HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1972-11-08, Page 2"Boss, that car you advertised as a steal has been stolen!"
Election reveals concern
The results of Mondays
election.' particularly
those in rural western.
Ontario, probably reflect
a combination of concerns.
As Ontario population
growth becomes more con-
centrated in large urban
centres the influence of
rural Ontario decreases.
This too frequently has
contributed to a tendancy
on the part of government
at higher levels to regard
everything desirable for
the cities as equally
acceptable for the rural
community. There has been
a failure to recognize
that those living on the
farms and in the towns and,
small cities of rural On-
tario have needs and hopes
and aspirations just as
entitled to recognition as
are those of the cities.
There is not the unem-
ployment and welfare re-
quirements in rural Ontario
as are present in the cities.
The merit of work is not a
dead issue in these parts
and farmers and the b'usi-
ness men in the small towns
are accustomed to paying
their way and adjusting
their needs to their re-
sources. They have dif-
ficulty in accepting what
they regard as unduly high
payments to unemployed and
to those on welfare when
they themselves often have
difficulty in obtaining
help. They resented what
many suspected was a wide
spread practise of quitting
or turning down jobs for
the benefits of insurance.
Increasing municipal
taxes ,which, in fact, re-
flect Ontario Conservative
policies in education and
assessment,have been re-
lated in the minds of many
to the cost of_unemploy-
ment and for which the
federal government was
blamed.
While the N.D.P. cry
of "corporate bums" didn't
produce many additional
NDP votes in rural Ontario,
it did have the effect of
raising the question of
the credibility of the
government in the minds of
some voters and was an
added factor in their de-
cision to register a pro-
test vote.
But what possibility
was the major factor in
the election results was
that too many voters re-
acted against steps being
taken to provide the people
of Quebec with the rights
and privileges which had
been guaranteed them under
confederation. In this
attitude, unfortunately,
they were encouraged by
continuing demands by
Ontario for more Ottawa
dollars which, by inference,
Were being provided Quebec
and other 'have not pro-
vinces' at the expense of
tax payers in this province.
While we would hesitate
to think of this as bigo-
try certainly a number of
releases sent out from
Ottawa by some opposition
MP's, for consumption in
their ridings have been
couched in terms that sug -
gested that Quebec was
receiving particullir assis7
tance at our expense.Some
Conservative candidates
exploited the same theme
in the campaign. Mr.Stan-
field deserves full credit
for repudiating such an
approach.
The voters who were in-
fluenced by this kind of
anti French backlash
didn't think of Canada
when they voted. They
thought only of themselves.
The fact is, of course,
that if we are to continue
to have a viable and united
Canada it must include
Quebec. It is the res-
ponsibility of those of.us
in other parts, including
Ontario, to ensure that
Quebecers are given those
opportunities guaranteed
them a hundred years ago
and that they are assured
of standards comparable
to those enjoyed by the .
rest of Canada.
The vote tells us many
things. We hope for the
sake of Canada that it
doesn't mean there is a
majority in Ontario who
want to put down Quebec.
When an election results
in a swing such as that of
Monday", the relative merits
of the issues and of the
candidates in many, ridings
are lost sight of.
Certainly that is what
happened in ridings in this
area. Without in any way
detracting from the merits
of those who won and who
deserve congratulations on
their achievements, there
were at the same time many
equally capable candidates
who were swept away. Their
abilities, their proposals
were ignored in the larger -
concern. We hope they will
not regard this as typical
but will offer their ser-
vices again.
Today I Was discussing newspaper cOlUmnists with •some of
My senior students. It was a perfectly legitimate exercise in the
teaching of English, but the devils know that if they can get
me' off track, bragging or reminiscing, I might get carried
away and forget to give them their homework aSsignment.
Therefore, someone Craftily introduced the subject of this
column. Sly questions, leading me further and further away
from the original point. It worked. Most people are never
happier than when they're talking about themselves or their
work, I took the bait,
"I suppose you write four or five ahead", sUggested one lad.
A lot of people have this loony idea* tersely told the
truth; that I write it right on the deadline, even though I
have a whole week to work on, it. I'm usually galloping to the
post office to catch the last possible mail. There are 168 hours
in a week, and I use• the last two of them.
(I can hear some editors and readers sniffing and muttering,
"They read like it, too".)
But I've discovered that' it is psychologically impossible
for me to turn out a column unless the guillotine is hanging
over me. I've tried it in the summer holidays, but have given
up. On each occasion I'd sit there, looking and feeling stupid,
tear put of the typewriter sheet after sheet, crumple it, and
try again. Nothing doing.
• I am constantly telling budding writers to establish a regular
work pattern. Afraid it's a case of "do as I say" rather than
"do as I do."
Oh, they get a lot of good advice. Constantly I extoll
the work habits of people like Leacock and Hemingway, who
got up early and worked steadily for so many hours. Then
one of my little inner voices snaps, "why don't you do it
yourself?" My other little inner voice snaps rigM back,
"Hell, I'm not a writer, I'm a columnist." Saved again.
When youthful writers ask me what to write about, I tell
them to write about what they know and do and feel. This
time, I follow my own advice. If I didn't, I wouldn't have enough
material to keep me going for a month.
"Yah, but whut kinds stuff?", they retort in their impeccable
teenage English."
This is a—Trariant on the adult query I've heard so often,
"Where daya get all them ideas for your little articles?"
Well, folks, I wish a butler would appear once a week
with a little silver salver bearing a piece of paper, and
announce, "Your idea for this week, sir." But he doesn't,
and I probably wouldn't know what to do with it If he did.
Besides, I don't have a 'butler, dammit.
However, I do have a wife. Occasionally, in despair, I'll
say, "What in the world am I going to write about this week?"
She'll say, "Write about spring" or something about as •
helpful. I respond, "O.K." and write a column about spring.
Nothing to it.
• Just before the election, something came up that might have
been material for a column. An old friend phoned. My wife
answered. She called, "Paul wants to knowif the Liberals can
put a sign on our lawn", frowning and shaking her head at
me.
Airily I said, "Sure, I don't care", though I hadn't decided
which way I was going to vote. Hand over the mouthpiece, she
hissed at me, "No, I don't want a sign on our lawn."
Even more airily, I said, "Yes, he can. Tell him. For once
in your life, woman, do what you're told." She did.
But her wrath mounted steadily. Five minutes later she was
on the. blower to N.D.P. headquarters, telling them they could
put a sign on our lawn.
I didn't give a didle. A lawn is only a lawn, and a sign is
only a sign. But, though I was polite, I was a little cheesed
when two NDP characters showed up at the door, ostensibly
to thank us. Not only did they try to sell me on socialism, or
at least what passes for it in this country; but they drank all
my beer and ate all my cheese. Their idea of socialism, I
guess.
Next morning, I was a bit startled to walk out and see
four signs on the lawn, two Liberal, two NDP. Right there and
then, I almost decided to vote the straight Tory ticket.
There were the usual needles from neighbours and
colleagues. "A house divided against itself, eh, Smiley?" And
"What are you tryna do, Smiley, get out the vote?"
I coolly ignored the jibes, but secretly wondered whether
there was material for a column in it. That's the way a
columnist thinks, so watch what you say when I'm around.
decided there wasn't. And, as you can see, I was right.
Perhaps this column should be headed, "How Not To Write
a Column 'But you see, I did, and you read it. At least,
I hope you 'did. Surely three or four of you did. If you didn't,
write me and explain why.
g Brussels Post
:TAX
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1972.
Serving Brussels and the surrounding community
published each Wednesday afternoon at Brussels, Ontario
by McLean Bros. Publishers, Limited.
Evelyn Kennedy - Editor Tom Haley - Advertising'
. Member Canadian Community Newspaper Association and
Ontario Weekly Newspaper Association.
Subsdriptioris (in kivance) Canada $4.00 a year, Others
$5.00 a year, Single Copies 10 cents each.
Second class mail Registration No. 0562.
Telephone 887-6641.