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The Citizen, 1992-11-25, Page 4E ditorial PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25,1992. A healthy bunch Photo by Merle Gunby Innovative government needed Conservative critics have already attacked Bill Clinton for what they perceive as his spendthrift ways before he even takes office, but the U.S. President-elect also shows some signs of innovative programs that might bring solutions without adding to the U.S. deficit. The last 12 years in the U.S. have featured a government that said all problems would go away if only government would go away. Oh sure government could be important when it came to fighting Iraq or invading Panama but other than that, the government should do so little you wouldn't notice it was there. Urban poverty? Not up to government Rural decline? C'est la vie. Yet in times of restraint, obviously you can’t try to solve problems by throwing money at them. Besides, it doesn’t work. Top-down solutions don’t work any better than trickle-down economics did. But Clinton has been championing programs like the one that worked for the South Shore Bank in Chicago, a community bank that has loaned money to the 80,000 mostly African-American residents of Chicago’s South Shore area. Putting community development ahead of profit, the bank has helped transform that area of Chicago unlike many other areas of the city that are strewn with rubble. There's not guarantee that the success of the community bank can be transferred elsewhere but it's worth a try. In Canada, the federal government has tried to force innovation on the private sector by taking away the comfort of trade barriers and other security blankets. In the government field, however, Prime Minister Mulroney and his ministers have fallen into the easy excuse of saying nothing can be done because of the deficit. What we need is innovative government, new ways of trying to make things happen without adding to the national debut. We need to find more ways to help people help themselves. The federal government is right in saying it can't solve all problems for people, but by simply sitting back and shrugging and saying nothing can be done, the government sends a signal of hopelessness to the whole country. Just as the government expects businesses and private individuals to be innovative, to do more with less, so it must show innovation itself. Hopefully the attempts at innovative government south of the border will bring a spirit of innovation to Canadian politicians as well. —KR Nobody sees the suffering It's little consolation to farmers sitting with hundreds of acres of corn in the fields to know they're suffering through a year that will probably be talked about in farm circles for a century as the year with no summer. The thing that can hurt more is to knowledge that as far as most Canadians know, this suffering might not even be taking place. In rural Ontario the brown com fields stretch on for miles, a bitter reminder for farmers of what might have been, and what has turned into a frustrating disaster. First there was a late-June frost Then there was a cool, wet summer that slowed growth. Finally, when farmers hoped against hope they might be able to salvage the crop, came week after week of rain and snow and cold, meaning the com didn't dry and even if it did, farmers couldn't get on the fields to harvest it. The secret to beating depression is to do something but farmers faced with this disastrous harvest can't do anything but pray for a miracle. It makes it all the harder for people to cope. The ignorance of the situation by the mainstream media makes it even harder for farm families. It's one thing to suffer but to feel that you are all alone makes things worse. But an increasingly urbanized media is so wrapped up in the plight of the dollar or the Canadian Airlines situation that there is no time to look at a critical situation thousands of farm families face through no fault of their own. Fanning is a precarious occupation at the best of times, but when once-in-a- lifetime weather conditions make it impossible to even grow a crop, the situation becomes unbearable. Canadians tend to take their food supply for granted. We have never, since the days of the pioneers, or even the natives before them, faced famine. This is the kind of year that would have brought foodj shortages in times past, that would have forced people to recognize the precarious nature of supplying food, but thanks to international trade, many Canadians won’t even know there has been a crop failure. If the majority of Canadians don't even know there is a problem, we in rural areas can at least hold out a hand of understanding to our farming neighbours. We can offer support wherever possible. We can let them know we care.—KR Looking Back Through the Years ONE YEAR AGO November 27,1991 Leanne Whitmore of Rr 4, Wal­ ton took first prize for her speech on a global perspective of Canadian agriculture, at the Royal Agricul­ tural Winter Fair. The Brussels Bulls picked up three of a possible four points in two games and remained in first place in the western Junior C stand­ ings. Two Clinton men were arrested and released on bail on charges of break and enter and assault against a Walton man. THREE YEARS AGO November 22,1989 A 39-year-old Bayfield woman was listed in critical condition in University Hospital following a three-vehicle accident south of Blyth on highway 4. Weather con­ ditions contributed to the accident. A snow-covered abandoned vehi­ cle was the cause of an accident in Grey township on sideroad 15-16. The Township of Grey presented Awards of Merit to Trish Zehr, Dale Wemham, Secretary and Pres­ ident of Grey Central Student Council; Keith Williams, Federa­ tion of Agriculture; Barb Grube, Ethel W.I.; Mary Mann, Moncrieff W.I.; Mary Godkin, Walton W.I.; Laura Strickler, Cranbrook W.I.; and Isobelle Bremner, Molesworth W.I. for their assistance in dis­ tributing the blue boxes and pro­ moting the recycling program. FIVE YEARS AGO November 25,1987 Blyth festival officials unveiled plans for the $1.6 million capital expansion program linking Memo­ rial hall with the former Bank of commerce building. Nearly 180 Ethel residents signed a petition asking that the local post office not be closed. Terry Buchanan of Belgrave won the top prize of $1,000 in the Bel­ grave and district Kinsmen Club's annual Elimination draw. Letters each Rural families face unique problems THE EDITOR, Worrying about bills and how to pay them is a common problem this year in our rural communities. Small businesses and farmers are inter-dependent with supporting the other. Small businesses and family farms share another common concern which is that very often family relationships rise and fall with the worries of the business. Extra stress creates confusion as to with whom the spouses are arguing with. Is it their husband or wife, or, is it their business partner? Many adults seem to have difficulty separating these roles in a family business. The family and the business often seem to be one and the same. Can you imagine then the confusion and fears that children in these situations have? They are at a loss to know whether a parental argument means the business is in trouble or the marriage and family are in trouble or both. No matter how hard we try to shield children from the unpleasant situations in life, they, too, feel the stresses in the family and take many of these onto themselves. Honest and open communication within the family will help to reassure everyone, adults and children, that the family is on track. Queen's Bush Rural Ministries has been receiving calls from people in various business and family troubles for six years now. We have developed a good reputation for helping callers resolve family, financial and marriage problems. If we can be of help to your business or your family, give us a call at (519) 392-6090. Confidentiality is assured. Judith Trimble QBRM Assistant Co-ordinator. C itizenTheNorthHuron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1 HO Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 The Citizen Is published weekly In Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable In advance at a rate of $20.50/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.) for local; $31.03/year ($29.00 plus $2.03 G.S.T.) for local letter carrier in Goderich, Hanover, Listowel, etc. and out-of-area (40 miles from Brussels); $60.00/year for U.S.A, and 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 © Copywrlght. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Jeannette McNeil and Merle Gunby Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 PAID Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships.