WEDNESDAY, November 4, 2020
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
A9
OPINION LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
AMID PANDEMIC, HOPE REMAINS TURNOUT RESULT OF FLAWS OF FIRST PAST THE POST Editor: Re: Tushar Jain’s letter of Oct. 28 (‘Dismayed to see democracy taken for granted’): Jain expressed a common conclusion among voters. The inherent flaws of the first past the post electoral system are low voter turnout, wasted votes and distorted results. Politicians want us to believe in voter apathy, laying the blame for low voter turnout on the voters. Another explanation is voters have disengaged, as in made a reasoned decision to not participate because the system does not allow our real participation. Disengagement lays the blame on politicians responsible for not providing adequate participation to want to continue voting. Advocates of first past the post have the power of the press on their side. Advocates of electoral reform have to use another form advocacy. What could it be? A majority of voters have a superficial understanding of politics, thus being compliant and complacent. I came across this in a science fiction novel: “Ignorance can be fixed, stupidity is forever.” How to get voters to understand the media is bamboozling voters with untruths, half-truths and lies in order to keep the politicians in power? One wonders why the politicians cannot understand (or choose to not understand) that electoral reform would be in their own best interest — and ours. Ray Jones Kamloops
Editor: The world might be experiencing a pandemic, but that doesn’t mean life has been put on hold. While every news report is saturated with COVID-19 and “the new normal,” real-life situations have carried on. When I visited a long-term care facility over the summer and sang with them from outside, it was with the realization there were real people inside the building and they had been kept inside for months on end. Their families and loved ones were isolated from them. The parking lot was empty. My God, what are we doing? Loneliness, anguish, loss, grief and even anger were emotions that were being played out while the media pumped up stories to feed a frenzy for
information and statistics. All the while, our family was one of hundreds of other families who were trying to deal with a family member who had been stricken with a serious illness. The technology of the 21st century kept people in contact with those who found themselves struggling through visits to doctors, appointments at hospitals and coping with treatments. Life was not put on hold for them. Nor was cancer. For all the others who have travelled these terrible miles, might it be at least be a small consolation that you have not been alone in your journey? As for your loved ones, you hear their voice. You remember the times growing up. I remember the days of our youth, when life was so free and easy — James
Taylor and Carole King, bye, bye Miss American Pie, your wedding day when promises were made to have and to hold, through sickness and in health from this day forward ’til death do us part. You didn’t realize how much those days so long ago would mean so much some day — like today. Not everyone has a twin. I have no idea what it is like not to be a twin. Even though he has gone from this life, a lot of things will never change inside of me. I now can relate to those who have lived through other things in life while the pandemic has tried to take over the world and our lives. There is still loss. There is still human grief. And there is still hope for eternal life. John Noakes Kamloops
WESTSYDE POOL NEEDS TO REMAIN OPEN Editor: For the life of me, I cannot figure out the rationale of repairing the Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre, only to close it down during the pandemic, as is the city’s plan once the Canada Games Aquatic
Centre reopens in January. The Westsyde Pool and Fitness Centre is a boon for all of Kamloops and, with the whole area rapidly growing, it is needed. Also, the latest 2020 fall/winter sched-
ule — from Oct. 13 to Dec. 20, with lap and leisure swims restricted to Saturdays and Sundays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. — is very inconvenient. Diane Swannell Kamloops
HERE IS THE ULTIMATE TIME CHANGE COMPROMISE Editor: Every six months, we go through the process of adjusting our clocks ahead an hour and behind an hour. Or maybe it’s behind an hour and ahead an hour. I’m confused.
And this happens every six months. Newfoundland/Labrador is a halfhour out of sync. My brain is now hurting. Why don’t we all compromise and adjust one half-hour behind the spring
forward hour in 2021 and be done with it once and for all? I think my message is clear.
TALK BACK Q&A: kamloopsthisweek.com Results:
We asked: If you have kids of trick or treating age, what are your plans for Halloween?
What’s your take?
We don’t celebrate Halloween
34% (145 votes)
Family celebration at home
33% (143 votes)
Trick or treating with distance
33% (141 votes)
Have you received your flu vaccination or do you plan to get the shot soon?
Vote online:
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Steve Burke West Kelowna
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