Alan Clarke - Independent

[Al Czervic]

The Okanagan was a fair bit different in the 1980’s that much is true

Is homelessness a disease? I don’t think so. Is it as simple as not having a home ? No. It is a complex issue. And as much as some people like to play politics with the homeless (usually the leftist NDP) the problem is North America wide.

Even in Cuba where the right to housing is enshrined in the Cuban constitution there are still homeless people. Mind you the left seldom will tell you that. After all how do you blame Campbell for that?

As for the importance of name dropping that is really up to the voters to decide the importance of who a candidate has in their speed dial.

Good on you for going out and asking questions.

[mechanic_virus]

Thanks for your response, Al.

Believe me, I do understand that there are many complex and interrelated factors that contribute to homelessness - but what it ultimately comes down to is not having a home. Alan stated quite plainly that it is a disease. It blew my mind a little. As did the numerous comments alluding to the 1980's as a time of economic equality when the problems we face today did not exist, period. As stated, I do not recall much of those times, however I do have distant memories of my mother struggling very hard to raise my brother and I. The constant name repetitions just bothered me.

[Al Czervic]

Twice in my life I put a homeless person into a home. Once it lasted 2 months and the other time 2 weeks. It really is not as simple as not having a home. It is a very complex issue.

I didn’t attend the forum so I cannot comment on “name dropping”. As mentioned suggesting homelessness is a “disease” is simplistic. The homeless cannot be stereotyped. The two homeless people I worked with had entirely different problems; hence why one was able to function for two months and the other really lasted less than two weeks.

Back in the 80’s we still had Institutionalization so today’s homeless were locked up and medicated where they were out of sight and out of mind. The problems still existed we just didn’t see it to the same degree. So it is true to suggest that those were different times than what we have now.

[hellomynameis]

... I just got off the BC Medical Associations website, and the BC Medical Association just recently completed a study on homelessness, and they refer to it as a disease, that should be treated like any other disease under our healthcare system...

As a student member I have not seen a recent study on homelessness put up on the site, nor have I ever seen the BCMA refer to homelessness as a disease.

What study, where?

[Freefalling]

Yeah, I don't think that is right...to call homelessness a disease, it sickens me. I don't think Alan is right for the community, and his insane followers have boycotted every other candidates page. So, my question is how will Alan fair as a politician when he calls homelessness a disease? When he says that First Nations don't deserve land because they don't pay taxes? And when he is absent from this forum to defend himself! Get with the times Alan, your followers sure aren't helping!

[grumpydigger]

:cheerleader: :cheerleader: :anonymous:

[Homeownertoo]

I just returned from the forum regarding social justice issues this evening.

I found Alan's responses to be quite interesting and entertaining - in a MAD TV sort of way. Half the things that were coming out of his mouth made me question whether or not my ears were functioning properly. Perhaps I can count on somebody here to clarify a few things for me:

First, I admittedly am quite young and don't have much recollection of the 1980's. Was the Okanagan really a Utopia in which everybody was receiving adequate wages and there was no poverty, no crime, and no homelessness?

Secondly, is homelessness really a disease? I had always been under the assumption that is was the lack of having a home. :137:

Third, does name dropping actually count for anything, or is having neighbours who are well known in the community completely irrelevant to a person's candidacy?

That's a start, anyway.

All I know of Alan is what I read here, so I won't comment on him. Did he say homelessness is a disease (an absurd statement, the BCMA notwithstanding), or did he note that many homeless people are mentally or emotionally disturbed and on the street as a result?

I lived here through the '80s and returned last year, and yeah, there is a lot more crime today, a lot more drugs, a lot more prostitution, a lot more homelessness -- all the joys a bigger city. More jobs today, though. Back then, you didn't come to Kelowna without a job unless you intended to create one.

[RR24K]

Every riding in B.C needs a independent candidate.

[fluffy]

I'm really having a hard time shaking the feeling that there is one poster using a number of different identities in this thread. That would be unfortunate if it were true, as this sort of deception doesn't say much for the integrity of those involved.

It's not hard to understand why I've become rather cynical about BC politics. It's par for the course that politicians see honesty not as what they know to be true, but what they can get others to believe. Say whatever is necessary to get elected, then relax and count the days until the pension kicks in. It's really too bad in a way, because the sort of people we really need to properly represent us in Victoria are just the sort of people that wouldn't dream of becoming involved in politics in its current form.

politics : from the latin "poli", meaning many, and "tic", a blood-sucking parasite.

[hellomynameis]

I think that is why candidates should be semi-active in the forum, the ones who have been participating have faired quite well and have made themselves look quite good.

Alan Clarke has "the posters" who are disrupting other candidate's threads.

'TC' who is extremely close to the Clarke campaign is spreading outright fabrications when it comes to debt figures.

'judy', another campaigner for Clarke, is outright lying and slandering Mary-Ann Graham in her thread.

Alan Clarke, in spending 10 minutes to compose a single post, could save himself from a ton of bad publicity being generated here.

Too bad that happens to also be the exact reason why he should be posting here...

[Phoenix Within]

and his insane followers have boycotted every other candidates page.

I have to agree. I've been watching this thread and a few others, and I don't like the way his "followers" have been even on this thread. If this is the kind of people he attracts, it's not someone I would want representing me.

[Gaetane Daigle]

I want to thank Castanet and there moderators for cleaning up this Forum. As I mentioned in previous posts, Alan Clarke does not engage in unregulated internet Political Forum where identities of individuals are concealed and obstructed from public view. Alan Clarke only campaigns the old fashion way by door to door, constituent to constituent, through public forums, newspaper, radio, local t.v. and his website ( http://www.electclarke.ca ), email: [email protected] , phone:250-762-0733.

Gaetane Daigle Financial Agent for Alan Clarke

*repost without using all-caps/Jo*

[Phoenix Within]

through public forums,

Well, what do you think this is?

[Jo]

As I mentioned in previous posts, Alan Clarke does not engage in unregulated internet Political Forum where identities of individuals are concealed and obstructed from public view.

It is good to bear in mind that this is not an 'unregulated internet political forum', it is a moderated forum that generously offers the candidates a chance to have a dialogue with voters. In a 'real time' forum meeting of candidates, the identities of individuals are just as unknown to the candidates.

In this day and age, the candidate who ignores the power of the internet may, regrettably, be perceived by voters as showing only that he/she is behind the times.

[fluffy]

In this day and age, the candidate who ignores the power of the internet may, regrettably, be perceived by voters as showing only that he/she is behind the times.

Too true, Jo. There is also a risk that a reluctance to face the voting public on forums such as these could be perceived as fear, a lack of confidence on ones abilities to give a direct answer to a direct question.