An Independent Mind is Fertile Ground for Objectivity

There's nothing "in it" for him.

Yet George Bayliss' letter to the editor, published December 20th in the Morning Star, is an outstanding example of a now-rare human quality -- objectivity.

His piece concerning a proposed gravel pit on Brentwood Road isn't reprinted here, but his examples of fairness and lack of bias are included.  Why?  Because it rang a bell with me as it relates to Highlands Golf...more on that later.  Also what our mainstream media generally lacks.  Later for that too.

"...you too can be in that position if you try changing bylaws to quiet NIMBYs". G.Bayliss 

Mr. Bayliss' standards are worthy of imitation.  He questions why there are 655 names on the anti-pit petition "...nowhere near 655 people anywhere near Brentwood Road."  Countering the alarmist catch-all of the safety of children walking to school, "...for the last 40 years...never heard of any child involved in an accident...my own children walked there when they were young; there were no sidewalks then either and no dust problem."  On historical operations of the applicant, Mr. Bayliss says "...two of the several operations in the area were operated and successfully concluded" by the applicant, giving examples.

He asks "How many petitioners knew that?"

George Bayliss solidifies his lack of bias:  "I do not personally know any of the applicants."

He further attempts to calm petitioners by stating that laws exist:  "Silt in the creek is an absolute breach of provincial law with stiff fines..."

Mr. Bayliss closes with a warning to area politicians who, time and again, evidence a penchant for going whichever way the wind blows.  "...may find themselves out of business...you too can be in that position if you try changing bylaws to quiet NIMBYS". 

So what happened with Highlands Golf?

To make a long story short, Highlands was opened in 2001 with a Food Primary Liquor Licence, the only liquor licence available at the time to a golf course that didn't have "at least one Par Four" hole (yup, liquor laws in BC since the NDP's two reigns of terror in the 1990's were so deeply mired in a dark hole...but I digress).  Paramount to my story is that current Coldstream councillor Doug Dirk was also a councillor at that time, so it's logical to expect he knew full well all the particulars regarding the liquor licence. 

Around 2006 or 2007 the liquor inspector happily advised me that Victoria's rules had changed and that Highlands was now eligible for the same liquor licence that all other golf courses possessed--a Liquor Primary licence.

So, imagine my surprise after I was quizzed on licencing changes (by Councillor Dirk during an open council meeting that would deal with my application for the liquor amendment).  The local media followed up the council meeting with a quote that Councillor Doug Dirk did not express during the open meeting:  "this liquor licence will affect all of Buchanan Road." 

Huh?

He--of all Coldstream councillors (others were new to their duties)--knew that Highlands had a liquor licence since 2001.
So how would an amendment to the liquor licence NOW affect all of Buchanan Road?
Councillor Dirk was playing to the 70+ people who signed the anti-amendment petition.
Notable too was that not one of those 70+ people phoned me to learn my side of the story.
Provincial laws exist here too, with stiff fines.

I recall the liquor inspector shaking his head, adding "this sheeple thing resembles a disease...the majority of the public catch it because they don't think for themselves."

"Over 80% of the stories that appear as news stories, original news stories, not just repeats, come from press releases or some sort of public relations work, or, they're just uncritically printing something that someone in power said, without any actual reporting or journalism going on; just simply stenography. This is a dramatic increase from a generation ago." Dr.R.McChesney

How's that for lack of objectivity by residents and a councillor?
Councillor Dirk continues to be re-elected by his constituents, probably because he was easily swayed on the liquor licence amendment. 

Enough of that.
As to what our mainstream media lacks, several things immediately come to mind.

But it's told best by Dr. Robert McChesney:  "Over 80% of the stories that appear as news stories, original news stories, not just repeats, come from press releases or some sort of public relations work, or, they're just uncritically printing something that someone in power said, without any actual reporting or journalism going on; just simply stenography. This is a dramatic increase from a generation ago."

For the malaise in today's media, click on The Decline of Journalism, by Dr. McChesney, scroll down to the December 18th story on the superlative blog by Norm Farrell entitled Northern Insights.  

So, a sincere thank you to George Bayliss for reminding us what an independent mind can create.

"...and to Dr. McChesney," offers Kia.

The doctor's stethoscope seeks an independent mind.
George Bayliss has one.