Dear Editor,

One would think Maria Raynolds's insight [News from France instructive, May 22 Letters, TIMES] an obvious truth, but North America, in particular, fights this trend back to the centre with all the resources that the one per cent can throw at it.

Is anyone going to try to make the argument that it was social programs or social safety nets that have brought the world to the edge of financial ruin?

I have puzzled about this phenomena for years. America is actually in worse financial shape than Greece. Greece's per capita debt is $47,664, and America's is $49,000 - and what does America do, but go yet further to the right, even to the extent of running a junk bond profiteer for president.

When things get bad, the answer for Americans always seems to be to move further to the right, and then wonder why things do not get better. And then, of course, just move further to the right yet again.

Federally, Canada has a government that continues to rule with all the worst polices of George W. Bush.

In Canada, provincially, we have the same phenomenon in Alberta, where we just watched a pitched battle between the right and the ultra-right.

Redford, head of the Wild Rose Party, commented that Albertans have been evolving over the past decade, and she is right: they are apparently evolving into Ferengi.

It occurs to me that when the West won the Cold War over the east, America was at the height of its power and also in the centre of the political spectrum, compared to where it is now.

It is worth noting that, if you go far enough right, you eventually end up left, and pass through fascism along the way to your unintended goal.

Canada's sharp turn to the right, away from our traditional values such as democratic peace keepers, thoughtful stewards of the environment, and a respected world leader, and the fact that Canada is becoming an obvious right-wing dictatorship, is to me and many other Canadians the wrong direction for the Canadian people, our civil rights and liberties, democracy, the environment of Canada, and the world as a whole and all its inhabitants.

It's time for Canadians to stand up and be counted, while we still have a country left.

Wayne Clark, Maple Ridge