Let us not be too harsh in our judgment of the current right-wing party governing Alberta. It is us the voters (and non-voters) who have encouraged them in developing their sense of entitlement. We have smiled at the machinations of a series of less-than-stellar premiers and assorted ministers. We are, after all, Alberta and we are proud of being a little offbeat.
So, when yet another head of that same party continues the shenanigans, why are we upset and all aflutter? Alberta politicians have cut education funds, tried desperately to destroy medical care, forsaken the weak, elderly and unfortunate, neglected the infrastructure and generally allowed Alberta to become a second class province all the while spending lavishly on themselves and their top level civil servants as we smiled fondly and re-elected them.
We are all aware that this party does not believe that tax monies are for the good of all Alberta's citizens. We know that they think that plane rides and champagne lunches superseded schools and hospitals and roads. We have not only tolerated this, we have encouraged it by returning them to what they see as their rightful place election after election. They insult us and ignore our needs daily and, we re-elect them.
This year, however, they did share the wealth. They raised the seniors’ supplement by $0.05 per month. You know who the seniors are of course. They are the ones who got together and built all the things you now enjoy – at least you will until the roads, schools and hospitals are so run down they are unusable. Carry on.
Joan Rea, St. Albert
