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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-11-29, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1989. Opinion What’s the big deal(s) over loans It made great headlines for a week and was great fodder for irate Opposition party spokesman but (you’ll excuse the pun), stripped of the rhetoric the great strip club scandal was greatly overblown. The issue of the Federal Business Development Bank (FBDB) loaning money to several establishments that later turned out to be strip clubs had something for everybody the opposition parties could have tried to please. Those who see the government as being one big waster of money could get their worst fears confirmed by seeing millions of taxpayer dollars going to finance these sleazy businesses. People of a religious background could get upset of the decline of morality that sees the government funding dens of sin. Supporters of the women’s movement (no, not women’s movements you chauvinist) could be insulted at the government seeming to give approval to the degradation of women. And all these groups, and the opposition and the newspaper editorialists would be right. It’s a little silly to be using government money to help get businesses started that we may not be too proud to have in our communities in the long run. But it’s easy to point out these FBDB loans for scorn .It’s easy to see the undesirability of these businesses. How many other government-backed loans have gone to support businesses that may be doing a lot more harm than putting naked women on display in front of slavering male customers? How many government dollars have been used over the years to fund pulp and paper mills that spewed millions of gallons of pollutants into our waters? How many chemical plants have received government aid, then left toxic waste dumps around to leak into the water system? How many other companies getting loans today are still doing things that threaten the future of our planet, not just the virtue of the men and women who attend these sleazy night spots. If the opposition and the media really want scandal, let them dig a little deeper and see where money has really been used in a harmful way. Government decisions to save or protect With the stunning events happening in Eastern Europe every day, with the monolith of European communism apparently split, one wonders what the effect will be on Canadian government policies. Conservative thinking generally is that there should be as little government spending as possible, except when it comes to national defence. In these times of restraint, will the government see the changes in Europe as a chance to cut defence spending or will the traditional conservative thinking about strong defence prevent cuts, even in the name of the current sacred cow of restraint. Twoyears ago the federal government put out a ‘ ‘white paper” on the future of the Canadian armed forces that called for massively increased spending on everything from nuclear submarines to tanks. This year’s budget gutted much of the planning and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney admitted during his visit to Moscow last week, that so much had changed in Europe in the last two years that if the white paper was being draw up today it would be considerably different. The Prime Minister, however, refused to say he would consider bringing home the 7000 Canadian troops stationed in Europe as part ofour NATO commitment. He said the reasons for Canada’s military presence in Europe remain as valid today as four years ago. The pressure to keep up that line of argument will be strong even though peace seems to be breaking out around the world. When former U.S. budget director David Stockman, now with a private investment banking group advised people to sell their defence-in­ dustry stock, there was “panic” in the defence industry, a business analyst specializing in aerospace and defence electronic matters said last week. While the defence industry may not be as big a part of the Canadian economy as it is in the U.S., there’s no doubt there will be pressure to keep up defence spending because of the jobs that will be lost if spending is cut. Look what happened with the government’s closing of bases in London and Summerside, Prince Edward Island. If the current trend in Europe continues, defence spending could be cut greatly, at least by bringing our troops from Europe. The question is, will the desire to save money win out over the pressure from the right wing to keep a strong armed forces? Weather beaten 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 [z/not in the country] gather for morning coffee break, otherwise known as the Round Table Debating and Filibustering So­ ciety. _____ MONDAY: Ward Black had a new promotion in mind for Mabel this morning. He suggested she should give a free meal to anybody who could name all the candidates for the NDP leadership at their con­ vention coming up. Heck, said Tim O’Grady, maybe she should even give a free meal to anybody who can even say .when and where the NDP leadership convention is. All those contests are too hard, Julie Flint said. It would be easier to win a lottery or get struck by lightning. How about just coming up with the names of more than 10 NDP supporters in the whole town? TUESDAY: Billie Bean said he wished he could have learned how to hit a ball with a stick better after hearing that Kirby Puckett had just signed a baseball contract that will pay him $3 million a year. And to think Hank Stokes said, “I used to play ball just for fun.” “I could have a lot of fun for $3 million,” Billie said. Julia said it seems like only yesterday we used to joke about the “$6 Million Man” on television. Give it another couple of months and they’ll be paying some guy $6 million a year to play ball, and he won’t even have any fancy elec­ tronics in his arms and legs. Just think, Tim said, the way things are going, George Bell is going to have to get a raise. How will anybody be able to get along on a mere $2 million a year. WEDNESDAY: Well, Tim told Billie this morning, with all his scheming and dreaming he had just never tried the right business to get government money to help him start up a business. He never tried opening a strip club. The trouble was, Billie said, his ideas were always too grand for the FBDB. He never got down to the bare essentials. Ward wasn’t showing the least bit of humour over the whole thing. The millions that went to strip clubs were just a bureaucratic error, he promised. It wouldn’t happen again. Continued on page 5 P.O Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 U f—I The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $19.00/yr. ($40.00 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, 4 p.m. - 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. 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