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Dear Editor: Tsk tsk Joy Lang. (Herald letters to the editor, March 7) Here I was hoping to win the “Curmudgeon of the Year” award and you have blown my cover.

Anyone can do what I do. It just requires keeping up with the local news. One good way to do that is to read the daily paper where they have a pretty good local page. Then you think about the latest local issues maybe do a little research and presto.

Too many people never read a newspaper; they rely instead on internet news — the juicier the better. Titillating the senses sometimes seems to be preferable to journalistic news written with cold hard facts. And judging by some of the news I receive by email the wilder the better.

Then there are the “five-for-four” people: They think about politics for five minutes every four years. They proudly proclaim — ‘I don’t read newspapers’ or — ‘I never get involved in politics’ like it is a dirty word. To all those I have a few stats for you.

In the 2014 civic election there were 26,806 eligible voters in the City of Penticton. Only 31.4 per cent of eligible voters took the time or made the effort to vote.

Oh you say; have you forgotten about the long lineups that deterred people from voting? True many discouraged voters left without voting after returning to the polling station several times to long lineups.

But let’s compare this with the 2011 election. Out of a possible participation of 25,632 registered voters the turnout was 8589 or a 33.5 per cent turnout. Approximately 2 per cent less voters participated in 2014.

Since the 2014 election we have had a council that is taking this city in a new direction. Many people do not like that direction. Despite rallies at City Hall contracts were signed that have since been rescinded. Do you think that would have happened if more people voted? Was it possible that council thought people didn’t care? After all, people don’t care enough to vote.

We can change this if we pay attention. Ask your friends to subscribe to the local paper. Get together with your friends and discuss the local issues over a cup of coffee. Keep up to date on the local news and come well prepared to the next civic election. I hope to see you at the polling stations. Elvena Slump Penticton