David Suzuki misuses a definition of “conservative” in his Countdown to Copenhagen (Opinion, Oct. 9) alarmist article, seemingly focusing on “religious conservative” persons rather than the general meaning of the word.

A truly “conservative” approach would be to demand proof of a problem before hurting humans by taking away their mobility, shelter, and other life-fostering products of industrial civilization.

People like Warwick Hughes, Stephen McIntyre, and Ross McKitrick did that, but were met by evasion even though the analysis work was paid for out of the public pocket. They persevered and found some of the data used in analyses that appeared to produce an alarmist result.

With much time spent digging through it, they found that the “hockey stick” temperature graph Suzuki used to promote is very sensitive to selection of which temperature data to include.

Notably K.R. Briffa used only a handful of trees from the Yamal area of Russia to produce the graph, when inclusion of more readily available data gives a completely different result.

Why did Briffa choose those few trees? Why is an analysis purported to be for the entire Earth so sensitive to variations in data from a single region? That’s not science, it’s witchcraft.

There’s also the mess of Mann’s data, and Phil Jones’ claim that original data was discarded (though some of it has turned up to embarrass him). What is going on? Is David Suzuki willing to bet his reputation on such sloppiness?

Suzuki goes on from his misuse of “conservative” to assume that humans are not capable of ensuring availability of energy without the initiation of force he advocates. Why does he have such a negative view of people?

I judge David Suzuki as another anti-human Chicken Little, who should be locked up for crying “fire” in a theatre. (That’s only fair treatment for someone who urged jailing politicians for not following his whims.)

People who really care about people will support those who advocate what evidently works for humans — rational use of the creative human mind — instead of the blatherings of scare-mongering control freaks.

Keith Sketchley

Saanich

Is this our new

cultural norm?

The Braidwood inquiry into the Tasering death of Robert Dziekanski is about as serious a wake up call as a nation can face.

With what looks like complete indifference, police officers appear to casually Taser a man five times, kneel on his neck, and then apparently follow it all up with formal reports that seem to bear no resemblance to the actual events.

And this situation is not isolated.

In other news, Canadian police complained during inspections of Afghan prisons that boots were needed to walk through the prisoners’ blood and feces. Few cared why there was prisoners’ blood on the floor. Clean shoes were the issue.

Canada’s medical cancer isotope programs get cancelled — the government gets a pass.

Our government is late by more than a month with H1N1 vaccinations, and again a passing grade for the government.

A cabinet minister laughs at deaths, and again a pass. Body bags over preventative measures; that’s apparently OK, too.

Canadians have been abandoned abroad and tortured and there has been no political consequences.

Why is Canada OK with callous indifference to life? Why? Because there is the great sport of character assassination to watch. 

Millions spent by the governing political party in the most inane of personal attacks that are not just tolerated but actually enjoyed.

But I say a nation that revels in personal attacks, practises callous indifference to life, and rewards the same, is a nation in crises.

A government that attacks or abandons its citizens is the very definition of a dangerous government; millennia of historical examples show where such attitudes take a people.

Is callous indifference to life — and buffoon-quality public  discourse — the new cultural norm in Canada? The Braidwood inquiry is but one situation where the question is being tested.

Eugene Parks

Victoria

The silliness of

political correctness

So B.C. Attorney General Mike de Jong has decided in all his wisdom that the word “ombudsman” is sexist.

 Changing the word to “ombudsperson” is also sexist, Mr. de Jong, or have you not noticed?

 Look at the last three letters of the word: SON, and what does that mean, sir?

 Why don’t you and your cronies do and say something useful for a change and stop wasting time with all of this politically correct foolishness?

 I have spoken to several women about this and they think it is absolutely ridiculous and tell me they are not “offended” by the term ombudsman.

 It is a name that has been around for a long time and does not indicate any anti-female sentiment.

 But then, I guess this nonsense is the price we all have to pay for being loyal subjects of the “Best Place On Earth.”

Ian Robertson

Victoria

Less money and maybe the bridge gets built

Three months ago Victorians thought a new bridge was a done deal, because the rush was on, consultants were hired, designs were out, and they were test drilling the harbour.

This spin was to show that the mayor and council would proceed no matter what the outcome of stimulus money available.

Using the fear of the bridge’s imminent collapse should the ‘Big One’ arrive anytime soon, helped fuel council’s need to proceed quickly.

But they awakened some people who said: “Wait a minute, the option to repair the existing bridge was never presented during the online voting.”

The irony is that if the City of Victoria had asked for $10 million in stimulus money towards repair of the existing bridge they may have been successful, instead of getting a big zero to replace the whole thing.

 Here is some info about some recent infrastructure money. Ottawa’s historic Alexandra steel bridge is 120 years old and 563 metres long. It has more concrete piers being seismically upgraded, more steelwork, and decking, and a larger surface area to paint. It is being rehabilitated for $35.2 million, and the bridge will be kept open while work proceeds. The site supervision is being done by McCormack Rankin Corp., under a $1.5 million contract.

Victoria has hired MMM Group to design and supervise a new bridge under a $3.2 million deal. That will add some perspective to estimates and excuses for the repair of the Johnson Street Bridge.

 There are many more examples of historic structures like the Johnson Street Bridge that have already been repaired for less money.

Dennis Robinson

Victoria