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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-06-27, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988. Editorials A different idealism In the background behind the high praise for U.S. President Ronald Reaganatlast week’s economic Summit in Toronto was the worry on the part of many of the right wing leaders present that the realistic Mr. Reagan might be replaced at the next conference by Michael DuKakkis and a return to the foolish idealism of liberal thinking. The election of right wing governments from the U.S. to Britain to Canada has often been ascribed to the failure of the impossible idealism of the 1960’s and‘70’s. Mr. Reagan. Margaret Thatcher. Brian Mulroney were elected to bring realism back after others failed in their attempt to create the perfect world. But these leaders have their own idealism that seems just as unrealisticand doomed tofailurc. One of the touchiest issues at the summit for instance was the subject of agricultural subsidies with the U.S. wanting to eliminate all agricultural subsidies while European leaders wanted to “reduce” subsidies. Surely even Mr. Reagan can’t believe that it is possible to eliminate all farm subsidies. The conference took place, for instance, at a time when the western part of the North American continent was in the midst of the worst drought in 50 years. Would Mr. Reagan and Mr. Mulroney agree that a huge portion of the farm population of their own countries should be wiped out because of losses due to crop failures? It might take our agriculture industry a generation to recoverfrom the disaster. It might help the subsidy problem in Europe because it would eliminate competition for foreign markets for European farmers. If the drought lasts long enough we might even end up buying European grains ourselves. And given Mr. Reagan's concerns with the strategic interests of the U.S., would he really hesitate as president to break his own prohibition against subsidies if the U.S. became uncompetitive in food production and had to depend on foreign suppliers for staples like wheat, rice and other farm products? Would his interest in free markets win out over his worry about his country falling under the power of foreigners? Banning all subsidies and “unfair” trade practices is as unrealistic as the idea of people being secure from want and unhappiness from the cradle to the grave. It may be a noble goal to reduce barriers to trade, to reduce silly subsidies but what realistic leader would want to cut off his options forever more by saying there will be no subsidies of any kind?Where dreams lived The games nations play In the high affairs of nations it is sometimes hard to take things seriously. The tit-for-tat spy happenings between Canada and the Soviet Union in the last while are a case in point. Perhaps the only move in this spy thriller that makes any sense was the first one by Canada. None of us in the ordinary world can know for sure but it does seem possible that the original 17 Soviets the Canadian government expelled could have been spies. From there on the plot reads like a poorly constructed comedy. The Soviets, angered when the word of the Canadian actions leaked out, retaliated by expelling or barring five Canadians who they accused of spy activities. If these people really were spies, why had the Russians waited so long to expose them? Then it was Canada’s turn, shipping out two more Soviets. The question now is, if we knew these guys were spies, why weren’t they with the original group that was told to leave the country? Back to the Russians’ courtwhere on Saturday, oneCanadian diplomat was expelled while seven others were told they could never come back to the Soviet Union. Again, why weren’t they among the first group the Soviets claimed were spying? There seems to be about as much fiction in the real world of international spying as there is in the spy novels. Some people, for instance, claim that the Soviet embassy in Ottawa is a main centre in North America for Soviet espionage. And while the Canadian government claims our people are simon pure in all this, is it really so unlikely that Canadians in Moscow might not co-operate with American agencies seeking information? And just who can you believe in these things? Back in 1978 Canada expelled 13 Soviets for trying to recruit an RCMP officer as a double agent. The Soviets in turn claimed that the Mounties had made two unsuccessful attempts to recruit a Soviet diplomat. Canadian officials self-righteously denied the claim as propaganda but long afterward the incidents were confirmed to be true. For ordinary citizens it seems best not to try to make any sense out of all of this. We can just put it down to the games governments play to enliven the dull days of summer. Journalists at the feed trough BY KEITH ROULSTON I suppose the thing about the Economic Summit in Toronto last week that bothered me most was not the millions spent on security for the summit leaders, not the limos and the expensive dinners for the leaders and their parties but the fortune spent to wine and dine journalists from around the world so they’d think good things about Toronto and Canada. Starting about a week before the summit, Torontoworkcrews took a big dusty parking lot and turned it into an oasis covered in astroturf with cafes and waterfalls and free food and drink 24 hours a day for the 3,000 press from around the world. The whole cost of this catering to the journalists was estimated by one source as S4 million. While the effort may have won favour for Toronto from journa­ lists, it didn’t make people too happy who normally use that parking lot or nearby ones where the price of parking suddenly doubled. It didn’t sit too well with people who have to live with Ontario’s strict laws governing hourstavernscanbeopentosee Letter fromthe editor visitors being served all night long. In all this I don’t blame the people who organized the summit or the Toronto leadership that is always trying to polish its image as a “world class” city as much as I blame the journalists. It’s a pretty dreadful thought that if journalists aren’t treated like Very Important People they might choose to write negative things about a city they’re visiting. It’s very easy for a journalist to fall into the trap of thinking he or she deserves to be treated like a VIP. People courting the favour of the press are always read to make life easier forjournalists. There are free meals and free drinks and free tickets for this and that. You are close to “important’’ people like politicians and civil servants and movie stars and other celebrities and it can be comfortable to feel closer to them than the ordinary people because it makes you feel important too. But the journalist must be a representative of the ordinary guy in the street. He or she should be the eyes and ears of the ordinary Joe, telling him what’s going on as ifthat ordinary Joe had managed to sneak into the party himself. Except, it’s more complicated than that because the journalist must be aware of the background behind something so that he or she can tell the ordinary Joe more than he could possibly know just by witnessing what is going on. It’s an uncomfortable balancing act to be a good journalist. You are Continued on page 25 Letter to the editor Bouquets handed out The Editor, I have recently returned from vacationing in the U.S. It was a pleasure tobe able tocatch up on all the happenings and news of the past five weeks. An afternoon of pleasant reading. Especially of interest was The Citizen winning the first and third awards in their respective categor­ ies. Congratulations to all for a job well done. Barbara Brown Brussels. P.S. A bouquet of flowers to the Brussels Horticultural Society, for the flower boxes, that add beauty to the Main St. when they are in full bloom. Citizen P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario, by North Huron Publishing Company Inc Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $17.00/yr ($38 00 Foreign). Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited Advertising Deadlines. Monday, 2 p.m - Brussels, Monday, 4pm - Blyth We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Advertising Manager, DaveWilliams Production Manager, Jill Roulston Second Class Mail Registration No. 6968