The fent fold

[Vlad Drkulec]

I just learned something new today. There was a large crowd on the street bent over smoking some unknown substance from a glass pipe and exhaling large clouds of smoke while a crowd of zombies crowded around the person with the pipe. They would take a hit and then move around like something out of The Walking Dead. And then bend over on the verge of passing out but moving around bent over like that. It was not just one of them but a whole crowd of them.

[Tom O'Donnell]

When pot was first legalized in Canada, I thought there would be a lot of people trying pot a few times, the potheads would get safer drugs, and other than that the effects would be minor. As someone who has never done any kind of drug, not once, not ever, I figured most people were like me. I was very naive.

In my suburb, the smell is around, but not often. When I go to Windsor itself, it is hard to escape it. Particularly people toking up in cars. You can smell it as they drive by. When I go to play poker at the casino, it is rare that at least one person at the table doesn't smell of weed. I wonder what percentage of people are buzzed almost constantly.

My theory is that collectivists are trying to make everything mundane and depressing (see for example: art, architecture, and music) which is turning the population into zombies, but it is helped immensely by alcohol and drugs. Covid showed the government's priorities by keeping those distribution channels open while closing down rec centres and sports fields.

Fentanyl may be the bottom of the barrel, but the barrel is deep, and getting deeper.

[Vlad Drkulec]

My observation point was inside a fast food restaurant in Calgary. The zombie crowd was just outside the front window and entrance. I was there for the Sports Tourism Canada Congress and Speed Dating event which took place from March 17 to March 20. The highlight was the Speed Dating where I met with 22 communities or accommodation providers. 24 appointments were made but two cancelled. I did get to talk to a number of people who were not on my original dance card. We didn't attend last year because it took place in Winnipeg in the midst of the effort to save the FIDE Candidates tournaments in Toronto. Also they did not offer the usual incentives to rights holders which were a free airline ticket and hotel accommodations last year. If they had we might have sent someone.

We started participating in these sport tourism events in 2018 in Halifax. The original managers were replaced and started their own streamlined conference SPO HO X which I attended in Ottawa in 2023 and Fred McKim recently attended in PEI. Our participation in these events has raised awareness of the CFC among communities and the people that we met have been instrumental in providing many thousands of dollars to local organizers of our flagship events. Next year's Ottawa tournaments will receive $55,000 in sports tourism sponsorship. I have been talking to them since 2018 and met with them at almost every sports tourism conference. Laval 2024 was the end result of a meeting over pizza in 2018.

Getting Canadian Youth Chess Championships and Canadian Opens organized got much easier after we started tapping the sport tourism community.

[Vlad Drkulec]

I have not seen anything like the fent fold in Windsor though I don't get deep into downtown Windsor aside from the occasional visit to nurses and doctors or to use the tunnel to travel to chess tournaments in Michigan. I used to go to a nurse near the Downtown Mission but my impression was that the people there were alcohol abusers mostly with some cocaine and crystal meth people as well. My naive take is that they were a bit more dangerous than the fentanyl zombies who seem to have retreated into their own nirvana. My doctor's and nurse appointments tend to be early in the morning and the dangerous ones are probably still sleeping off the last night's festivities.

There is a lot of marijuana everywhere as I occasionally smell it on people at the grocery stores in Tecumseh. That is not surprising as there is a marijuana store on every other corner, though many of them have been going out of business recently.

[Vlad Drkulec]

I saw my first fent folded person in Windsor on Tecumseh Road near Howard last week when heading home from an appointment. He was in the bus shelter on the southwest corner across the street from the Tim Horton's. I mentioned this to my brothers who are doctors and dentists and they said that there are many fentanyl users in the Windsor area. Living in a suburb of Windsor, Tecumseh where we have grocery stores one km to three km away, Costco being about 10 km away. The only time I leave my bubble is when I have a doctor's appointment or other health care appointment somewhere in Windsor or the occasional visit into Windsor.

[Bob Armstrong]

It is a sad commentary on our society to have no answer to this night security issue Vlad.

I have friends who live in Belleville and Sault Ste. Marie. They tell me as well of night-time security issues in both cities (I'm not centring them out, and I know Vlad is not re Windsor; many Ontario cities are suddenly facing this somewhat dystopian problem). I believe my friend who's home town was Kingston has referred to the same problem there.

Last summer I visited some friends in the Soo. I happily announced that I was going to go for a walk before bed (My Toronto neighbourhood is quite safe, and my wife and I have no fear of doing this). "Are you crazy?" was the response! Apparently they, and they also are seniors, and happen to be female seniors, said they NEVER go out once it is dark!

Are there no solutions? Do the solutions cost so much that the cities cannot afford to implement them? How are we measuring the cost of "quality of life"?

What I do know is that in so far as any of this concern arises in the mental health field, mental health support for those with mental challenges is woefully inadequate at all three levels of Canadian governments (And, as you know, I am aware of this sector of society, having myself severe Bi-Polar Disorder).

As well, various approaches have been tried to support those with drug addictions, so that they are not turning to crime to survive.....but these have been controversial, and in the current right-wing climate of cut-backs, these services seem always to be the first to go. Save the tax payer dollar; then the tax payer can be prisoner in their homes from dark 'til dawn? Of course, some offer the rather Neanderthal solution of just jailing them all (Sigh).

The world is suffering this problem.......are not drug cartels swimming in cash at the present??

I note that the world economy is fundamentally neo-liberal capitalist. Why has this situation been allowed to arise by our governments and our economy. Do neither have answers?

Bob A

[Dilip Panjwani]

It is a sad commentary on our society to have no answer to this night security issue Vlad.

I have friends who live in Belleville and Sault Ste. Marie. They tell me as well of night-time security issues in both cities (I'm not centring them out, and I know Vlad is not re Windsor; many Ontario cities are suddenly facing this somewhat dystopian problem). I believe my friend who's home town was Kingston has referred to the same problem there.

Last summer I visited some friends in the Soo. I happily announced that I was going to go for a walk before bed (My Toronto neighbourhood is quite safe, and my wife and I have no fear of doing this). "Are you crazy?" was the response! Apparently they, and they also are seniors, and happen to be female seniors, said they NEVER go out once it is dark!

Are there no solutions? Do the solutions cost so much that the cities cannot afford to implement them? How are we measuring the cost of "quality of life"?

What I do know is that in so far as any of this concern arises in the mental health field, mental health support for those with mental challenges is woefully inadequate at all three levels of Canadian governments (And, as you know, I am aware of this sector of society, having myself severe Bi-Polar Disorder).

As well, various approaches have been tried to support those with drug addictions, so that they are not turning to crime to survive.....but these have been controversial, and in the current right-wing climate of cut-backs, these services seem always to be the first to go. Save the tax payer dollar; then the tax payer can be prisoner in their homes from dark 'til dawn? Of course, some offer the rather Neanderthal solution of just jailing them all (Sigh).

The world is suffering this problem.......are not drug cartels swimming in cash at the present??

I note that the world economy is fundamentally neo-liberal capitalist. Why has this situation been allowed to arise by our governments and our economy. Do neither have answers?

Bob A

Thank you, Bob, for highlighting the problem. There is one point, though (highlighted by me above), which you should not write off so casually. If they have been proven to harm others, or are using the public spaces as their homes (which is also harming the public), they need to be put in very low security jails where they are made to work to pay for their housing, meals, health care and clothing in the jail (and also compensate the individuals they may have harmed), till they get into the habit of working and can get a job and housing outside the jail. And the same needs to be done to the drug cartels. That would be the fairest way of solving this problem, right?

[Bob Armstrong]

Hi Dilip:

As you well know, on your solution to this problem, we agree to disagree.

Society should be able to do better, be more humane and empathetic. It is not a criminal problem (NOT jail). It is a medical/health problem that is causing stress in the general society.

Unfortunately, solutions other than Dilip's seem currently, in our right-wing, individualistic emphasis, society, seem to be in short supply.

The one's that seem to meet my criteria are said to be too expensive in the opinion of the ordinary taxpayer (As interpreted by the right of centre governments).

If jail is the only solution, then Neo-Liberal Capitalism is more of a disaster than even I think it is!

Bob A

[Dilip Panjwani]

Hi Dilip:

As you well know, on your solution to this problem, we agree to disagree.

Society should be able to do better, be more humane and empathetic. It is not a criminal problem (NOT jail). It is a medical/health problem that is causing stress in the general society.

Unfortunately, solutions other than Dilip's seem currently, in our right-wing, individualistic emphasis, society, seem to be in short supply.

The one's that seem to meet my criteria are said to be too expensive in the opinion of the ordinary taxpayer (As interpreted by the right of centre governments).

If jail is the only solution, then Neo-Liberal Capitalism is more of a disaster than even I think it is!

Bob A

Dear Bob,
Don't you think harming others (except in fair competition) is a crime? Even if it is somebody's brain telling him/her to harm others, it is still a crime, and the criminal has to learn to compensate the person he/she has harmed... the best way to let his/her brain know that it has to find other ways to act than harming someone...
As you pointed out, this is a serious issue for our society, and so let us not avoid discussing the facts to reach a truthful conclusion, by hiding behind the statement 'let us agree to disagree'...

[Vlad Drkulec]

[QUOTE=Bob Armstrong;n242541]It is a sad commentary on our society to have no answer to this night security issue Vlad.{/QUOTE]

Neither in the incident in Calgary nor in Windsor did I feel that there was a security issue. Unlike the fiends in the Walking Dead, these people were uninterested in those around them. Maybe there might be some issues when they are not high but most seemed emaciated.

I have friends who live in Belleville and Sault Ste. Marie. They tell me as well of night-time security issues in both cities (I'm not centring them out, and I know Vlad is not re Windsor; many Ontario cities are suddenly facing this somewhat dystopian problem). I believe my friend who's home town was Kingston has referred to the same problem there.

Last summer I visited some friends in the Soo. I happily announced that I was going to go for a walk before bed (My Toronto neighbourhood is quite safe, and my wife and I have no fear of doing this). "Are you crazy?" was the response! Apparently they, and they also are seniors, and happen to be female seniors, said they NEVER go out once it is dark!

Are there no solutions? Do the solutions cost so much that the cities cannot afford to implement them? How are we measuring the cost of "quality of life"?

The solution is to not walk at night and not to present as an easy target. Governments tend to be easy on crime because it is easier for them for everyone to be scared and pliable. Keeping someone in jail is expensive. Governments like to save money, even if it means that you have to die as a result. As a bonus, they get to save on your pension.

What I do know is that in so far as any of this concern arises in the mental health field, mental health support for those with mental challenges is woefully inadequate at all three levels of Canadian governments (And, as you know, I am aware of this sector of society, having myself severe Bi-Polar Disorder).

Mental health of someone who is going to perpetrate violence is pretty much irrelevant. Your first duty is to remove yourself from the danger or to not be there when the danger arrives. The hard part is when the bad guys and you are there and the game is afoot.

[QUOTE] As well, various approaches have been tried to support those with drug addictions, so that they are not turning to crime to survive.....but these have been controversial, and in the current right-wing climate of cut-backs, these services seem always to be the first to go. Save the tax payer dollar; then the tax payer can be prisoner in their homes from dark 'til dawn? Of course, some offer the rather Neanderthal solution of just jailing them all (Sigh).[QUOTE]

Those measures that you are suggesting just make the situation worse.

The world is suffering this problem.......are not drug cartels swimming in cash at the present??

They were but things are not as rosy these days.

I note that the world economy is fundamentally neo-liberal capitalist. Why has this situation been allowed to arise by our governments and our economy. Do neither have answers?

Bob A

If we were a Marxist society we would simply execute the drug addicts.

[Bob Armstrong]

Democratic Marxism



Vlad:

Some worthwhile points.

Democratic Marxist Government - Definitely would find humane ways to help with the mental health sufferers within a "health" (Not criminal) context, and offer secure streets at night to the citizens.

........definitely will not "execute the drug addicts" [Your words] (I assume your evidence for this comes from historical precedent in some old-style USSR Communist Government. For DM, these governments are a bastardization of Marx/Engels writings, and the worst species of "Socialism").

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

[Tom O'Donnell]

A couple of partial solutions:

1) Stop sending soldiers to fight wars that have nothing to do with Canada. Saves money, saves lives of young Canadians, and you won't get people returning having seen things that might make anyone become an addict.

2) Stop allowing the immigration of people who are a net drain on our resources. Money saved can be used to help Canadians. Kick all the people here illegally out, for the same reason.

Hi Dilip:

As you well know, on your solution to this problem, we agree to disagree.

Society should be able to do better, be more humane and empathetic. It is not a criminal problem (NOT jail). It is a medical/health problem that is causing stress in the general society.

Unfortunately, solutions other than Dilip's seem currently, in our right-wing, individualistic emphasis, society, seem to be in short supply.

The one's that seem to meet my criteria are said to be too expensive in the opinion of the ordinary taxpayer (As interpreted by the right of centre governments).

If jail is the only solution, then Neo-Liberal Capitalism is more of a disaster than even I think it is!

Bob A

[Dilip Panjwani]

Democratic Marxism



Democratic Marxist Government - Definitely would find humane ways to help with the mental health sufferers within a "health" (Not criminal) context, and offer secure streets at night to the citizens.

Bob A (Democratic Marxist)

What about compensating the victims who have already been harmed? There seems to be not a single thought given to that by followers of DM!
The only way to force those who perpetrated the harm to compensate their victims is by forcefully making them work, in other words, a jail, not a cozy hospital, where they are not forced to work...
And making them work would enable them to pay for their health care too...

[Peter McKillop]

What about compensating the victims who have already been harmed? There seems to be not a single thought given to that by followers of DM!
The only way to force those who perpetrated the harm to compensate their victims is by forcefully making them work, in other words, a jail, not a cozy hospital, where they are not forced to work...
And making them work would enable them to pay for their health care too...

When you say "compensating the victims who have already been harmed" I assume you're referring to those who have been victimized by drug/alcohol addicts, etc. Which makes me wonder where this chain of blame should end. For instance, how about compensating drug addicts and alcoholics whose mental health issues and other problems have been caused or exacerbated by others?

And when you talk about "forcefully" making sick people work, what kind of/how much force would you use and what would you do if some of those sick people were unable and/or unwilling to work? What would your Natural Law do with people like that? Would they face a lifetime of confinement or something worse?

[Dilip Panjwani]

how about compensating drug addicts and alcoholics whose mental health issues and other problems have been caused or exacerbated by others?

And when you talk about "forcefully" making sick people work...

Of course, the drug cartels have to compensate their victims too...

If they are able to physically harm others, they are certainly well enough to work!