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6- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 1, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com OPINION & LETTERS The Oakville Beaver 467 Speers Rd., Oakville Ont. L6K 3S4 (905) 845-3824 Fax: 337-5567 Classified Advertising: 845-3824, ext. 224 Circulation: 845-9742 Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. THE OAKVILLE BEAVER IS PROUD OFFICIAL MEDIA SPONSOR FOR: NEIL OLIVER Vice ­ President and Group Publisher of Metroland West The Oakville Beaver is a division of IAN OLIVER President Media Group Ltd. DAVID HARVEY General Manager JILL DAVIS Editor in Chief ROD JERRED Managing Editor DANIEL BAIRD Advertising Director RIZIERO VERTOLLI Photography Director SANDY PARE Business Manager MARK DILLS Director of Production MANUEL GARCIA Production Manager CHARLENE HALL Director of Distribution ALEXANDRIA ANCHOR Circ. Manager Taking time to care is priceless Oakville is a great place to call home. That's why people come here to live. It is a place where people seem able to take the time, no matter how precious that time may be, to show they care -- about their homes, families, communities, schools, environment and neighbours. As we debate political philosophies on the brink of a federal election, we should realize how lucky we are to do so. A world away in Africa, politics, healthcare and society are in the death throes of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has ravaged communities and left families, particularly children, without basic necessities. Yet, they still have hope -- hope that, a world away in Oakville, there will be people, who live a totally different life, who may take but a few moments to share just a little of their good fortune via the $Million or More Oakville (MOMO) campaign and Stephen Lewis Foundation. As we await Oakville's first Vital Signs report -- a report card on what's good and bad about our town -- we must remember to put it all in perspective. Stay tuned for the report in next week's Beaver. As some of us struggle to keep our heads above water during this economic downturn, we should remember no one is far from falling victim to bad times. There are hardworking folks who find themselves at the food bank to make ends meet. Fareshare food bank has seen a decline in donations, so please give to the Thanksgiving Food Drive Oct. 3-19. Those who are not a stereotypical homeless person, but have suffered job loss or marital breakdown and are living on a friend's couch, know what it is like hit bad times. Please take some time to attend the Empty Bowls fundraiser for Home Suite Hope on Oct. 19. A new parent whose hopes have been dashed as they deal with a terminally ill child or those facing their own mortality, are facing bad times. Please see today's Living section for numerous fundraisers. Oakville is a great place in which to live. We are confident that our community will rise to meet the needs of all people who are struggling, whether at home or a world away. The fact we usually do take the time, and dig just a little deeper when necessary, are the biggest reasons why Oakville is such a wonderful community to call home. The Oakville Beaver welcomes letters from its readers. Letters will be edited for clarity, length, legal considerations and grammar. In order to be published all letters must contain the name, address and phone number of the author. Letters should be addressed to The Editor, Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, ON, L6K 3S4, or via e-mail to editor@oakvillebeaver.com. The Beaver reserves the right to refuse to publish a letter. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR "Carpe Diem," says your letter writer Lin Mackrael. Pick the day. The writer considers a tactical vote a wasted vote: instead, she thinks we should vote for "what we want." Indeed. Alas, under Canada's outdated English "first past the post" system this is impossible. With only a few parties to vote for, and rampant corruption and old fashioned left-right social and economic divisions, there often is no party. Take me. Should I vote for a party that will increase my taxes on gas and heating Sometimes there isn't a party of choice of both my homes, when we already pay among the highest taxes in the developed world? No way. Then, should I vote for a party that wants to put 14 year olds in prison for life and that has excluded the possibility of allowing the foreign competition that would make my cellphone bill dip below the $500 per month rate? Fat chance. The other parties are even worse. Don't get me started. So on a scale of 1-10, I respect all available options at the 1-2 level, can Mackrael please tell me which of these parties should be the one of my "choice?" Honestly, I could not live with myself if I voted for any of them. So: spoiled ballot or abstention? Like most Canadians, I want a party that is economically conservative and socially liberal. But that choice is not to be found anywhere on the ballot. MICHAEL WILLEMS BY STEVE NEASE snease@haltonsearch.com Voters have spoken on electoral reform I read with interest your article (Candidates agree electoral system outdated, The Oakville Beaver, Sept. 20) on the Oakville all-candidates debate and the continuing whining about our electoral system by the Green and NDP candidates, supported, by the Liberal candidate. See Vote page 8 This week's poll The Oakville Beaver has a polling feature on its website oakvillebeaver.com. A new poll will be posted every Wednesday with the results of the poll published in the following Wednesday edition of The Oakville Beaver. This week's question is: When it comes to the federal election, who has more influence on your vote? : · Party leader · Local candidate To vote, visit oakvillebeaver.com Last week's poll: Which election are you following more closely?: · American 38.71% · Canadian 61.29% Total votes: 31 The Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone 416-340-1981.Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Pud