To answer the question of why the rest of the country views Nova Scotia as a “mentally challenged� cousin from down east, one doesn't need to look any further than the halls of Province House and the numerous dolts who frequent the building masquerading as MLAs.

The cleverest decision of the year award goes to provincial education minister, Karen Casey, for firing the entire Halifax Regional School Board. About time too.

Since the last election the province has been floating up the proverbial creek with no paddle, let alone a destination. Apathy is so rampant that only a small fraction of eligible voters even bother to show up to cast their respective ballots. In West Hants this problem is endemic. Although candidates from most political parties were fielded in many ridings, few people thought enough of them to bother voting.

There are a lot of problems facing this county and few, save various business and environmental organizations, are attempting to tackle the real issues. There is a serious problem facing the residents of Avondale regarding planned expansion by U.S. Gypsum. Currently there is no one representing the people except themselves. There is nothing wrong with self-representation, except the fact it is usually a term reserved for Native self-government, not residents of a farming community who desperately need guidance on issues of huge magnitude. Result to date: no help from politicians.

The Avon River Causeway is another massive boiling pot that has been on the back burner for the past five years. There are few championing the cause to seek alternatives to the ludicrous notion of making an already huge environmental disaster even larger by adding to the dam. Result to date: many retractions from politicians and biologists et al who initially voiced negative opinions on the ecological mess caused by the existing dam. Once again the issue rests in the hands of the people.

The business development in and around the highway has brought a glimmer of hope to a starved region. This is the first real growth we have seen in years. Instead of simply getting on with the job though, there are several politicians on our local councils who see any development as just another chance to cut a ribbon and pretend it was all their idea.

This is a sad reflection of how progress is made here, but it is accurate. In reality most decisions involving large amounts of money are made at much higher levels of the business community (mostly U.S. Conglomerates) and

local representatives are given the “glory� of making announcements as though the initial decisions were made in Hants County. Get real.

Topics such as the highway twinning and subsequent business development have allowed many serious problems to go unchallenged, pushed into the dim background while residents are dazzled like deer in the headlights.

Crime is rife in this province and Hants County is no exception. Countless youth have fallen through the cracks and have their futures on hold. If students in high school cannot complete the required courses, they are left to their own devices. Nothing has changed in this area for years. At least 30 years ago, when younger people realized they were not destined for a life of academia, there was a vocational school where training for real jobs could be sought.

We can but hope that the New Year brings some new ideas and fresh faces who can offer real help with serious issues. Let's say farewell to meaningless election-style catch phrases which reflect the embarrassingly low level of

representation constituents of this county have come to expect from the jokers purporting to represent them.