It’s rather creepy knowing someone has been walking up to our homes to deliver a flyer that claims “The Chinese are taking over!” and encourages people to join the alt-right, listing a website where you’ll find folks giving the heil Hitler salute.
A man who called the News to say he’d found one of the flyers at his door was quick to note these websites are American-based and the delivery of the flyers was probably the actions of “some lone wolf.”
I would agree, this type of bigotry does not represent Richmond. At the same time, it would be a mistake to be dismissive. If there is anything to be learned from both the U.S. presidential election and Brexit (the UK’s referendum to leave the European Union) it is don’t underestimate the power of fear; it’s no match for logic. People gripped by fear don’t hear well. And they certainly don’t hear those who aren’t listening to them.
The fact is, people have valid concerns about the lack of affordable housing, ruptured communities and wages that don’t cover the bills. (food banks are seeing ever-more clients with jobs that just don’t pay enough.)
But none of the above is about race.
Foreign speculation may be helping drive up housing prices. But the key word is “speculation” not “foreign.” Whether the money comes from China, Brazil, Timbuktu or Toronto, the result is the same.
And if we don’t like the abundance of wealth coming into our community, let’s recall it was our federal government’s decision to introduce the (now defunct) “investor class immigrant,” which basically gave rich foreigners a fast pass into Canada. If we don’t like mega homes, why is our municipal government still fumbling over house size bylaws? And who/what’s to blame for low-wage jobs? As it’s been said, it’s the economy, stupid.
In a twisted way, this makes me think of the smell coming from Harvest Power, the organic waste recycling plant. For sure, people have a valid complaint, but the absolutely wrong solution is to stop recycling organic waste — as some have suggested.
The problem is not recycling or immigration. In fact, both are essential for our survival and prosperity. The issue is how we balance the financial benefits of mega homes, for example, with their costs to community, how we balance corporate power with public interest.
I don’t believe the flyer reflects a grounswell of anti-Chinese sentiment, however, there is growing unease about changes we’ve all witnessed. And while race is the wrong target, it’s an easy one, which is why it’s vital we address the core issues of disparity and fairness. When people lose faith in our institutions, when they feel the tax system is skewed and regulatory authorities are ineffective, fear rises and scapegoats are found.
