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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-08-12, Page 4Pap 4 August 12, 2009 • The Huron Expositor • Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Piublishsr+s Limited, 31 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NM MO The recession is over? It's hard to believe that it was only last year when a federal_ electionwas under way and th big-ticket issue was the environment. Indeed, the Liberals were feeling so self-assured that they had the tenacity to campaign on the auspicious platform Of delivering up more taxes via Stephan Di- on's pledged carbon -tax plan. Unsurprisingly, the Liberals were resoundingly thumped by the otherwise unpopular Conservatives since Canadians are a tad skittish about voting for a p otic; an that is reaching into the wallet straight out o the box. The real shocker of the election of 2008 is no one was breathing a word about the recession that was already � derway, in spite of am p le evidence in the form of p p `mounting manufacturing job losses, ever -tightening border restrictions, corporate -backed pillagihg pillagingof the ag sector and less; demand for everything under the sun with perhaps the stable exception of 'anything that proves to be a distraction from that pesky thing referred to by some as reality. .nd At, the ballots were counted, it became u antly clear that there was trouble afoot. `h whine began to ripple across the y 'PP s ra cow 'to coast saying the we "need some jabs. regimw are constantly E•SJj?::i�nYl:%J{.r:..-.. `{.Jf..4..x...tiF_..h 1 • {ire were new cared dates dike it how evansive the recession had • n x e. R: ��3 weren't enough, Ontario was a have -no , ..::�" l 4 l ttt.. S , those who a 4a $toyed tend to change the sub- ject when an k & r = person comes around 1* seek su.ppo one f I ti Cher. Take, sr example, the news of the past week. On one hand, C scrums are hearing from their friends at the bad shot the recession is over. Oh? On the other, there is a Service Canada (the newest name for unemployment insurance) report that shows nearly 800,000 puree are collecting unemployment benefits --- and keep in mind that many, many people cannot qualify for Employment Insurance, including those who are fired or quit their jobs meaning it'd be fair to guess more than one -million Canadians are without an income in a country with about 30 -million inhabitants. So, what's one to believe? is the recession over or are the banks simply hoping that those that are still em- ployed will keep buysi ng? Time can only tell but chances are that the heads of politicians will continue to turn toward the photo -op friendly topics like the environment — while avoid- ing the big issues like how globalization doesn't work and there are an awful lot of Canadians in need of more than just empty promises. The Clinton News -Record Your Commlmity Newspaper $loci 1860 Publisher. - Dave Sykes Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Main Street., Seaforth Thlephone (619) 627-0240 Fax (619) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO Visit our home page at ww w. sea forthh uronexpositor. com Cana& "- OtifIECOlt MEM "WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA, THROUGH THE PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (PAP), TOWARD OUR MAILING COSTS." • Seven-year-old driver is the latest act of idocy uploaded on YouTube It was a stunt to rival any of the life-threatening acts of idocy that are so commonly viewed on YouTube. A Quebec man, who filmed his seven-year-old son behind the wheel of the family SUV, created a huge furor last week when he uploaded the video on the ever -popular webpage: Facing either criminal or civil . charges from the Quebec police, the father is now saying he's amazed at the "overblown reaction" to footage of . a seven-year-old boy driving his family, in- cluding his mother, younger sister and older cousin - none of whom were wearing seatbelts - at speeds up to 70 km/h on a country road. Apparently, the man was proud of his son's precocious skills behind the wheel and wanted to show him off to his friends. And, he seems to think seven-year-old drivers are pretty com- mon out there, especially in rural areas. . As the mother of a 16 -year-old with his be- ginner's driver's licence who's spending a fair amount of time on practice driving outings, what's amazing to me is the thought of put- ting my kid behind the wheel any sooner than is legal. Don't misunderstand me - my son is doing just fine as he learns to drive. It's my nerves and my overactive imagination about all the possible things that could wrong that would prevent me - and most adults I'm hoping - from Ron dt bOIVc And, summer will NEVER END! Susan Hundertmark introducing my kids to driving any sooner than the law allows. Call me a pessimistic control freak but the news is filled with tragedies that happened when even experienced drivers take their attention from the road foronly seconds, if just to adjust the radio. And yet, this guy not only puts a kid behind the wheel who can barely reach the pedals - he asks him to take his eyes off the road and smile for the camera at the same time. _Did he think countless hours of manipulat- ing a controller of a video game playing driv- ing games so popular with today's kids 'pre- pared his son for any eventuality on the road? What's more likely is that he and his wife, who has her young daughter perched on her lap in the back seat, just weren't thinking at all. While the concern with displays of stupidity on YouTube is often that they will create more copycat incidents, I'm doubting there are too many parents out there who'll rush out and plop their primary student behind the wheel of the family car. In fact, in this case, uploading the dubious adventure onto YouTube was likely the smart- est thing the proud father did. It gave the po- lice all the evidence they need to make sure he never does it again. by bavid Lacey SUBSCRIPTION RATE$: LOCAL - 38.05 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS; - 38.14 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Eanign: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $195.00 postage, plus G.S.T. U.SA.: 38.05 a year in advance, plus $99.84 postage, plus G.S.T. Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. 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