The Village Squire, 1981-10, Page 35I
One Day at a Time ,
Greed -
I don't often comment on political
matters. 1 usually leave that subject area
to people full of even more hot air than me.
But 1 simply can't resist expressing my
redneck views on one current political
phenomenon, if for no other reason than to
get them off my chest.
Many Canadian people from the middle
and upper middle class sectors of our
society are currently screaming to the
federal government to help them face the
"crisis" of high interest rates. They are
literally like a bunch of little crybabies,
persecuting poor old Mom because the
cookie jar is empty.
Whatever happened to the good old
human will to survive which has brought
mankind through age after age of
hardship? Are people really serious when
they demand that society cough up to help
them keep their $90,000 homes?
It would be laughable if it wasn't so
infuriating, watching these pompous and
fat homeowners storming Ottawa with
their insults and their threats. To those in
our society who are in real and not
imagined "dire straits", the site must
make them almost sick. It must make their
hearts ache because they surely know by
now that these chronic complainers will
end up walking away with thousands of
dollars in government grants while the
legitimately poor in our nation continue
waging their constant battle with hard-
hearted bureaucrats for small increases in
their welfare payments.
A person 1 know has just been awarded
the princely sum of $39. per week in social
assistance. She is expected to provide for
her three children with that amount. Her
husband is dead and a legitimate physical
ailment prevents her from working at her
profession. And her reaction is one of
amusement and not anger. She believes in
God and knows that she and her family will
make it somehow. Her two teenage
children have already found part-time jobs
and she herself has returned to school to
learn a new trade. As far as 1 know, she is
planning no trips to Ottawa to complain.
She is too busy, at the moment, trying to
find a place where she and her family can
live this winter and besides, she has
assumed full responsibility for her own
situation. She is not looking to be propped
up or bailed out.
And the most amazing fact is that most
of the time she is happy. She is always
busy trying to help others and everyone
by Jim Hagarty
qualification for a handout?
who knows her, loves her. Her family,
most of all.
But there, on the late night news, is
another woman, from British Columbia.
She is almost in tears. She and her
husband went ahead and bought a big,
beautiful suburban home before they
could sell the big, beautiful suburban
home they already owned. Because of the
economic climate, the couple wasn't able
to sell their first home and now, with the
jump in interest rates, the mortgages on
the two homes is costing them $4,000 a
month.
That woman and her husband are
deserving of sympathy. Not because they
are in such dire straits but because\they
are so pitifully stupid. But their stupidity
and greed doesn't or shouldn't qualify
them for a generous handout from the
taxpayers of Canada.
Probably the best thing that could ever
happen to that couple would be for them to
lose their homes, to know some adversity
and to learn to deal with it.
Of course, if you're a politician, and you
suggest that people learn to tighten their
belts, you promptly get yourself voted out
of office and in comes some dishonest
coward who promises Canadians anything
and everything. And the vicious circle
goes on.
We are literally living in the land of milk
and honey where freedom and prosperity
abound. People who complain should be
ashamed of themselves.
If the greedy mortgage company wants
your house, so what? Just what are they
going to do when they own 5,000 houses
they can't sell? They'll lower their
ridiculous interest rates.
But that won't happen because fear will
force us all to hold onto our little boxes.
And the government will give in.
Jim Hagarty is a freelance Journalist and former
reporter for the Stratford Beacon Herald. Responses to
his columns may be forwarded either to the Village
Squire or Box 456, Mitchell.
Coming next month
A special Christmas shopping Village Squire
Dancing, dancing
It's more than u hobby for music grad. dance teacher and
performer Mary Andrew. Read about the Lucknow
native's busy career in London in the November Village
Squire.
Reversing the tourist flow
Every year thousands of Michigan residents visit our part
of Western Ontario. Next month Village Squire turns
tables with a visit to a popular tourist spot in our
neighbouring state. Mackinac Island.
If only they could talk
Seaforth historian Belle Campbell is an expert on
cemeteries. They've been a prime source of information
during her many many years of local research. And what
some might consider inanimate tombstones do have a
story to tell. Some of those stories. and a bit about Miss
Campbell coming up next month.
Plus a day trip. a restaurant review and lots on interesting
places to go and people to see in Western Ontario.
VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1981 PG. 29