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The Rural Voice, 1978-06, Page 13A Matter of Principal by J. Carl Hemingway First neighbour "How about coming with me tor a game of golf this Sunday morning? Second neighbour "I'd like to but on Sunday I work for the Lord." First neighbour "1 suppose it pays quite well?" Second neighbour 'I'm not so sure about the pay but you can't beat the Retirement Plan." I thought it was a pretty good joke when I first heard it "down south" this winter. But is it? How many years have we lectured to the controversy about wages? In past years there were many, many strikes for increased wages. Presently demands have changed. We now have many strikes where wages are, not a serious problem. A yearly increase is almost certain. It is a matter of negotiating a small margin of difference in percentage points of increase. Now the serious problem is fringe benefits -work loads. medical plans. sick leave accumulations, and retirement plans. Work load seemed to be the big problem in the Secondary School Teachers negotiations. As far as I could understand from the very few teachers I talked with the school day is generally divided into six class periods. Each teacher is required to teach four periods a day and has two "spare" periods in which to prepare lessons and correct papers. I'm not going to make any comparisons to the good old days of "High School" teaching but would like to make a comparison between what teachers apparently think is a day's work and what the student is required to do each day. On the average, and with no choice on his part the student, is expected to spend at least one hour and a half on a school bus. The student is expected to attend each of the six classes each day (with some luck and a skilful choice of subjects he may be able to work in one or even two "spares" a week). The student is also expected to do at least two hours "homework". I wonder who should be complaining about work load? How well former students had learned their lessons was brought home rather forcibly when I called in at a "car -wash" to have the winter's salt removed from the car. It so happened that the rail that guides the car through the automatic "car -wash" required some simple welding. It was being repaired so I watched. One man was doing the welding as his helper stood to one side. The welder worked for about ten seconds. When the metal cooled the helper came over with a chisel. clamped in a pair of vise -grips and chipped off the flax and withdrew. This process was repeated again and again for some 20 to 30 minutes which included several serious consultations. The repair job was probably costing the "car -wash" owner $30.00 per hour from the time the repairmen left their shop until they got back. Incidentally I paid the special discount price, given with the purchase of 10 gallons of gas, of $1.50 It pays to get an education! As for medical plans and sick leave with pay these were looked upon as a sort of "fire -insurance". This protection was necessary and much appreciated but a benefit it was hoped would not be needed. Now it has become a source of income. Then there is the Retirement Plan. It used to be that the individual was expected to look after his own old -age benefits. I guess we could blame the government for making the idea of old age security a right rather than a responsibility when they first introduced the "Old Age Pension" for the needy mart' years ago. I guess the "Depression" of the "thirties" made it a real necessity if the building of great many more "Poor houses" was to be avoided but the funds for the security of the majority of our labour force has gone far beyond the limits of government. The idea of "pay -cheque" deductions for the purpose of paying retirement pensions has become big business and has become almost compulsory even if you are self-employed. It seems to me that we have accepted this because so many have clearly admitted that they are unable to handle their income in a way that they can provide for their own "Old Age". However the "Retirement Plan" referred to in the opening "story" can't be shoved off on the shoulder of the employer or the government. It is the responsibility of the individual. Of course the simplest solution is to say "It just isn't so". and forget about it. Eat, drink and be merry, ete. etc. But we profess to be Christians and there is a "Retirement Plan". In fact all history leads us to believe that every known civilization has a religion with some kind of Retirement Plan. Also history shows us quite clearly that every civilization has had the same record. Poor, rich, destroyed! I wonder just where we are on the record? I wasn't surprised to hear a minister recently denounce the breaking up of the idea of the family concept in favour of the individual freedom of the commune system where each one is free to do "his own thing" This concept eventually leads to the idea that I am my only responsibility. I must be free to do as 1 like. I must be free to take all I can for my own benefit. I must be free to satisfy all my desires. The world owes me this. My religion, if we could call it that, is for my "glory" alone, a worship of me. How far can we go in this direction? I was somewhat surprised to hear one of our former members of the Provincial Legislature state on a TV interview that our moral and religious problems are much more serious than the state of our economy, inflation or unemployment. I wasn't much surprised to hear one of our local Sunday School teachers state that selfishness and greed are the foundation for our frustrations, insecurity and unrest in our country. Couldn't it be urgent that we devote a much larger portion of our concern to the real "Retirement Plan". This is our individual problem. McGAVIN'S FARM EQUIPMENT Sales and Service Walton, Ont. NOK 1ZO 527-0245 Seaforth Established 1936 887-6365 Brussels We specialize in a complete line of farm equipment. THE RURAL VOICE/JUNE 1978. PG. 13.