I’d like to stray from my usual “shallow diatribe” by welcoming our two Cariboo MLAs — Donna Barnett and Bob Simpson — to the Tribune columnist’s list.

The idea that the readers of this paper will be getting the ground zero opinions from their local political leaders, in addition to the great stuff and local flavour of Walt, Diana and Liz, is a beautiful thing.

The regular B.C. news diet — consisting mostly of out-of-context TV sound bites that fall between ads for the Shamwow and Fido — doesn’t give folks nearly enough information to digest what’s going on in Victoria.

We do love our news out here in lotus land, but it’s not always exactly what you’d call food for thought — it’s more like “fast-food for thought” or even “junk-food for thought.”

With that in mind, there are some simple things that I would like to see in a column from an MLA.

The constituents of Cariboo North and Cariboo Chilcotin chose you two as our representatives, and we really want to read your personal views in your own words.

We already know what Gordon Campbell and Carole James think so if you would be so kind as to spare readers the “official” party version of things, that would be greatly appreciated.

Also, there are many contentious issues at play in the Cariboo and around the province — please don’t be wishy-washy and fall back on the old “I have to represent all members of my constituency.”

This may be technically true, but past MLAs have often used this “logic” to avoid answering pointed questions or offending anyone.

Each of you were elected by partisan voters who expect their representation to follow the political and social ideals, which were the basis of their decision to vote for you in the first place.