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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-09-20, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1989. Opinion How long would private post service last? They’re piling up the railway ties of the Guelph-to-Goderich CP Rail Line these days. Local residents would be wise to look at those piles when they vengefully support a privatized Canada Post. Sick of declining service, seemingly endless labour disputes and the general feeling that the people who work for Canada Post get paid way too much for doing way too little work, many people like the sound of the talk from the government of selling off the post office. Private industry has got to be able to do things better than the government, goes the argument. We’re assuredquiteoften that the quality of mail service would be maintained in rural Canada (even though we’ve already lost Saturday mail delivery and mail that used tocome into most communities twice a day now often comes once). There once was a time when we felt the railway would always be with us too. Local municipalities subsidized the railway to come through their communities then for a relatively short time the railways boomed but soon were back asking for subsidies, this time from the federal government. But government got tired of the subsidies and the railways would rather spend their energy selling real estate in big cities and before you know it (almost literally in this case) the railway is closed. Yesin the beginning a privately-owned post office would maintain service to rural areas: they wouldn’t dare promise anything else given the potential backlash. But 10 years from now, 20 years from now, if the company is looking after the interests of its shareholders and decides that carrying on rural mail routes, or even small town post offices is just sucking away the profits from high-profit areas in major cities, how long might our mail service last? Right now you are a shareholder of Canada Post and Canada Post has to keep you happy. If Canada Post is owned by Conrad Black or the Bronfman family who will post office leadership by trying to please, you, or the billionaire shareholders? Take a look at those railway ties and think about it. Universality in danger? On the surface it seems like an indefensible argument when the National Council on Welfare argues against the plans of the federal government to tax back the social benefits like family allowances and old age pensions from those making over $450,000 a year. The scheme would gain back from people who don’t need help some of the money that is paid out in order to try to bring the lowest part of our economy up to a liveable level. The National Council of Welfare, however, worries that these “claw-back” provisionsoflast April’s budget spell the death knell of universality for the programs. At a time when the federal government is in a crisis over its huge deficit, these arguments seem ludicrous but looking at how other things have developed lately, the Council may have a point. “Fairness” is the new buzz word of government these days. Fairness means treating everyone the same. One part of society shouldn’t be subsidized by another, the argument comes again and again. The Council no doubt is looking down the line to the next step if the government does start taxing back benefits. If benefits indeed go only to those who need them, how long will it be before someone in the government decides these are subsidies that should be abolished. As long as everybody gets the family allowance and the old age pension, it remains a “right” of everyone. If, however, some people in effect no longer get those programs because they are taxed back, how long will it be before they start clamouring about being treated unfairly while the poor people, the people seen as too lazy to work, are getting a free handout? These are strange times we live in. On one hand people can be more compassionate and caring than ever over special causes like famine relief or helping those left homeless by storms, while on the other we can ignore the poor among us and even blame them for their own misfortune. The plan to tax back benefits from those who don’t need them may help out the budget deficit but it may also be the wedge in which the social programs are discontinued by a society where only the winners of society matter, and the poor are left to fend for themselves. P.O Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 Shady avenue Mabel’s Grill There are people who will tell you that the important decisions in town are made down at the town hall. People in the know, however know that the real debates, the real wisdom reside down at Mabel s Grill where the greatest minds in the town [if not in the country] gather for morning coffee break, otherwise known as the Round Table Debating and Filibustering So­ ciety. MONDAY: Well, Hank Stokes said this morning, he’s never given Americans high points for good taste but he had to tip his hat to them. “I see a lot of them aren’t taking our Canadian ‘loonie’ dollar down there at all.” Yes, said Julia Flint, and those that are are only giving us 65 cents for it. “Lucky them,” Hank said. “They have a choice. We’re stuck with having to take it.” TUESDAY: Tim O’Grady was be­ moaning all the Canadian compan­ ies being taken over by foreign multi-nationals. We soon won’t own our own country anymore, he was saying. Ward Black told him he was talking through his hat because we never owned the country in the first place, just had it on loan from the New York bankers. Well, said Billie Bean, he had to agree that maybe this takeover business was getting a little carried away. He’d just read an article where Toronto police are worried that organized crime may take over the hot dog stands on the street corners of the city. Vending is now big business, the police say and one guy with four hot dog carts made $4000 apiece off them during the Caribana parade last month. “Good grief,” Tim said. “I guess I better not let my kids set up a lemonade stand next year. Some­ body might try to muscle in.” WEDNESDAY: Tim said he had to agree with Prime Minister Mulron­ ey for once when he complained about the quality of education being so bad in this country. “I mean somebody’s got to take the blame for that guy.” THURSDAY: Hank says that after being down to Toronto to see a Blue Jays game he can agree with the guy who's proposing to bury the Gardiner Expressway by making it a tunnel. “It’s the ugliest thing in Toronto.” There’s one thing that would improve things even better, Billie Bean said. Bury Toronto. FRIDAY: Tim was getting a chuck­ le out of the newest Parti Quebe­ cois ploy to try to get independence for Quebec. Vote for us, the PQ is saying, and get out of Canada because the country’s being ruined by the feds. “I don’t know,” said Billie, “but I may start packing to move to Quebec if they win. It might be one way to get away from Michael Wilson’s new tax.” The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario, by North Huron Publishing Company Inc Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $17 OO/yr ($38 00 Foreign) Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event df a typographical error, only that portion ot the advertisement will be credited Advertising Deadlines Monday, 2pm - 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