For my letter of the month I’d like to take advantage of the brilliant satirical writing of Andrew Coyne in the Nov 2 issue of MacLean’s, “The Cheques Aren’t the Real Scandal.”

I hope Mr. Coyne excuses some of my plagiarizing, but the tie-in to local situations is too good to miss. Mr. Coyne is commenting on the Conservative Party’s use of its own logo on cheques issued out of the public coffers -- “…it is surely scandalous to pretend the public’s money is the party’s…” The Conservatives, he says, are passing out funds to mostly Conservative ridings and then want those receiving the money to salute the MP for his “generosity and compassion in the hope that their beneficiaries will be moved to do the same.” (That is, to vote for them in the next election.)

This brings me to the recent “munificence” of both the provincial and federal governments’ contribution to Summerland’s municipality.

New roadworks, albeit much needed, in Summerland will require about $5 million, to be completed over the next two years. The B.C. government (that is you and me and everybody in B.C.) and the federal government (that is you and me and everybody else in Canada, including perhaps even those living in Newfoundland) have both kicked in $1.5 million each. Summerland taxpayers (that is you and me again) are on the hook for the other $2 million, which over 20 years or so could cost another $2 million in interest. (That’s you, because I don’t think I’ll be around that long.)

As Coyne says, “… it is as much a disgrace for politicians to view the public’s money as their own, as it is for them to encourage others to believe the same. But they would not do so if it didn’t work: if we did not consistently reward them for this behaviour, even demand it. …. The parties treat us like cheap whores because, at bottom, we are.” Thank you, Mr. Coyne, for explaining it so well.

Frank Martens

Summerland

The universal language

I have been teaching Spanish for a few years in the Penticton and Keremeos area.

I am thankful to the Salvation Army and the Alliance Church in Penticton as well as the Similkameen Fellowship and the Bread Box Bakery in Keremeos .for allowing us the use of their facilities to carry out the Spanish classes.

This year, however, many of these people took the time to teach English to many of the migrant workers and assist in many areas like shopping, medical assistance, translating in work situations or simply having fellowship with one another.

We all know that the key to building community is communication and understanding of different cultures, so on behalf of the migrant workers who are making their way home for another year, I thank you for your time, your effort and your love. May God bless you all.

Sandy Diaz-Hart

Keremeos