BC politics.

The problem with this debate is the tendency to frame it in terms of polemics: Business or personal taxes, good medical care vs. the cost of paying for it, public or private, rich or poor, big business vs. small business. The problem is when you frame something "either-or" a lot of truth doesn't fit. If all BC had was big business, I think everyone would admit, many of us would be unhappy. If all of BC was small business, there would be smaller wages, lower standard of living. Being resource rich does no one any good unless they can be extracted in a way that creates wealth. So we need bigger, more efficient business in the province to take on massive projects like mines and lumber industry. Clearly, governments tend not to be good business people. So by and large it is good to keep them in the public sector providing for social needs. But if we say it has to be one way or the other exclusively, that's where we get into trouble. Government should do what it does best; the private sector what it does best; and big business what it does best. The main criteria needs be what creates wealth, and I don't mean just wages or profits. I mean that place where the highest possible standard of living is afforded. Where Big Business can make a good profit, labour can make good wages, and small business can thrive. But also, that our medical care is top-notch and accessible to all, where the sick and poor are cared for, the disabled have dignity, education is excellent, etc. etc. etc.