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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1976-04-15, Page 4Health costs increase Jim Beckett's SERVING CANADA'S BEST FARMLAK Nb C.W,N.A., O.W.N.A. CLASS 'A' anti / Published by J. W. Eedy Publications Limited Editor — Jim Beckett — Advertising Man ager Women's Editor — Gwyn Whilsmith Plant Manager — Jim Scott Composition Manager — Dave Worby Business Manager — Dick Jongkind Phone 235.1331 Published Each Thursday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386 Paid in Advance Circulation September 30, 105 5,420 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $0.00 Per Y,,tir USA $ ; fifnit1111:: ••••••• ........ A couple of months ago we raised the question in an editorial of whether the province was not shifting the burden of its own financial problems (a $2 billion budget deficit) to the shoulders of local municipalities. At that time, treasurer, Darcy McKeough, announced that grant in- creases to municipalities would be significantly reduced and that spending restraints would "rest on local ratepayers" Wrath. Now the province has gone a couple steps further, directly into the pocketbooks of the public with an announcement that OHIP premiums will go up 45 percent. Bearing the brunt of that blow will be private citizens who pay their insurance direct, those who pay half of the premium, and employers who pay the entire premium for their employees. Ironically, the Ontario government has subscribed wholeheartedly to the federal government's wage and price controls which call for a ceiling increase of 10 per- Legislation that requires able-bodied welfare recipients to take available work, or face a reduction or elimination of benefits is an indication that "free rides" are on the way out. Typically though, our every response is legislated. And therein come some of our present day problems. While it is possible to legislate such a reduction or elimination of benefits, some thought should be given to those who may be required to hire such obviously unwilling workers. Assume that in some instances an able- bodied welfare recipient has been quite content not to accept some of the job oppor- tunities that may have been evident, Is that person now more likely to be a willing worker, a conscientious worker or a dedicated worker when forced into some available opportunity? After all, simply putting in so many hours on the job does not make someone a contributor to an industry, Let's end "Free rides" cent on goods, services, and wages. Of course, they are under no legal obligation to keep OHIP premium increases down to 10 percent. When they signed an agreement with the federal government to support and enforce price and wage controls, govern- ment serivee costs were conveniently ex- cluded from the 1,0 percent guideline, We can only conclude that one way or another, the province is determined to in- crease its revenues from the public and if doing it through direct taxation is un- popular, then it will be done through very large increases in OHIP premiums, a shift in the revenue-raising burden from province to local municipalities, and the continuation of the seven percent sales tax now that the fall elections are over and done with. Sadly, a 45 percent increase in OHIP premiums will not bring back the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital or prevent Clinton Hospital from being reduced to an out- patient clinic. office, restaurant or other commercial operation, And we recognize too, that not all welfare recipients are happy to be receiv- ing welfare. Many, we know, would prefer the satisfaction that comes from doing something useful. Are any opportunities for them likely to be more evident because of the legislation? The real problem is that no matter how much legislation is passed on the subject, those who don't want to work, won't. They'll find some new way to beat the "system". While we have mocked the work ethic and short circuited its advantages for over a decade, we still have to face the im- plications of that action. Legislation is not likely to be a magic wand. Somewhere along the line we have to encourage people to realize that you get out of life what you put into it, just as you get out of work, or recreation what you put into it. There has to be an expenditure of effort if there is to be a recapture of satisfaction. "I feel terrible — think I'm coming down with the people flu." Why do I keep coming to this tomb, to kneel before this black and ugly hole cut deep in rock? Its dankness chills me to the very bone, immobilizes me with fear and hopelessness while icy fingers clench and stab my burning heart. My knees bleed from cruel, jagged stones, and sobs and groans racked from the inmost gutteral depths consume me till I can think of nothing else but to lie down beside the tomb in arrant melancholy or to,die. But then a shaft of sunlight pure and warm falls on my head . . , I turn to see the dull grey sky is taking on a steady glow of pink and gold. And through a blur of tears I see You standing there, smiling, Your hand outstretched Then I remember . . .oh, how could I forget? just why the tomb is empty . . . There's nothing there! no death, no sorrow, no agony so deep you have not conquered it, As you,Yourself, have said."It is all finished," Oh God, the wonder, the Hallelujah,' Easter wonder of it all, I grasp Your hand to rise and walk with steady steps beside You far from that useless tomb into the glorious dawn of Your undying Grace, Your Holiness to Courage and to Hope, to Joy to Power. Dear Risen Lord, Help me remember there is a choice of living every day either in the spirit of the musty, empty tomb or in the spirit of victorious resurrection, • Help me, I pray, to deliberately choose the one and to reject the other. Empty Tomb Well, what is your opinion of capital punishment and gun control, Uncle Elmer? Yes or no? Thank you. I thought so. In its ineffable wisdom, our government has Jumped the two into a new piece of legislation on which those famous fencesitters, our Members of Parliament, are presently and uncomfortably astride. It is perfectly obvious, even to an M.P., what the public wants, in both cases. A large majority would like to keep the capital punishment issue on the books, and apply it widely. An equally large majority would like to see a much more effective form of gun control, for the simple and sensible purpose of cutting down on violent crime. But, and here's the political catch, in each case the minority speaks with a stentorian voice, and politicians, like St, Joan, pay a lot of attention, perhaps too much, to voices, stentorian or otherwise. Strange bedfellows. On the one hand, the humanitarians who believe that the taking of life, even officially, and even for murder, is wrong. And in the same sack, those violently op- posed to gun control as some sort of interference in the sacred rights of the individual to pack a fire-iron if he so chooses. The Bible tells us that on a certain occasion: "The voice of the turtle was heard in the land." This was a reference to the return of spring, from the Song of Solomon. Transfer this to Canada, spring 1976, and it might be paraphrased: "And the voice of the turkey was heard in the land." I would never, of course, suggest that everyone who Times Established 1873 favours capital punishment or is against gun control is a turkey. That would eliminate most °Piny friends. But the gabble and gobble is unmistakeable. I have my own clear-cut opinions on each issue, and I herewith offer them for the guidance of puzzled politicians and the few hundred Canadians who are indecisive on these matters, Let us take a case in point. This is a true story. Just over a decade ago, a 14-year-old boy shot and killed his mother. I don't blame him. I'd have done the same. He was a good boy, in every sense, and a good student. But his mother wanted him to be a great boy and a superb student. She nagged him ruthlessly to do better, though the kid was doing his best. One day, for some reason that is not important here, he failed a test at school. The harpy was waiting for him, and when he confessed, she lit into him like the Witch of Endor. He went and got his father's gun and shot her dead, Now, according to most of my friends, and 95 percent of my students, he should have been hanged. Their favorite argument, in our materialistic society: "It'd cost us a hundred thousand dollars to keep him in jail for life." And all those who favor rigid gun control will say: "It never woulda happened if his father haddena hadda gun." And those very vocal citizens who oppose very tight restric- tion' v. guns will say: "It woodena happened if the gun was registered and his dad belonged to a hand-gun club and it was under lockankee, like we want." Well, it wasn't, and he didn't, and it did. All of which, of course, is beside the point, as most of 4, Advocate Established 1881 these arguments are. The kid would have killed the old lady with a knife, or a hammer, or her steam iron, or the nearest thing handy, if there'd been no gun. Well, what did happen? The boy was tried, found guilty of homicide while of unsound mind, and incarcerated in a mental institution, possibly for life. Fair enough? While there, he showed all the symptoms of normalcy, whatever they are. He wasn't crazy, or even mentally disturbed, if you prefer euphemisms. He knew what he'd done. He was sorry. During the next several years, he was tutored by a wise and compassionate teacher (not me, Doc ). He completed his high school courses, on his own. He was eventually released, went to university, graduated with honors, and is now a better-than- average member of society. Perhaps he should have been hanged. That would certainly have taught him a lesson, Perhaps we should go back to the ]ash, and branding a capital "W" on the foreheads of prostitutes, and cutting off the hands of shop-lifters. I dunno. These measures didn't put an end to crime in the middle ages. Perhaps we should be able to go into a drugstore and buy a gun. It's almost that easy in the States. I dunno. But I do know that capital punishment will never stop murder. And I do know there are an awful lot of nuts, not quite cer- tifiable, running around the country with perfectly legal guns, Take it from there, Warren Altnand, you plucky little Solicitor-General, or Super- Lawyer, if you don't prefer euphemisms. -.;• 1. Amalgamated 1924 "I'm powerless over alcohol and my life has become un- manageable." This is one of the first' things people with drinking problems have to admit to themselves and continue to think about if they are to have any success following the Alcoholics Anonymous program. Each week a group of alcoholics meet at the Exeter United Church in a continuing battle against the severe grips of alcoholism. These are people not unlike the average person except for one difference. They have admitted that alcohol has taken control of their lives and are desperately trying to do something about it. The philosophy behind the AA program is to combat the disease in a group effort to resist the desire to drink. One of the fun- damental steps that anyone who has a drinking problem must take in order to be helped by AA is to admit to themselves that they are truly alcoholics and that although alcoholism is an incurable disease it can be successfully arrested one day at a time. When one day has been com- pleted without taking a drink then it is time to start thinking about the next clay. The alcoholics started arriving at the church just before 8 p.m. For a moment this writer was surprised because there was no way you could tell by looking at these people that they were any different than anyone else, After meeting a few" alcoholics I discovered they were not the down and out drunks that you might expect to see. Instead they impressed me as friendly individuals, quick to shake your hand and welcome you to the group. The atmosphere at AA meetings is different than what you would expect to find at most groups, There isn't anybody in charge of the organization. The meeting is just a gathering of people who all have the same problem who believe they can be helped by sharing their problems with others and by listening to other alcoholics tell of their continuing battle against the disease. It is an accepted fact today that alcoholics are people who are really suffering from a disease which ranks only behind heart and cancer as a killer illness. One member of the group told me that alcoholics were once regarded as "weak-willed in- dividuals" who were unable to control their drinking habits, He. said both his father and grandfather were alcoholics and that before the birth of AA in 1935 there was literally no hope for these sick people. "With AA we have some hope," he said. The group has been meeting in Exeter for over 18 months and if the turnout at Sunday's meeting is any indication they are helping quite a few people. Most alcoholics who continue drinking not only ruin their own lives but they also make life extremely difficult for their families and friends. That's why the group encourages families to work together fighting alcoholism. here is also Al-a-Non meetings for spouses of alcoholics. According to one alcoholic it's possible that there may he several hundred people in the area who are alcoholics them- selves but won't admit it. "And this" he stressed, "is the only way to fight the problem." New faces are always weIcoi nod and other members do ,U a:f i.1.0)11U else ';) personal affairs. People address 50 Years Ago Miss Ross of the Exeter High School staff is spending the Easter holidays in Toronto. Miss Hale is visiting at her home in Gananoque and Miss Banes at Newbury. Mr. K. Stanbury of Western University spent the Easter holidays under the parental roof, Miss Greta Harness and Miss Verda Roweliffe spent the Easter holidays in Windsor. Mr. Bruce Medd of the O.A.C. Guelph spent Easter at his home here, 25 Years Ago The Silver Star Medal, awarded to Private First Class Everett E. Pollen, son of Mr, E, J. Pollen, Exeter, will be presented to his father in a special ceremony to be held at the home of the hero's uncle, Simon C. Pollen of Flint, Michigan, April 13. Presentation will be made by Lieutenant Colonel Wesley V. Post, National Guard Advisor-Instructor in The local intermediate "B" hockey playoffs between Lucan, Zurich, Ilensall and Dashwood this winter constituted the "Greatest "B" series in W.O.A,A „" Tory Gregg Winghatri told those who attended the banquet in 1,(1Catt Arena Tuesday School children will assist in 5. Admitted to God, to our- selves, and to another human being the exact nature of, our wrongs. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these effects of character. 7. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings. 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will and for us the power to carry that out. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. AA is not a religious program although most mem- bers admit to a belief in a "Higher Power," The people who meet at the United Church every Sunday at 8 p.m. are alcoholics who have admitted their problem and are trying to do something about it, There are many more people who are suffering from the same disease but have as yet refused to believe they have a problem. As one alcoholic said at the close of the meeting: "I don't honestly know what would have become of me without the help of AA." If you know or suspect you have a problem with alcohol there's a group right in town that may be able to help you. Newcomers don't have to feel shy about ad- mitting their affliction because the group is exactly as the name describes, Alcoholics Anonymous, For more information on how to get help with a drinking problem call 1-348-8363. the first action on the Usborne reforestation program if plans made by the council Monday afternoon work out. The annual banquet of South Huron Junior Farmers and Junior Institute was held in Thames Road Church, Friday, with a large representation from both boy's and girl's clubs. Dashwood Men's Club will sponsor a midget ball team, it was decided at a recent meeting. Harold Kellerman was appointed manager and Joe Merner, coach, 20 Years Ago Something of very real im- portance to Western Ontario started on its course — the Ontario Water Resources Commission has been formed. A water pipeline north of Grand Bend to supply water from Lake Huron to areas needing water has been suggested. Construction of the $80,000 addition to General Coach Works, Hensel', is progessing rapidly and officials expect the building will be completed in six weeks. This new 100' x 230' wing will double production space of the factory. The property of the late 'William Musser was purchased by Miss Della Peart for $5,050 at the auction sale Saturday. Zurich is well on its way with its centennial preparations for celebrations to be held from July 1 to 4. Every Easter Grandma told us the same story, and as near as can recall, this is how it went:- "This is the story of how the rabbit got his ears" she would say, as we gathered around her ancient rocking chair. "Once upon a time" she would begin in the tradition of story tellers. It was springtime long ago. The Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them awakened the animals who had slept through the winter, by blowing warm breezes on them, milting the ice in the ponds and rivers, and softening the earth with warm rays from the sun, so that they wouldn't hurt their feet when they got up and romped around on their tender toes. The animals got up willingly and happily, because it was good to feel the earth's warmth, and they loved the Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them, and were pleased to do his bidding. All of them that is, except a member of the rat family, called a rabbit. The rabbit felt bad about himself and liked to stay hidden in his warren. (A warren is a place where rabbits live). The reason the rabbit felt bad about hime vas his tail — a little powd puff of a thing that looked sissified when he com- pared it to the long tails of his cousin the mouse, or his cousin the rat . In fact he was often teased about "his cute little tail". As a result the rabbit was not _a happy creature and stayed deep duomwdn. in his warren until he go so hungry he had to come up for The Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them noticed that the rabbit was not enjoying the spring goodness of things, He looked down the,hole which was the door to the warren and shouted "Time to get up, sleepy-head." The rabbit didn't budge. The Great Spirit called again, "Scram" said the rabbit, "can't you see I'm sleeping?" The Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them reached down into the warren, grabbed one of the Dear Editor: We attended the meeting in part on Thursday evening in the Exeter Public School re sports complex, restore present arena or abandon arena in Exeter. With baby sitting problems we were forced to leave at eleven p.m. To the three hours at the meeting two and three quarter hours were spent on a new sports complex and one quarter hour on the two alternatives. We feel minds aq already made up and this meeting was just to push this idea down the throats of we the rabbit's ears and pulled and pulled. The rabbit dug his heels in. After several hours' tugging the Great Spiri tgot the rabbit but of his warren and' what a sight Ile was! One ear was about fifteen centimeters long, while the other ear remained little as it always had, been. The rabbit stroked his long (left) ear and- felt the dif- ference. "What have you done to me?" he screamed. The Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them replied "You dumb bunny, I thought I had a hold of your silly tail, not one of your precious little ears." To which the rabbit replied "Yeah? I thought you were supposed to know everything," The Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them did not answer. Instead he shook the whole earth with a mighty clap of thunder to show he was not pleased. The rabbit. wasn't pleased either. "What will I do?" he moaned. "I looked bad enough with this powder-puff tail, and now I have one short ear and one long.I' II never be able to face my friends." The Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them thought quietly. Then he said to the rabbit "If I make your ears exactly the same, will you promise never to sleep late again?" And the rabbit made him aSolemn promise. "Go look at yourself in the pond then" said the Great Spirit and off the rabbit went. Imagine his surprise when he found, not that his ears were their short selves again, but that now he had two magnificent long, silky ears. "Oh thank you, Great Spirit Who Watches Over All Creatures and Cares For Them," said the rabbit, "You have a noble heart!' And he hopped off to the forest to show himself off to his friends. "Now the moral of the story is" said Grandma "don't sleep late or you too could wake up with long ears." "But the rabbit washappy,"we said "I/o you want to look like a rabbit?" said Grandma. She always had the last word. public taxpayer. Why do a few people in Exeter feel this sports complex is necessary especially at, this time when spending is to be curtailed? Anyone with other suggestions were not given a chance to spend two hours on their ideas, Each time the subject was brought up someone jumped up and changed everything back to the sports complex again, Yours truly, Mrs. I. Fletcher Mrs, C. Winbow Grandma's Easter bunny tale By KIT SCHILLER each other on a first name basis only and newcomers are im- mediately put at ease because they have the knowledge they are there together battling a common problem. Another difference in AA is that , each group is completely self supporting. Members give what they can when the collection box is passed and outside con- tributions are not accepted. No figures are available to show how many days of work are missed in Exeter or surrounding area by alcohol caused problems but it's apparent that quite a few people have been affected by the disease. The guest speaker at Sunday's meeting captivated the group with his personal testimonial of his struggle against alcohol, When I heard him say that he had not taken a drink for over 28 years the thought ran through my mind that this man must be completely cured of his alcoholism. I was wrong because there is no cure for alcoholism. It's a disease that lasts for life and those af- flicted must continue their battle daily against the urge to drink. One . advantage the alcoholic has when he joins AA is the knowledge that he or she will receive professional help and advice by following a proven program. "You don't have to go it alone," one person stated. One of the first things a new member is advised to do is to become totally familiar with the 12 steps used to combat the problem. AA members are en- couraged to practice them daily, The 12 steps are: 1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. 3, Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understand Him, 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves, -