Mother Natureѻý clock is ticking
Dear Editor:
Many years have gone by since our city began installing roundabouts for vehicles at busy intersections. One of the first roundabouts was opened in a downtown area with apartments housing numerous seniors.
Some of them set up lawn chairs on their balconies to watch the expected car-crashing spectral. Unfortunately for those doom-and-gloomers, the local drivers were more evolved.
This memory popped into mind after I watched TV to see what irrational mayhem had occurred overnight in the Middle-east. I was mesmerized by the destruction and suffering. For countless centuries mankind has demonstrated conflicting traits, namely, nightmarish cruelty and selfless compassion; unspeakable destruction and unbelievable ingenuity.
Apparently some studies suggest that our brains are naturally drawn to negative information because it can signal potential danger or disruption in a part of the brain associated with processing emotions like fear.
Unfortunately evolution is normally a long-term process. Mother Natureѻý clock is relentlessly ticking but time is running out for mankind.
Lloyd Atkins
Vernon
Money won’t fix doctor shortage
Dear Editor:
It is no wonder we have a shortage of doctors and nurses: it won’t be fixed with money. It is always going to be this way.
Who would want to be a GP or a RN if you have to assist or refer in abortions and suicides? And if you don’t comply, you are sued or punished by your profession. Ethical doctoring and nursing ended years ago because of this. Now, people enter these professions for the money. They are simply paid to do the will of the State.
So, don’t believe politicians really want to fix the shortage problem until they bring Health back to Healthcare... the problem is the politicians’ “choice”.
Chase Conell
ѻý
Far reaching repercussions
Dear Editor:
In view of what has just happened to the Iranian people in their own country, One person has taken it upon himself to bomb a foreign country. Right or wrong, that action will have far reaching repercussions for everyone worldwide.
Although it has been written in many different ways, the message is still the same.
How very unfortunate the American people stand idle. They all should remember that Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, that is the same or equivalent to a U.S. president.
History in so many ways is starting to repeat itself and we should all of us remember with clarity, that it did not start with gas chambers. It was a subtle start with One party controlling the media just like Joseph Goebbels did for Hitler.
It started with One party deciding what is truth, their truth. It started with One party controlling the message. It started with One party censoring speech and silencing any opposition.
One party dividing its citizens into Us and them and calling upon their supporters to harass them. Breeding hatred throughout. All a person has to do is read the Trump Project 2025 online, and you will quickly see the similarities of Hitler and Trump.
So, yes, it started with good people turning a blind eye with the hopes it would just go away.
Ian MacLean
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Warning: don’t float the channel
Dear Editor:
I trust the City of Penticton will be sending a warning out to our tourists advising them that floating down our very popular River channel this summer may cause some health risks/concerns .
As we know that the homeless encampment is indeed using the creek beside side them for all of their “bathroom” needs. I’m sure a bit of drug paraphernalia will easily enter the water system as well.
This creek directly flows into the River channel.
I can clearly see my now adult child when he would swim beside us as we floated down the channel his entire body in and out of the water. I can rest assured my grandson visiting this summer will clearly not have that same experience.
Susan Rogers
Kaleden
The little engine that could, retold
Dear Editor:
Recently in a local publication, a news item framed by PACA (Penticton Area Cyclists Association), a group of approximately 2,500 members, as reported by Matt Hopkins, a club director, is petitioning—no, demanding—that frontal driveways along the Martin Street corridor be blocked to traffic use.
While stats like 2,500 can sound impressive, where have these 2,500 people been hiding?
There certainly isn’t a plethora of these riders using the bike lanes up to now. There have been large amounts of money to fund this bike lane project. This came about through staff recommendation and council approval but no complete and “totally open information” that allowed the public to weigh in.
True, there were some information sessions. However, council direction was the sole determiner of the infrastructural program for the bike lane. It seems to be in concert with PACA as to further bike lane developments moreso than the remainder of the voting public.
PACA would seem to reflect the age-old story of “The Little Engine That Could.” It would seem to be re-emphasizing “I think I can” again as it did before.
However, storybooks are one thing and reality is another.
The article presented, makes it sound that the demand for frontage access lanes is an important issue for riders. However, based on numbers, closure of these access ports has, for some reason, not been carefully thought through by PACA, city staff or council.
Letѻý suppose all of these entrance/exit ports were sealed and the proposed back lane access/egress options were adopted. Apparently little or no thought was given to such things as large truck deliveries, emergency vehicle access or the general public. If a large delivery truck were in the lane, getting through would be a problem. Even moreso, with emergency vehicle access.
If council were to act on the “Little Engineѻý” desire, it would be shirking some of the tenets that councils take on when elected.
The Municipal Act makes reference to the responsibilities of a council member. The main principles are: “Councilors are elected to represent the views and needs of their constituents while balancing the broader interests of the “entire municipality.”
Also, accountability and transparency are important factors. They must ensure that municipal operations are “open and transparent”, and that decisions are made with integrity and “in the public eye.”
Whoѻý on the track, The Little Engine That Could” or….city council?
Ron Barillaro
Penticton
Short and sweet on state of world
Dear Editor:
Only FOOLS make war.
Stay well,
Joe Schwarz
Penticton
Best that Trump went home early
Dear Editor:
So, the unfit president of the U.S. of A., also known as “a power-hungry demagogue, a danger to democracy, a sexual predator, a racist, sociopath, a pathological liar bully and impulsive and unstable megalomaniac”, is allowed into Canada for a few hours then abruptly leaves.
A good thing, because his contribution to the G7 in all likelihood is non-existent. More was probably accomplished without his circus act presence.
Paul Crossley
Penticton