Editor: I refer to the column by Tom Fletcher, 鈥淗arsh year ahead for B.C. politics,鈥� (The Times, Jan. 3).

Politics in B.C. were relatively quiet over the holiday season, but as we get into 2012, we can expect things to heat up. We are about 500 days from an election in B.C., and with the latest polls showing the Liberals at 23 per cent, the Conservatives at 23 per cent, the NDP at 34 per cent and the Greens at 15 per cent, it should be an interesting event.

Based on past experience, the last thing we need is an NDP government, as they tend to pull the economy down. When the Liberals took over from the BC Social Credit, a large number of their members were Social Credit.

However, a large number of federal Liberals have now joined and taken over the party, with the resulting Liberal policies producing negative results. We are in a global economy and we must adjust to this fact if we are to maintain an acceptable standard of living.

is made up mainly of Conservative and former  Reform and Social Credit members. If they are to be elected as government, they must get their act together on policy and get some good candidates nominated.

In general, the best government for B.C. would be a Conservative one, with the NDP as the opposition. The NDP get their main support from unions and people at the bottom end of the social and economic scale, who must have representation in government.

No government is perfect, but the federal Conservatives have done a good job managing in the current world economic downturn. Canada has one of the world鈥檚 strongest and best economies, rating sixth in the world by the Economic Freedom of the World Report. This report is prepared each year by think tanks in 42 countries and covers 141 world economies.

The worst country of the world is Zimbabwe and the best is Singapore. Countries are judged on 1) Size of Government: Expenditures, Taxes and Enterprises; 2) Legal Structure and Security of Property Rights; 3) Access to Sound Money; 4) Regulatory Trade Barriers; and 5) Regulation of Credit, Labour,  Business and Honesty in Government.

One of the biggest problems for countries with a strong economy is the ability to manage rising costs in health care and social programs.  This will have an impact on countries such as Canada and the provinces.

Looking to the future, our best bet at this point in time is for a BC Conservative government. I trust they will stay on course and be ready when the election is called.

Eric J. Bysouth,

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