Re: Efforts to seek facts applauded (Our View, Jan. 28)
First let me say there are a lot of facts in the form of regulations, codes and laws in place now. These are often based on traumatic incidents where investigations were done to determine the facts.
Where we often run into trouble is politicians delegate responsibility to bureaucrats to bring these facts up or remind them of these issues when it becomes time to make a decision.
Another area where we run into trouble is where a business comes before governments with an idea and say, I want to do this but I want you to give me that. If this request is not covered by the regulations, codes, laws and plans already in place I would suggest at this point governments should go to the people and ask for direction. People would then be more willing to accept the decision made.
You also mention political agendas should be based on science. I would like to suggest that one of the things political agendas should be based on is history. This can often provide us with direction and possible solutions to problems when we look at what happened before, what caused it, and don’t make the same mistakes.
Jim Bates
Saanich
