North America is going through one of the most difficult times in history and on Thursday evening - prior to my rant - I watched part of an American debate that included a female candidate winking at the cameras during very serious conversations. This was going on simultaneously as Americans and the rest of the world were anxiously waiting for news to see how one of the worst financial situations could possibly be resolved and she is winking at the world from her podium. I just about fell off of my couch.

Like Sarah Palin, I have five kids, I was a hockey mom for 15 years, I am educated and have had very responsible career positions including a political office for eight years, I wouldn't ever have imagined referring to people I was representing as "Joe six pack".

Apparently this debate had one of the highest global audiences ever, the world was her audience and she is winking and acting "cutesy"? We are in a major global crisis and we need to be thinking - not winking.

I am very supportive of women in politics, women holding positions of responsibility, making decisions to not work outside of the house or working at whatever they choose - same is true for all men, but come on everyone; politics are becoming a reality show.

I spent the next day hoping to hear outrage from across the country but it was all treated as a comedy routine. I called my sister in Ottawa who works for a Federally funded agency and asked her if she was as angry as I was about the state of the world and our politics at home and south of the border and she informed me that she is quitting her very prominent job because she can't work in this political environment any longer.

I know how she is feeling because I did the same thing four years ago because of the disappointment I felt with the Provincial branch of government that was subsidizing my pay cheque.

This election should be about something. There is too much going on in the world not to be outraged and to not be demanding change at many levels. It's not just Grimsby, we have to be concerned about, but it is about Canada and the entire world.

We, the people, should be making the difference- we shouldn't be sitting back and listening to politicians tell us how they will make a difference. We need to be sending strong and clear messages.

Mike's article "An election about nothing" was right on, but if we are spending millions of dollars on an election, let's make it about something. The Canadian debate on Thursday evening was not a debate, it was a round table discussion.

Has anyone checked their life savings lately?

Aren't people wondering why every time you drive down Main Street Grimsby the gas prices have changed dramatically?

What about every time we go into a grocery store and see that costs have gone up or we have to check to see what has been declared unsafe to eat on any given day. The public has become terrified to go into a hospital for fear of coming out sicker than they went in. On any given day lately I hear on the news or read that Canada is headed for a recession and then 5 minutes later they aren't. The headlines of the Toronto Star on Saturday declared that many of the toys our children are playing with are toxic. Jobs are constantly being lost. Our dollar has dropped considerably again. We are participating in a war. The list is endless.

For the record, I am not affiliated with any particular political party. I have voted for each party at one time or another based on what I felt were the more pressing issues of the day.

These are very serious times. We all need to be very seriously concerned and become more vocal. At least the campaign south of us is pretending to be all about change. What is going to be different for us next week - other than we are going to have spent millions and millions of dollars on this election.

I apologize calling you Mike - but the winks pushed me over the edge.

Cheryl Martinello

Grimsby