Calling George Orwell (or Terry Gilliam will do)

Every time someone from VANOC security is on television, my images of what it's REALLY going to be like here during the 2010 Winter Olympics grows even more dystopian and bizarre.

Have you ever seen Gilliam's film Brazil?  It is one of my favorite movies with a fantastic cast.  In the movie, the future is not pretty.  But the government works very hard at making sure you never see or think that.

Highways and roadways views are blocked by huge high fences covered in billboards of happy people living in lovely happy clean and tidy places.   A far cry from the ugliness of the blasted and scarred industrial landscape that is the reality of sustaining the overcrowded cities.

The similarities grow ever more, between the CCTV cameras watching us from all over, the barriers going up everywhere, the streets being closed, the cheery Olympic blue covering up every spray painted expression of free public art, and the 'hiding' of the homeless.

Homeless!?  Here!!?? GASP!  Don't tell the tourists.

Even worse, HOMELESSNESS in WHISTLER!!!???  The worlds most hippest, coolest ski destination EVER!!??  We tend to forget that the homeless in Whistler are usually the folks washing dishes for you in the trendy restaurants.

Why yes.   And according to the Olympic Committee...there will BE no homeless people in Whistler to spoil the view of the luge.  Instead, they will be shipped to Squamish because that town is just in the way anyway.

The town of Squamish - smack dab right inbetween Whistler and Vancouver - waited with baited breath to see if ferry and train loads of  Olympic visitors would be stopping there on the way up to Whistler.  Neither of these ideas turned into anything concrete.   Neither did the rental opportunities.

So, I suppose, as a way of thanking the Province for the nice shiny new highway, they are going to open up their shelters and services to Whistler's vagrant population.   Somehow, I don't think this was the economic boom they were banking on.

I am not exactly sure what they plan on doing with the homeless in Vancouver.   I have heard that indeed, any homeless persons found in the 'restricted' zones will be moved.  I am just not sure where!  I can't imagine Surrey opening up their shelters for our relocated denizens.

I am sure by now you can sense my um, displeasure at Vancouver hosting the 2010 Olympics.  While I am sure it will be pretty and exciting and sparkly and cool to see us on the Today Show, I just really think it was not the right thing for our city and province to do.

I think this is and will be an economic disaster.  The only people who will profit from the Olympics are the bigwigs of the IOC, the bigwigs of VANOC, politicians and real estate developers.

Businesses have been crippled by developments like the Canada Line and now face all the street closures and parking restrictions.

For months, instead of VANOC hyping up us citizens (even those of us who can't afford those magic Willy Wonka tickets) to give us a sense of ownership for the event, we have been told to stay the heck away.

People working around downtown have been told to try to take time off during the Olympics.  Stay off the roads, stay away from the venues, basically....don't embarrass us you tiny working peons.

Now though...with the clock ticking they suddenly want us all to be ambassadors.  To be kind and helpful to visitors as we wait two hours to get on a bus or skytrain.

Put on our happy place smile and double plus good.   Or else.   Only protest in the designated 'protest zones,' don't try to cash in on the Olympics yourselves and only drink Coke and only use Visa.

And don't be homeless.

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Original Canada Moms Blog post, Kerry also writes about her life,  and her kids at Crunchy Carpets. She also posts at the community site for women bloggers on the west coast,  Wet Coast Women.