The Brussels Post, 1976-10-20, Page 14Sugar and Spice
by Bill Smiley
Political visions
There are quite a few big, black birds
floating around these days. Or had you
noticed?
No, they are not black geese on their way
south. They are vultures. They may not
look like it. They may more closely
resemble political pundits, media
manipulators, or triumphant Tories. But
they are vultures.
They are scrawny and hungry as they
circle impatiently, waiting for the
moribund body to fall down and become a
carcass on which they can fatten.
That staggering corpus on which their
beady little eyes are fixed is the Liberal
Party, which composes the government of
this fair land at the moment.
A Gallup or some other poll revealed
recently that the Liberals would receive
only 29 per cent of the vote, should an
election be held when the poll was taken.
Add to that the increasingly virulent tone
of the media toward the prime _minister,
and a gaggle of fairly minor scandals
,involving prominent Liberals, and it would
appear that the vultures will soon be
gorging themselves.
There certainl y is a faint stench arising
from the Liberal pafty these days. But it is
not the stench of death. It is more like the
odour of a body that needs both a strong
purgative and a good, hot bath.
I don't pretend to be a political seer. Nor
do I owe any political prognostications to
any political affiliation. In short, I don't
give a diddle for any of them.
But it doesn't require more than a
modicum of common sense to realize that
the Liberal party, is ,far-' frOm 1?eing on its
last legs. Anyone who iinkS otherwise is
indulging in wishful fantasies or a form of
self-hypnosis.That includes the ,political
vultures. I think they tare going to go 'right
on being scrawny and hungry.
Remember, you read it here first. The
Liberals may have absorbed a few stiff
punches in thee solar plexus, but they are a
long way from going to the mat and being
counted out.
Why? Use your head, man , or lady,
Forget about the polls and the press.
Nobody ever won an election with either, or
both. People, not polls, elect governments.
And people ,are the most unpredictable
creatures in the universe. They don't base
their votes on logic or reason. They base
them on all kinds of crazy things:
They base them on emotions like greed
and fear. They base them on glibness and
charisma. They base them on such things
as Margaret making an ass pf herself on TV
or Maureen having a hard time with her
first baby.
In these days, when the tube is so vital in
a politician's getting to the people, the
latter base their votes, in many, many
cases; on dazzle rather than dependability,
on rhetoric rather than reliability.
,A pity 'tis. `Tis pity but 'tis true. When
the crunch comes, who are you going to
vote for? Earnest, y outhful Joe, with his
jowls jumping like a junior John dief.? Or
suave , elegant Pierre of the Gallic shrug,
the seemingly, utterly reasonable approach,
and the, charm of a professional actor? Be
honest, now.
Add to that a few other facts. Trudeau
has the solid support of his party, if only
because he has led it to two successful
grabs at the gold ring; Clark was elected
leader of the Tories by barely more than
one half of the convention delegates.
Add again. Trudeau is a skilled and
experienced politician. He has shown that
he can be at the same time loyal to his
henchmen and ruthless when, need be.
Clark is comparatively uniried in the
po litical arena, is rapidly gaining skill,
but hasn't had a chance to be either loyal or
ruthless. He hasn't dared.
• Add some more. The government
controls the purse strings. This means
patronage and post offices and pension
cheques. And don't tell me that's
nineteenth century politics: If ain't. Look
for some sudden .benevolence by the
government on the eve of election.
And again.. Don't count too much on the
prime minister's current unpopularity.
Mackenzie King was one of the most
Cordially hated prime ministers we have
ever had. He ,-suddenly became '7ry
pop..ular and won, an election When,, he
' introduced the .baby. :,bonus. --,,See
par,agraph.
Another fact. There are millions:, of
die-hard Liberals in, this cokiritr$,.'1711e;')i'd
"vote kolig ofj,15iArnin (not
much to choose there) were running for
prime minister. What do you think they
will do in an election? Roll over and play
dead?
Add to this that Quebec, despite its
disillusion with its own Liberal
government, will go at least ninety per cent
Liberal, They may not love Trudeau, but
when it comes to a choice between a guy
named Pierre and a guy named Joe, there
is no choice, among French Canadians,
Trudeau will get a licking in the West,
but that is not where elections are won or
lost.
While it may be on the ropes, cut and
bleeding,- the Liberal party is ,a.' long;' long ,
way from being carried out of the ring, feet - -
first.
Here's my prediction, Pierre Trudeau
will eat Joe Clark for breakfast. If he
doesn't, I'll eat three copies of the High
River Times for my breakfast.
Colbourne Street Public School,
Strathroy was host to 119
members of the Federation of
Women Teachers' Association of
Ontario, Region 1, on Saturday,
October 2. .
Huron County had nine women
in attendance.
Mary Jane Gardiner was
chairlady. Various officials spoke
words of welcome.. An address
from the Ontario F.W.T.A.O.
President was, read. Margaret
Jarvis, the Provincial Convener
on Superanuation forwarded
some useful information on this
subject. Marie MacGregor, F. W. s first Vice-President,
remind us of upcoming events,
including the Reading Conference
next Spring. Mary Pattison, an
Executive Assistant from
Toronto, brought us up to date on
Elethentary School grants,
The representatives broke up
into small discussion groups;
according to their position of
office in F.W.T.A.O.Prom here,
the meeting was adjourned to the
Strathroy United Church for
lunch.
Bluevcde UCIN enjoys
talk of trip to Bermud
Government' was read on the
drinking age, in which it was
suggested that the age be
increased to 19 years of age in
1977, and 20 years in 1978.
The Bluevale U.C.W. bazaar
', was announced for Oct. 29th, with'
plans to be finalized by Unit'
leaders.
Mrs. Dorothy Street told of her
visit to - Bermuda. She gave an
interesting description, of the
islands , the vegetation, the
people, homes, churches, etc.
Pictures and souvenirs made the
talk even ,more interesting.
The meeting closed with hymn'
"Now Thank We All Our God"
and prayer ,by Rev. Wilena
Brown. Unit 2 served
refreshments during the social'
time 'WhiCli followed.
Over 400 million people suffer
from Trachoma. Proceeds from a
single Unicef Hallowe'en box can
buy enough antibiotic ointment to
cure several children afflicted
with this disease, which, if
untreated, leads to blindness.
14 Ti E IMUSSELS POST, -OCTOBER. 20, 1070
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the Registration Fee ' 115,00 per person iridlUdes. luncheon.
Mrs. Carol Campb'ell led the
Worship Service to. open the
meeting of 13luevale U.C.W. held
in the Sunday School room on'
Thursday afternoon, Oct. 7th.
A Thanksgiving poem set the
theme for the meeting, follo-Wed
by hymn "Come -ye thankful-
people come".
Mrs. Campbell _read Psalm 95
and presented' the topic "When
you're thankful" • in which she
spoke of the sounds n of
thanksgiving, the many sources
of thankfulness, and the seasons
for thanksgiving.'
The roll call, "A Thanksgiving
thought" was answered by 19
members.
During the business period a
letter was read from Brookhaven
,Nursing Home and, ' it - was -'
,
arranged '.=that the.
committee plan visits there by the
units during,the coming 'year.
A letter , from Huronview
reminded members of the bazaar
on Oct. 26th. .
A resolution to be presented by
the' London Conference' to the
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