In your October 28 edition you published a “Slug” about a restaurant owner who was rude to a customer, and the customer wondered if western capitalism has corrupted compassion towards all. So far we have not heard many positive ideas from the Occupiers at City Hall on how to change things.
I have a suggestion.
Why doesn’t City Hall take over all the restaurants in town and have them run from City Hall? That way instead of the obscene profits those greedy corporate capitalists who own these restaurants take home, the profits would then go to the people of Nelson, just like Nelson Hydro and BC Hydro.
A perfect person to organize this would be Charles Jeanes, an avowed socialist, assuming he is elected to office. He could head up a committee to organize the takeovers, somewhat like Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, and then be chairman of the committee that would run the restaurants on behalf of City Hall.
Of course the staff of the restaurants would be unionized (CUPE) and would be given big pay raises to ensure they have a fair, living wage, and more staff would be hired because current staff are run off their feet and are being exploited by the present owners.
Also, with the surplus money these restaurants would take in, in addition to swelling the coffers at City Hall, thereby reducing taxes, they would also be in a position to feed all the needy, and so get rid of the food banks and end poverty.
I believe this is a win-win solution to many of the issues currently faced by the people of Nelson. I look forward to hearing more progressive ideas like this from the Occupiers.
Roger Pratt
Nelson