Quote:
Originally Posted by ravman
how about we talk come Feb 2011 or feb 2012 ( when this thread is changed to the coundown from the winter games).... the true picture will be visible then.... but mark my words... the economic picture aint going to be as rosy as they have painted....
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The economy is bound to rebound in the next 2 years, 3 years max.
And with regards to the recession, well the Olympics are probably one big reason why the recession hasn't hit this city as bad as any other place. Further, Olympic costs and so-called social impacts (i.e. the irrelevant increased homelessness) have been overblown by the media funneled down to a rather ignorant public. The "$6-billion" figure is unfortunately thrown around as the official Games cost....logic would tell you it's more like $2.5-billion when you cut out things that would have been built regardless and/or were always planned. And surely, what we've invested is significantly with capital infrastructure - it's not going anywhere after 2010, and it'll only benefit people who live here.
Contrary to media belief, these Games have been some of the most socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible in the history of the Olympics. Other cities didn't even give a care in the world for sustainability, the environment, post-Games legacies, social inclusion, and we've tried to milk quite a bit out of our Olympic investment towards international business and tourism. Perhaps in this little west coast bubble of ours, we have higher expectations - but one needs to compare with what other Olympic host cities went through, and when you do that Vancouver is already a winner.
If you think the NDP would have done something differently, think again. Nobody saw the recession coming. And surely, you can't cut the Olympic budget...which is already the most modest Winter Games since Salt Lake. Spend more, people complain. Spend less, people complain. People want quality work, yet they don't want to pay for it.
Ever heard of a self-fulfilling prophecy? Sometimes, it's almost as if some British Columbians - like yourself - want the Games to fail just to prove a political/ideological point rather than being true to your heart and wanting it to succeed for the greater good and well-being of this city and province.
Afterall, isn't that why recessions and depressions are prolonged? Self-fulfilling prophecy is in action when consumer confidence/public's confidence in the economy has failed. If everyone goes against the Games, there's no hope for it to succeed. Fortunately, that's far from the case....rather, it's just those that are opposed to something that are always the loudest.
It takes all of us to make something work.
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