Democracy for Vancouver

lthough I am a native Washingtonian, Seattle born, I knew nothing about Vancouver until I came here in 1992. It did not take long for me to appreciate why some people–including native Vancouverites–refer to Vancouver as “Couve Holler” or “Vantucky”. In the apparent establishment, such as it is, the same names, associations, backgrounds and networks kept coming up over and over. And in this establishment, I found some rather cloistered, reactionary, smug and entitled types who only appear to shine when they stay cloistered, unexposed, undebated and unaccountable. They are in both parties although right now the Dems appear to outnumber the Repubs. But in reality they mix well, and the Dems are more like Dempublicans and the Republicans are more Republicrats with some exceptions on the more rabid far-right elements of the Republicans that are not balanced with any real “far-left” elements among the Dems–at least the establishment wing of the Dems.

ntelligence and police

If we all want to really help to promote some real democracy for Vancouver, how about doing what the police and intelligence agencies do: sociometrics. That means looking for, documenting and exposing these somewhat hidden, inbred and smug networks of associations and patronage. Look into cross-connections between community and civic associations, media, local and State government, veteran’s associations, consulting firms, attorneys, judges, businesses, trustees, regents and administrators at educational institutions, various celebrity and retired politicians etc. Get a hold of their resumes and any media that feature them. Check out their formal credentials for the positions they hold and how and when they obtained those positions. Check out the awards they received and from whom and for what they supposedly got them. Check out their nominations of others for various positions and by whom they were nominated for their own positions. Check out their past and present scandals and how and by whom they were handled. Check out their demographics (age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, political affiliations, income levels, net worth, etc). Check out which churches they belong to.

Welcome to Couve Holler or Vantucky where political, social, economic and religious family trees often do not branch and where the establishment types go to metaphorical family reunions looking for dates and mates. Take it to them. Drag them out into the sunlight and force them to resort to the usual banalities, cliches and catch-phrases they employ in lieu of the substantive debate they are unable to handle or undertake. Hit them with solid irrefutable facts, logic and their own words and hypocrisy. Infiltrate, document and subvert them.

It beats stamp collecting or American Idol any day.