Editor, The Record:

A couple years ago a friend suggested that I try to write something positive for a change; it gave me writer’s block for two months. But recently a couple other people suggested the same thing so I've now turned over a new leaf and have seen the error in my ways of trying to get people to think for themselves. Dangerous business thinking for yourself, you never know where it'll lead to.

So let me start being positive by congratulating our Premier for the stunning turning on a dime act he has done in reversing every promise and policy statement that he made turning the recent elections. Us vulgar masses just don't appreciate the amount of work that went into keeping a straight face to say nothing of having the nerve to tell the reporters recently that it was their fault for not asking the right questions during the campaign. Shame on all of us for telling the polling people that 75 per cent of us won't ever vote for him again. OK, it’s true, but let's keep such negative vibes to ourselves.

For local politicians, you've made me a true believer. Yes, I now truly believe that we should have a two term limit set on the lot of you. And, in one or two cases, one term or less would be preferable.

It's just so positive being a true believer that I think I'll even repent my sins in the last election of parking my vote with the Greens instead of being a hypocrite, as what else could a person do when they can't vote for either the candidate or the party. I see now that I was just interpreting things far too negatively. After all, just because Randy Hawes says he fought for the hospital is a positive thing, isn't it? To say he tried is so much more positive than saying he failed at every turn to keep the hospital from being gutted, now isn't it? We should just look on the sunny side of things and ignore that, with his help, first as mayor and then MLA, we've reached a state where we can be proud of keeping the word Emergency over the door. I still have a slight problem with the prospect of a “closed for business” sign though. Old negative feelings are so hard to erase.

Oh yes, let me say that I'm now on the bandwagon for the 2010 Olympics. I'm thrilled to have the harmonized tax coming to help pay for dumping billions into this two week long party. And of course I'm beyond thrilled that locally our fair city gets a big grant to host the torch relay at the same time that money for school sports programs, arts funding, libraries, and lunch programs are being cut.

But even if some kids miss the only chance at a decent meal all day, at least they'll be entertained with the three Olympic mascots coming to a classroom near you. I mean get your priorities right all you naysayers like my former less positive self. The government is only wiping out a vital $130,000 needed for sports programs yet people still are failing to appreciate that sending these stupid mascots around the province is pumping a much needed $500,000 into the economy. Money that will be vital in light of the harmonized tax which will deepen the recession when it rips a billion-plus dollars out of our pockets.

Aggghhhh, I can't take all this positive stuff. I might as well quit being a vegetarian and look at every road kill as a potential meal. The amount of spin doctoring coming out of Victoria has been astounding. Hopefully people are smart enough to read between the lines of the new and improved “positive” me to catch my drift. I have returned.

Robert T. Rock

Mission