aa The Social Credit leadership convention took place a while back, making any attempt to impart new and exciting information to the readers redundant. However, what the television cameras did not show is:what such a convention represents, and what takes place off the convention floor. Having been grudgingly granted press credentials, and therefore access to the hallowed halls of the right wing, I was able to observe, in 3D, the process which led to the crowning of our new pharoah. For three days and nights, the Resort Municipality of Whistler and it’s townspeople played prostitute for the 2,000 or so who gathered there. And, like the true professional, faked the enjoy- ment and the climax beautifully, leaving the Socred johns admira- bly fooled. Welcome to Whistler, now f;,%§ off! The Socred convention was a painful attempt at emulating those great opiates of democracy, the American presidential nomination conventions. It is at these gatherings that the industrial-military hierarchy lets the masses play at the ideal of government for the people, by the people, etc. We happily go along with this, casting votes, kidding ourselves that representational government works, and that we’re making a difference. Meanwhile, the distance be- tween our mark on the ballot and the representative that we desig- nate continues to grow. Rousseau and Aristotle are spinning in their graves over this one. When you consider their original intent ~~ that a state could function more efficiently if one person could rep- resent several, as long as that person knew his constituents and their concerns, and shared their interests, then the ideal has been so perverted by professional politicians whose personal ambitions come before their constituents’ interests, that representational de- mocracy is a pale shadow of its former self. It grew progressively more difficult to be objective and “cover the story”. As to determining my political destiny, or having any- thing to do with the process, one could not help but feel total futil- ity as candidate after canditate took turns bashing anything left of Mussolini. Perhaps food bank line-ups could be eliminated by tightening B.C.’s loitering laws. KODAK PK BOSD KUIBAK PR SBR So — how does a cross between Chauncey the Gardener, Horatio Alger, and Ronald Reagan, whose claim to fame is a multi-million dollar horticultural-biblical Disneyland built on prime agricultural land, get to be premier? Well, First of all, Bill Bennett resigned. Having built enough monumental legacies to make Cheops and Tutankhamun envious, he steps down, leaving, as it were, the party at it’s peak. Because the Social Credit Party has more elected representa- tives sitting in the B.C. legislature than any other party (read NDP), it is left to the Socreds to elect the new leader who, like it or not, becomes our premier. And being the good free-enterprise right wingers they are, what better way to select a pharoah than the good ol’ American nomination conventions. As a result, a pet Socred development project, Whistler, is turned into a tent city that would make Ringling Brothers proud. Posters, banners, podiums are stapled, strewn and erected all over the town centre, and up and down Highway 99, from Lions Bay to the scene of the crime. Away from the actual voting and formal speeches in the con- vention hall, the action takes place in the campaign tents. Here is where deals were struck and votes bought and sold. You could go to (and I did) Brian Smith’s tent for as much Salmon Souvlaki as you could handle. Next, a stroll to Bud Smith’s tent for draught Granville Island lager. With hands temporarily full, you then walk across the field to where Gracey and the Zalm’s tents were. Van- der Zalm entertained you with a variety of multi-cultural acts - such as white people in barbershop quartets, white people in lederhosen with accordians, white people in kilts, white people in marching bands. What a mosaic. With the salmon done, you and the draught would then walk over to Grace’s tent, grabbing B-B-Q prawns on the way in. Here you could happily pan for gold in a simulated sluice/creekbed out- side a fake log cabin, and under the marbled gaze of a stuffed cougar. And all of this on the day welfare cheques are handed out 1 B.C: KODAK PX SOS? the big black cars. PLANET OF THE ARTS VoL.LNL 3 hat the Socreds Did on Your Summer Vacation” Story and photos by lan Verchére If you are influenced by such courtship, (and in the case of one uncommitted delegate — Brian Smith’s laser show did it for her!) you then vote for the candidate of your choice. After four ballots, some surprise alliances, and seven hours, 1300 voting delegates chose Bill Vander Zalm to be their leader, and our premier. Who were these people? They must be significantly motivated to be here in the first place, and quite active and involved in the Social Credit Party. Logically, these people should know how to mark a ballot; a simple X in a white square beside their choice is some- thing not beyound the most deficient of us, but was beyond thirty or so delegates who spoiled their ballots even after admonish- ments from the podium and handouts on voting procedure. But best of all, the majority of spoiled ballots came from Vander Zalm’s supporters. It’s comforting to know the selection process is best left to those most capable, isn’t it.? A system which enables a mere | ,300 people, and Socred fana- tics at that, to determine our premier deserves what it gets; which is a maverick who would just as soon see Quebec out of Confeder- ation so he could read more than 50% of his cereal box in the morning. The detachment between my “X” and my representative was never so apparent as it was at Whistler. Herein lies the long term concerns which should be addressed: as the detachment be- tween voter and elected representative grows, so will feelings of apathy and futility, which will inevitably result in decreasing voter turnouts and increasing isolation for the policy makers. Until a more dynamic way of involving people in the process of govern- ment is developed, it’s just different professionals riding around in ROGAM PE BOBS REAR PH _ WE'LL REFRIVMT AS MANY OF THE BESt AS WEAN, : - AMO YOV CAN USE 4 paponad fs ach As Psi! oo . REAL NAPE [6 Evcrosep/ DR/LES ee AWARPED/ § TOR JES 1] EPHOR: 7 PEAPLINE foe Emmy: OCT OBE --W EICTION-OR NON- FICTION FROM 340 999 WoRDS MUST BE LEG/GLE. PREFERABLY TYPED. -- MO EXTRA MARKS FOR’ PRESENTATION (6-4. DOWT _.’ TATTOO YouR sroky ON A CADAVER'S ALM /E You - WORKED IN A MaRGVE. AkD No PERFORMANCE AECES!) e 2 ier ee A BE WPS? ; Pn NET ee S : S - eS ite + SS Se ee eee ee 2 The Social Credit leadership convention took place a while back, making any attempt to iipart new and exciting information to the readers redundant. However, what the television cameras did not show is what such a convention represents and what takes tion floor. Having been gradingly granted press credentials, and therefore access othe hallowed halls ofthe Fight wing, I was able to observe, in 3D, the process which led to pharoah, hts, the Resort Municipality of Whistler the crowning o our n For three days and i i's townspeople played prostitute for the 2,000 or so who red there. And, like the true professional, faked the enjoy ment and the climax beautifully, leaving the Socred jobs admire bly fooled. Welcome to Whistler, now {58 off? “The Socred convention was a painful attempt at emulating those _reat opiates of democracy, the American presidental nomination conventions. I is at these itary hierarchy lets the masses play atthe ideal of goverament for the people, by the people tc. We happily go along with this, casting votes, kidding ourselves that representational goverment works, and that we're making a difference, Meanwhile, the distance be {een our mark on the ballot and the representative that we desi nate continues to grow. Rousseau and Aristotle are spinning in their graves over this one. When you consider their original intent that a state could function more efficiently ifone person could rp resent several, as long as that person knew his constituents and their concems, and shared thet interests, then the ideal has been so perverted by professional politicians whose personal ambitions come before thei constituents interests, that representational de rmocracy is pale shadow ofits former sl. It grew progressively more dificult o be objective and “cover the story”. Aso determining my political destiny, or having any thing to do withthe process, one could not help but fel total fti- ity as candidate ater canditate took tums bashing anything left of “Mussolini. Perhaps food bank line-ups could be eliminated by tightening B.C. 'sTotering laws, So — how does a cross between Chauncey the Gardener, Horatio Alger, and Ronald Reagan, whose claim to fame is & ‘multi-million dollar horicultural-biblical Disneyland built on prime agricultural land, get to be premier? Well, First of al, Bll Bennett resigned. Having built enough monumental legacies to ‘make Cheops and Tutankhamun envious, he steps dow, leavin as it were, the party a it's peak. Because the Social Credit Party has more clected representa tives sitting in the B.C. legislature than any other party (ead NDP), itis efto the Socreds to elect the new leader who, lke itor not, becomes our premier. And being the good fre-enterprise Fight wingers they are, what better way toselectaphroah than the 00d ol” American nomination conventions. AS a result, a pet” Socred development project, Whistler, is tuned into a tent city that would make Ringling ‘Brothers proud. Posters, banners podiums are stapled, strewn and erected all ver the town centre, nd up and down Highway 99, from Lions Bay tothe scene ofthe Away from the actual voting and formal speeches inthe con vention hall, the action takes place in the campaign tents, Here is where deals were struck and votes bought and sold. You could go to (and Idi) Brian Smith's tent for as much Salmon Souvlaki as you could handle. Next, a stroll 10 Bud Smith's tnt for draught Granville Island lager. With hand temporarily fll, you then walk actos the field to where Gracey andthe Zalm’s tents were, Van- der Zalm entertained you with a variety of multi-cultural acts - ‘such as white people in barbershop quartets, white people in ledethosen with accordians, white people in kills, white people in ‘marching bands, What a mosaic ‘With the salmon done, you and the draught would then walk ‘over to Grace's tent, grabbing B-B-Q prawns on the way in. Here you could happily pan for gold ina simulated suicereekbed out side a fake log cabin, and under the marbled gaze of a stuffed cougar. And al ofthis on te day welfare cheques are handed out inBc PLANET OF TE ARTS VOLLNL 3 hat the Socreds Did on Your Summer Vacation” Story and photos by lan Verchére Ifyou are influenced by such courtship, (and inthe ease of one ‘uncommitted delegate — Brian Smith's laser show did it for her!) you then vote forthe candidat of your choice, After four ballots, Some surprise alliances, and seven hours, 1300 voting dleg chose Bill Vander Zalm to be theit leader, and our premier. Who were these people? They must be significantly motivated to be here inthe first place, and quite ative and involved inthe Social ‘Credit Party. Logically, these people should know how to mark a ballot; simple X in a white square beside ther choice is some: thing not beyound the most deficient of us, but was beyond thirty ‘or $0 delegates who spoiled ther ballots even after admonish, ments from the podium and handouts on voting procedure. But best of all, the majority of spoiled ballots came from Vander Zalm’s supporters. I's comforting to know the selection process isbest left to those most capable, isn't it.” Jsamaverick who would justas soon see Quebec out of Confeder ation so he could read more than SO% of his cereal box in the ‘morning. The detachment between my °X" and my representative was never so apparent as it was at Whistler. Herein lies the long term concems which shouldbe addressed: asthe detach tween voter and elected representative gro apathy and Ftiity, which wll inevitably ments developed, i's jus different professionals di the big black ears FICTION-OR NON- FIETI OI FROM 340999 WORDS MUST BE LeqigLE, PREFERABLY TYPED. | No EXTRA mates FoR PRESENTATION (29, Dat . TATT 00 YouR sroky ON A CADAVER'S AeH IF You WORKED I A MaRGVE. Aid No PERFORMANCE FECES!) WE'LL RECRIMT AS MANY OF ThE BEST As WE CAN, : 2 Alo You caw ost 4 preva] ig es te 7 ee REAL WAyle Is Ewetosen/ Akizes yur te AWARPED/ STORIES wit Dae HALOS Stare WE eye OPO a DITORS..n40e » PEACLINE foe empey: OCF 28 Ene ae