Sanity Island

LeftOfLeft
TheRealLotuslandia

When people from away, even if they are only from, say, Portland Oregon, think of Left Coast Canuckistan they likely think of Vancouver.

The City.

Not the Island.

But Vancouver Island, which is almost 300 miles long and bigger than many European countries, is the true beacon of light round here these days.

How do I know this?

Well, actually, it's not me that knows. Instead, it is local pundit, gadfly, and all-around bon vivant Vaughn Palmer who knows, because it was he who just told the CBC that he thinks it is possible that the entire Island could go NDP in next week's Federal Election (Part 1, Real Audio, 4:05 to 4:45).

For everyone from South of the 49th who's been asking, the New Democratic Party* is the latest iteration of the left of center group that gave this country Universal Health Care.

Anyway, the upshot of all this is the very real possibility that the Island could well become an Oasis of socially progressive sanity floating in a massive Sea of North American Neanderconism.

So, maybe the Islandistas should consider going one step further by seceding while simultaneously recruiting the best, brightest and most tolerant from all over the continent to power the enterprise with good, clean brain power.

Which isn't as crazy as it sounds because the huge land mass of the Island, which has essentially the same temperate climate as Seattle, is currently home to a measly 500,000 people.

Wonder if I can make a go of it as a science geek living in Port Alice?


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*Or, as former leader, and all around good guy, Ed Broadbent (our own George McGovern) likes to call it "The NDP Party, Party!"

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