Dear Editor,

My guess is that Gordy Robson [Outreach must create synergy, Feb. 26 Just Saying, TIMES] has been given his platform knowing well he will keep conflict going, and therefore the letters to editor flowing. The column being called, “Just Saying,” tells me the newspaper never has a responsibility to check for facts.

Sadly there will always be individuals of a type who will follow through with the ideas therein, regardless. Truly unfortunate for those in need and for those more altruistic folk who simply try to do good where needed.

It’s only when charity work becomes “big business,” losing sight of its original goal to simply help those in need, that additional good works could possibly be perceived as a threat, or as competition.

What an absurd thought. The idea that another friend helping yet other friends who need it could be judged as competition for an earlier conceived charity serving different people with different needs and circumstances.

It makes no sense to me to be afraid of more sharing. We can hardly go astray if we remember the golden rule and gently fill needs as we see them.

There is so much “money-making” wrapped up in keeping poverty going, that there is little hope for enthusiasm from those who make their wealth from the windfall from it. That those same shall always be in disguised opposition to any idea that might help rid the misery of it.

A recent report for 2012 says the number of people who died due to poverty on the streets of Victoria (our provincial capital) has tripled over the previous year. Why is this being allowed to happen in a day and age when we can actually eliminate the extremes of poverty once and for all? And do it for about half the cost we are now spending on allowing poverty to continue.

I’m not “just saying” this either, there’s data to back it up.

If we took our power that is “one person one vote” and insist that the elimination of poverty be of the highest priority – and then be persistent about it, I mean tenacious – we could get rid of the horrible thing in our time.

Gail Neufeld, Maple Ridge