Anti - Olympic Protestors.
- Thread starter lSHaDoW-FoXl
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Wow, there are a lot of people who don't really know what they are on about.
Saying there is no reason to protest the Olympics? I think you fail to understand the scale of these things, a giant stadium doesn't come out of nowhere, and a city has to do a lot to fit the massive influx of people in.
The way I see it, there are two sides to the Games.
The side that people like: The world comes together to watch people test their ability against others for glory. And the side people don't like (and according to this thread, don't really know about): Where cites dig far to deep into their pockets to pay for it all.
Sure, its easy not to see the 2nd part when you are watching it from half a world away in your lounge room. But these things are expensive and damaging.
Here is what my good friend (A 'Couver resident) has to say about the protesting
So in the end, while a city gets two weeks of glory and is the focus point of the entire world, its people are the ones who have to suffer for it.
Saying there is no reason to protest the Olympics? I think you fail to understand the scale of these things, a giant stadium doesn't come out of nowhere, and a city has to do a lot to fit the massive influx of people in.
The way I see it, there are two sides to the Games.
The side that people like: The world comes together to watch people test their ability against others for glory. And the side people don't like (and according to this thread, don't really know about): Where cites dig far to deep into their pockets to pay for it all.
Sure, its easy not to see the 2nd part when you are watching it from half a world away in your lounge room. But these things are expensive and damaging.
Here is what my good friend (A 'Couver resident) has to say about the protesting
To add to this, author Robert Barney said "There has never been an Olympic Games that has made a profit,"
So in the end, while a city gets two weeks of glory and is the focus point of the entire world, its people are the ones who have to suffer for it.
Ridiculous overspending in the wake of cuts to healthcare and social programs, a federal government hiding behind a prorogue in case a political cock-up embarrasses the country while "the world is watching", a provincial government that has basically been dishonest and dickish to everyone but the highest echelons of society... Who, incidentally, are the only people who will see financial benefits from the games...
Yes, the olympics will bring money to Vancouver. But if you don't already own a block of condos you aren't going to see any of it.
Part of the dissatisfaction of the olympics might be because of the dishonesty of the whole thing. The facade. We're trying to pretend Vancouver is perfect, the ideal city. And hey, the province does totally have a lot going for it. I understand that rent here is fucking obscene because it's a really, really nice place to live.
But herding up the homeless and hiding them away from tourists and film crews? The proposed legislation to ban anti-olympic sentiments? Locking down downtown to pretend traffic congestion isn't a huge problem? Sending extra police and security to the city to make sure the word doesn't get out about Vancouver's thriving drug and prostitution businesses? Victoria's hybrid busses were shipped to Vancouver while their non-hybrid busses were sent here!
Because why strive to BE a better city when you can just PRETEND to be for two weeks!
The idea of the olympics is great. Sure, whatever, "once in a" blah blah... But there ARE more pressing issues at hand--or there WOULD be, if our government cared about the livelihood of its people more than they do about tourism revenue.
Yes, the olympics will bring money to Vancouver. But if you don't already own a block of condos you aren't going to see any of it.
Part of the dissatisfaction of the olympics might be because of the dishonesty of the whole thing. The facade. We're trying to pretend Vancouver is perfect, the ideal city. And hey, the province does totally have a lot going for it. I understand that rent here is fucking obscene because it's a really, really nice place to live.
But herding up the homeless and hiding them away from tourists and film crews? The proposed legislation to ban anti-olympic sentiments? Locking down downtown to pretend traffic congestion isn't a huge problem? Sending extra police and security to the city to make sure the word doesn't get out about Vancouver's thriving drug and prostitution businesses? Victoria's hybrid busses were shipped to Vancouver while their non-hybrid busses were sent here!
Because why strive to BE a better city when you can just PRETEND to be for two weeks!
The idea of the olympics is great. Sure, whatever, "once in a" blah blah... But there ARE more pressing issues at hand--or there WOULD be, if our government cared about the livelihood of its people more than they do about tourism revenue.
The olympics cost Canada a lot of money to host and people are very angry with that, hell I am pretty ticked off with it too.
Woah quite a mouthful and I agree with you on many points. If the Olympics came to Edmonton you can be sure they would "clean up" our "avenue of champions" (one of if not the most crime ridden area of Edmonton but also a bit of a landmark) instead of making any extra effort to stop the crime here. We pretty much already got rid of all our non-hybrid buses (except for the buses that take the 9 route as they are accordion buses) but something tells me we would see some more changes in those (aside from the steadily rising bus fare 80 CAD for a bus pass?!) but yeah 118th ave (avenue of champions) has a huge homeless number too but I doubt they would fix that as they haven't made much of an effort alreadySuperChurl said:
oh and welcome to the escapist.
Either go back to the first page and read what this guy said, or click the name. Basically hits the nail on the head. I live in Vancouver (the area's known as the Lower Mainland, I'm in there somewhere) too, and for an event that will last two weeks we are seriously overreacting. They have gone around and cleaned up the homeless people. I don't mean give 'em baths, I mean put them in places not visible to the public. This is wrong, right?thealmightykain said:
Because they can. People love to complain, the Olympics is a pretty big thing, so why should they not. Just let them have their fun, it'll be forgotten. They're no different from people who argue the toss.
Umm, the satisfaction of knowing your opinion is shared by someone anonymous on the internet... sorry.Daffy F said:
Well what do you mean by 'better spent'. Of course things like health care and whatnot are important, but would you like it if the government didn't fund any activities at all? Only heath care, firearms, and other important things, no fast food, no sports, that would suck.dogstile said:
Your right, pouring money into the one thing in this world, other than a horrible natural disaster, that creates cooperation and unity between every country in the entire world is stupid. I understand what your saying, the money could be used for other things, but the point of the Olympics is more so the world can ignore their conflicts for a while, winning is just a bonus.chozo_hybrid said:
1) Fast food receives exactly $0 in federal funding (if not, Canada is fucking stupid, and there's no way around that)Douk said:
2) Sports do not and should not typically receive federal funding.
The government should, and usually does, only be spending money on the military, police force/justice system, and social welfare programs (ie, welfare/unemployment, healthcare, etc).
As a few people have said, it's probably about how much it's going to cost the country and the impact it might have on local facilities or housing.
Having lived in London until recently I keep up on developments there, and there has been a lot of anger in the areas that are being bulldozed to make way for olympic developments as well as stupid decisions about where the funds are going, temporary buildings instead of stuff that could stay and benefit local communities etc. There are a few areas that I used to frequent that have been bulldozed for the Olympics.
The general feeling on the ground is that it's all going to be another government "White Elephant" like the millenium dome. Costs a lot of taxpayers money and becomes useless after a short period of time. With the economy still arguably in the tank it's another financial burden that a lot of people think we could do without.
That's as far as the UK goes, I imagine it's something similar in Canada.
Having lived in London until recently I keep up on developments there, and there has been a lot of anger in the areas that are being bulldozed to make way for olympic developments as well as stupid decisions about where the funds are going, temporary buildings instead of stuff that could stay and benefit local communities etc. There are a few areas that I used to frequent that have been bulldozed for the Olympics.
The general feeling on the ground is that it's all going to be another government "White Elephant" like the millenium dome. Costs a lot of taxpayers money and becomes useless after a short period of time. With the economy still arguably in the tank it's another financial burden that a lot of people think we could do without.
That's as far as the UK goes, I imagine it's something similar in Canada.
