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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-03-24, Page 4lying high Through the Years From the files of the Blyth Standard, Brussels Post and The Citizen ONE YEAR AGO March 25, 1992 Emily Phillips of RR2, BLyth was elected president of the Ontario Registered Nursing Associ- ation. Royal Homes was selected to design and build the 1992 National Home Dream Home to be shown in Toronto in the spring. Mildred and William Blake of Walton celebrated 57 years of mar- riage. Steve Coulter resigned as manag- er of the Brussels Bulls after five years. Prior to that Mr. Coulter was coach and assistant coach. Blyth Atoms claimed the WOAA trophy. Craig Fair, 10, of Bluevale was set to perform at the Charlottetown Festival. 27 YEARS AGO March 23, 1966 The Clinton Junior Farmers and Junior Institute won the drama fes- tival in Seaforth for their play This Way to Heaven. Members of the cast were John Black, Dungannon; Beatrice Murch, Clinton; Sharon Ball, RR1, Auburn and Marinus Bakker, RR3, Auburn. The director was Gordon Gross, RR3, Auburn. Fire caused considerable damage to one of the apartments in the Photo by Lisa Boonstoppel-Pot Bainton building. Workmen had just completed renovations of the apartment and it was believed that soldering ignited the partition between the kitchen and bathroom. Blyth firefighters fought and blaze and contained the damage to one partition. Blyth Library Board decided top purchase more books. Two recent books available at the library were Arthur Hailey's "Hotel", and "A Bend in the Ganges" by M. Mal- gonkar. 44 YEARS AGO Dr. R. W. Stephens purchased the practice and property of Dr. J.A. Harper in Brussels. The Easter Parade starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire was play- ing at the Regent Theatre in Seaforth. Admission to the East Huron Agricultural Society dance in Brus- sels was 50 cents. 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, Ustowel, 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 © Copywright. Publisher, Keith Roulston Editor, Bonnie Gropp Sales Representatives, Publications Mail Registration No. 6968 Jeannette McNeil and Julie Mitchell CNA CCNA VERIFIED CIRCULATION PAID itizen The North Huron P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 FAX 523-9140 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 FAX 887-9021 Serving Blyth, Brussels, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and the surrounding townships. PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1993. There's one born every minute Last week in Florida millions of people rushed out to buy lottery tickets in the hope they'd get part of a lottery jackpot of $86 million. One man reportedly spent $60,000 on tickets. Polls continually show that the Canadian people are becoming more and more cynical about their politicians. Nobody polls the politicians but if they did, the results would probably show that politicians are becoming more and more cynical about the people. Lotteries are a prime reason why they should be. If a politician proposes an honest and open tax to raise money for services that will benefit many people in society, people will scream in pain and demand the scoundrels be driven out of office. Start a new lottery, however, and people will be quick to throw down their money with no complaint at all. After watching the reaction, for instance, to the GST, is it any wonder that the Ontario government of Bob Rae decided to open casinos in the province rather than come out with some open form of tax like a rise in income tax? It started so innocently back then with the Wintario draws that were supposed to help build arenas and such back in the 1970s. The government of Bill Davis seemed even enlightened as it decided Ontarians were adult enough to openly buy lottery tickets instead of sneakily buying those Irish hospital lottery tickets smuggled into the country. What was a dollar here and there in the name of fun and a good cause? But soon a $100,000 lottery prize was too small. Then there had to be ways for people to instantly play the game, then ways for people to pick their own numbers, then a draw a day and on and on. Now, with people thoroughly hooked, the next logical move for government is full scale casinos. After all, how much money has Ontario been losing through tourist junkets to Las Vegas? In other provinces, video slot machines have brought gambling to the corner store. In Manitoba, the slot machines were supposed to be a way of earning money to help small towns, but instead they've funnelled millions out of small towns to the provincial government in Winnipeg, never to return. Politicians aren't dumb. They know that if they can bring in $100 million from a new tax or by opening casinos, they're going to get a lot less flack opening casinos, no matter what the long term social costs are. Seeing this, is it any wonder we get people like Brian Mulroney who thinks he must trick people so he can bring in legislation that he's sure is best for them, even if they don't want it? As P. T. Barnum said, "there's a sucker born every minute" and politicians seem to know that makes for a lot of happy suckers out there.—KR Maybe they know something When a government has to cut off unemployment insurance to people who leave a job without just cause, yet proposes spending $5.8 billion on expensive helicopters to hunt enemy submarines that aren't there any more, there's a tendency to wonder if somebody in Ottawa has lost his marbles. Looking at the happenings in Russia this week, however, perhaps our politicians know more than they're saying. The purchase of 50 EH101 high tech helicopters for the navy has been widely criticized on the basis that the Cold War is over and we no longer need expensive ways of tracking submarines off the Canadian coast. The chaos in Russia, however, shows the uncertainty of the future when it comes to the remnants of the former Soviet Union. The people of Russia, Ukraine and the other republics are suffering badly under the "liberation" they received by the downfall of Communism. Under Communism we hear the stories about the empty store shelves and lack of choice for Soviet consumers but at least those people were assured jobs and money to pay for food when it was available. Now the shelves are still empty, prices have soared and people are unemployed. Russia is a disaster-and westerners seem to be so busy patting themselves on the back at the defeat of Communism that they haven't noticed. But with their lives in a shambles, how long before the Russian people look for simple solutions, either a return to communism or turning to some other "saviour" in the form of a totalitarian leader. Sadly, our Western political and industrial leadership seems more comfortable in the Cold War mentality than in helping out. We can't find money to make life better for ordinary Russians so they'll embrace freedom but we can find money for weapons. If things continue as they are we may need those helicopters again.—KR