Dear editor,I was listening to the news today, at least when I could hear it.It was about the federal government's latest round of job cuts. The proposed cuts to veterans affairs were the most ironic.This as the iconic, dollar-guzzling Snowbirds, decorated the skies above, and used our valley as their playground. This is a conservative riding, and conservatives hate waste and privilege, but as usual the cuts from this government ignore waste, are easy, and come closest to the ground.It is easy to attack high-flying cabinet ministers (Bev Oda's without an iota of credibility), but my target today is the flight circus of yesterday. Like the Anne Murray song, the Snowbirds are dated, repeating over and over to the delight of their fans, all 50 down at airport beach.Talk about hubris, these inefficient, slow, noisy, and otherwise useless 1960s jet trainers, think that we all want to invite them into our homes.Hell, the front door's wide open, fly right through. I know this will drum up the flak, but is anyone really impressed by this show? Your Westjet flight flies faster.Faster than a Snowbird, but with more majesty. Yes that 737 lumbers, but at least it doesn't fly on subsidy. What do these Snowbirds do, what is their worth, beside providing the easily amused some sub-sonic mirth?If you count the pilot payroll, the supporting staff, the travel, and the aviation kerosene, it makes cutting the department of Veterans Affairs, look petty and obscene.Take your shiny wings and fly away, unless you can tell us why we should want to pay. What is it that makes these crappy, smoking red trainers so cool?This extravagance, this hubris, these military PR tools, make our people who served and need services, well it makes them, the federal government, and us, the folks paying, well it makes us look like fools.Steve W. Hodge,Comox
