I am under the impression that peaks and areas in the Rockies were/are more accessible. Had friends who did a lot of mountaineering on Vancouver Island. Most only worked part-time and thus could take off the large amounts of time required to access the mountains on the island. Again, well said! I lived in Vancouver for 8 years. I have always been under the impression that when one casts any "doubts" upon Vancouver (don't like the rain, the traffic, and the like), the people who are die-hard Vancouverites take it as a personal affront, as if you had actually slapped them in the face. Vancouver is a beautiful city and has much to offer (provided you have the money), but it isn't, never has been, and never will be the centre of the Universe.

I don't think anyone can dispute the beauty of Vancouver's "backyard." But, how many people actually utilize that backyard? Yes, Vancouver is a city for outdoor recreation enthusiasts (this could even include people who enjoy walking, painting, photography, etc.). In comparison to places like Calgary or Edmonton the numbers are probably relatively high. But overall, the majority of Vancouverites probably spend their time travelling to and from work, sitting in front of the TV, mowing their lawn on weekends, and visiting WalMart. Dullsville all the way! Gee, sounds like people living elsewhere. In short, they do not use the backyard for which Vancouver is known. To paraphrase kimmy, "I've seen nothing to support the theory that folks in these places are more cultured or sophisticated or urbane than anywhere else." (Italics mine).

Well said, kimmy!

I am not saying that Vancouver is not a beautiful city. And the access to outdoor is great. I personally think the rock climbing in Squamish is great. However, overall for recreation, I preferred the Rockies and the Selkirks. Think of the hours this detracts from enjoying the outdoors, or enjoying life period. The stress (especially if you had to commute from Abbotsford everyday) would ultimately take its toll. It is actually dangerous! Not to mention costly, and hard on the environment. It would be interesting to find out the numbers of people commuting in from Surrey, White Rock, etc. everyday. Yes, there is no such thing as a perfect world. Then I never said there was nor even implied it. Living elsewhere isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. The warmer winters in Vancouver or Victoria. Absolute zero everywhere else I would live in Winnipeg if I had to. And everyone would like a cheaper place to live with less traffic. Even those in Vancouver want Vancouver to be that way. Again, it isn't an all-or-nothing proposition. Beautiful house, by the way! But it isn't run down enough for me

If you have more than an average income. A lot more! Many people are driving in from Abbotsford, even Chilliwack to go to work in Vancouver! This detracts from the quality of life. I personally don't like the rain and gloom in the winter. And many retired people are leaving (gasp!) Vancouver for a better life elsewhere in BC. I am sure this is heresy, but there you have it! When I lived in Vancouver, it just became more ludicrously expensive and difficult to live there. Traffic jams rival those in Shanghai. And let's remember, Shanghai has a population that makes Vancouver look like a backwater village.

I am from BC and even so, I totally agree with you. What I find really strange about this snobbery is that it seems to imply that the snobbish individual (they are boors really, even under that so-called West Coast sophistication) is somehow personally responsible for creating the weather I am also tired of the attitude that somehow they were just so wise and blessed to have picked Vancouver or Victoria in which to live. I will agree that Calgary is ugly, but then so is Kamloops, Kelowna, Vancouver, and (hold on!) even parts of hallowed Victoria. They all have their unimaginative, somber suburbs.

I guess I am looking for some information here. I have heard quite a few contradictory views about home ownership: (1) If you don't own a home by the time your 35, you are a loser! (2) A home is one of the worst investments you can buy (based on the fact that you end up paying far more than what it is worth; principle v. interest). (3) Homes are moneypits. Homes are dream killers. (4) You must have a home, otherwise, you are throwing your money away. Etc., etc., etc. I have been a co-owner of two homes. I enjoy having my own place (sometimes) but generally find homes and home ownership a pain in the ass. Homeowners can be boring, especially when all they do on weekends is mow their lawn. Funny thing, I enjoy building them. I have built one for someone else. What do people think?

I don't think that people from one province are any more obsessed with money than those from another province. What I do see and year - and it concerns me - are young people who are obsessed with money, money, money They are heading to Alberta for money, money, money! Some get jobs pulling in (clearing!) $7000 per month. Many are in for a real shock when the boom dies and they have to scuttle back to jobs where they "only" make $15/h. But what really concerns me is the young people that are sacrificing their youth for money. I don't hear them talking about political, social or environmental issues, education or goals. What I hear is big house (and even bigger house later), big truck, car, snowmobile, the fight in last night's hockey game, how much I drank on the weekend, etc. And they are materialistic as hell. They are far more concerned with possessions than anything else! And many of their knick knacks get stuffed into boxes that end up in a storage locker or in the garbage dump! Even weirder is the I-can't-make-it-on-80K-a-year song they sing! The depth of their conversation (other than the "deep" topics above) are their bills. And many seem to be "as dull as ditchwater." They are sacrificing any dreams (some don't have any other than money and things) they might have for money. But I know that by the time many are in their 40's, we will be hearing, "If only I had . . . ."

All interesting points of view. Again, I guess we look at this in several ways. If we are simply trying to save money, then wouldn't it be more expensive to "kill welfare', but then turn around and hire more police? Or is there some kind of "punishment motive" here? (Just speaking in general terms here; not saying this is your motive). If one is on welfare, they are automatically defrauding the system, and have to be punished for their evil ways. I guess the question here is, "Why do we get so upset about people being on welfare?" Yes, I do not want to see people living in poverty. Yes, I would rather see welfare recipients get training, have a better life, etc. But given that there will always be poor people, I doubt we can ever "kill welfare." And I doubt most recipients are fraud artists, as many of them are children. The word "kill" is interesting. If we "killed welfare", driving people into a hand-to-mouth existence, how long would it be before they were not just breaking into our houses, but killing us for food and money?

An interesting question. Perhaps we can look at it this way: let's say we could vote to kill welfare. Then the people who collect welfare are probably going to be breaking into your house to find money (or stuff to steal to sell for money) or food. So, killing welfare, would probably be "acting against your best interest."

This reminds of a story. Several years ago, a friend of mine owned several dump trucks. He was hired to deliver a load of gravel to the site of a newly built house. When he arrived, the senior who owned the place bragged about the new house (paid for in cash), the new car, and the home that her and her husband stayed in Arizona every winter. She was rather shocked when he handed her the bill. Her reply was apparently something like, "Don't I get a senior's discount?" His reply was, "Not bloody likely!"

Thanks crazymf. All the best in 2007!

You're taking this way too seriously! Wilber, I will admit that street racing has become a really problem. Too much power in the hands of brainless people!

Ah yes, the truck with the flames. Or the muscle car with the huge hood scoop. I always figured it should be made of glass so the driver could see through it. Actually, I am not stereotyping you. If anything, I am talking about them. Also, wo bu shi Zhongguoren; (I am not Chinese).

I'll agree with this. Rednecks don't just live in small towns. Or is Alberta and Saskatchewan. And, yes, they can be friendly until you insult their muscle car. I actually saw two of them go at it in a bar because one said to the other,"Your car sucks!". (I am not joking about this). When they live in cities, I think we tend to call them criminals instead. Wait a minute! It couldn't have been more obvious; I definitely know you are not a redneck. You can read and write (of course, you could have got someone to do it for you)

Sorry, B. Max, wrong on all counts. I live in a resource-based town (from Shanghai to a small town in BC, talk about culture shock). It is very beautiful and quiet here. I like the people that live here. I like big, fast cars, especially those with wings on them. And, I am definitely not a leftist nor an elitist. But, I definitely don't like anyone who just about kills two children (or similar "yahooish" behaviors) and couldn't care less. Happy New Year!