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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1983-06-08, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, Juno 8, 1983 Ames -. Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by I.W. Eedy Publications Limited V41. LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager Is 1 L BILL _BATTEN Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. Phone 235-1331 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada $21.00 Per year; U.S.A. $56.00 •C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' Sobering signs There are indications that courts are starting to see the role they must play in convincing drivers that they will have to pay a high price if they insist on go- ing onto the highways while their ability to drive is im- paired by alcohol. An Elgin County judge recently sentenced a Sar- nia man to 18' months in jail. The driver was found to have had three times the legal limit of alcohol in his blood. The.charge came after his vehicle crashed into another, resulting in the death of five people. That decision may appear harsh to some, but it was far from excessive in comparison to a case in the U.S. where a 20 -year-old woman was sentenced to 10 years in jail. One person died as a result of the crash which resulted from herbeing drunk. *CNA The U.S. judge noted that "this (drunk driving) is a social problem that will exist next year, in five years, 10 years from now --until there is a change in behaviour patterns." In handling down his sentence, the Elgin judge ex- plained that ".general deterrence as a principle of sentencing implies to me that the community at large must be instilled with a measure of fear that if they drink and drive dangerously they will be dealt with severely by the courts". Alcohol related accidents constitute a major pro- blem of society in terms of human death and suffer- ing and thousands of innocent victims may properly wonder why it is taking the courts so long to impose the type of sentences that will deter those who risk the lives and well-being of others on the highways. Gamble pays off The love affair most Canadians display for lot- teries has brought unusual rewards for a Winnipeg man and points up once again that initiative general- ly pays dividends. Claus Anthonisen, among those university students unable to find a summer job, came up with the idea of staging a lottery for his services. For $5 a ticket, the lottery buyers were promised his services for a Key in o The following editorial was, written by Stanley Burke, publisher of the Nanaimo (B.C) Times and well- known as a former national news broadcaster. Canadadesperately needs a newspirit and it must come from ordinary people. What can we do to create it? What can we do to demand responsibility from politicians and an end to party bickering ata time of crisis? what can we do to prevent one group attempting to better its position at the expense of others? Can we recognize that we are all responsible for this mess because we have all been wildly 'extravagant? We look for scapegoats and they are easy to find - the federal government's .deficit, its policies of economic nationalism which have bankrupted one o1' the strongest and richest nations in the world. But who asked for their spending? Who gleefully supported their nationalism? We did. 12 -week period to do anything that was "not dangerous or degrading." Anthonisen met with mixed reactions as he went door-to-door selling tickets, but managed to sell 265 tickets to augment his summer bankroll. His cost was $19 for a lottery permit and the materials required for the lottery tickets. Next year he plans to embark on the project a lit- tle earlier in the hope of selling even more tickets. ur hands We make scapegoats out of the unions; the com- panies which got fat and lazy.; the bureattci its who built indexed empires at public expense, No, we all share the blame and the only thing which matters now is how we get out., We got into it together and now, if we work together, we will gradual- ly get out. However, if we continue to quarrel and if some groups seek to advance themselves while others suffer, then our children and grandchildren will pay the price. We will forgive unions for past excesses, for ex- ample, but we should not forgive strikes which seek to improve workers' positions at the expense of others. Now is the time when we should all take less - and this includes the managers of the labor unions just as it should include government and business managers. We need a new sense of reality in Canada and we need to recognize, in particular, that governments can only do so much for us. For too long we have placed impossible demands on them and abdicated our own responsibilities: It will be an interesting spectacle Those interested in the political future of the nation will have their eyes glued on ttawa this weekend as the Progressive ;onservatives go through the hoopla of hoosing their new federal leader --or perhaps reappointing their old one. The PCs, of course, will he telling each other the selection is really for the next prime minister of.the country, given their present popularity in opinion polls;- or possibly more correctly, the lack of popularity of Pierre Trudeau and his confreres. Every political party, some rather naively, think they are chloosing the next government leader in their choice of par- ty chief, but it is a fair bet for the Conser- vatives this time around. That adds a new element of excitement to the leadership question, while at the same time providing a certain degree of anxiety. Not only do they have to select a man (there are no women contesting the leadership) whom they feel will be a good leader for the party, they have to consider how that person will fit the bill to draw support from the electorate in the next federal election. Joe Who? emerged from the shadows to pull a major upset the last time the Tories got together to select a leader, and after a very brief fling at the national helm, led the party back to the sidelines. Joe Clark is still considered the front- runner in the contest, but it is a lead that he could quickly relinquish unless he can take a commanding margin on the initial. ballot. Any sign of wavering support could rt'sult in a substantial movement to other contenders and there is good reason to argue that Clark would have to win on the ' second ballot if he hopes to win at all. 4 One of the dark horses who appears to be gaining some momentum at a most op- portune time is Michael Wilson. Several Ontario cabinet ministers jumped onto his bandwagon this week and there were sug- gestions that Peter Pocklington may throw his weight to Wilson's bid if the Ed- BATT'N AROUND with the editor monton Oilers owner's campaign shows signs of falling short (which it does.) It was interesting to note that at (east three of the local riding delegates were considering Wilson as a possible leader, based to an extent on the fact he is one of the few whom they have met personally. Wilson, along with John Crosbie and David Crombie, appear to he among the beneficiaries of the historical nature of re- cent leadership campaigns where so meone from the middle of the pack has emerged to carry off the title. They end up being a type of com- promise between the front-runners, which in this case, appear to be Clark and Brian Mulroney. The more ballots required, the better the chance of those farther down the list as they capitalize on any evidence of a stall in the early leaders' bid as well as any momentum they may gain themselves during any visible stall. It was that very situation which carried Clark to his unexpected win as the leader the last time around. Etched deeply into the Canadian fabric is the desire to be part of a winning team. Even though they enjoy the anonymous benefit of the secret ballot, voting delegates at most conventions are often swayed by any evidence that they have the opportunity to vote for the eventual winner. That's one of the many influences which confront those who mark ballots and sd candidates have to portray themselves as winners. However, there are also the inevitable group of power -brokers who attempt to sway people, not because of any great sense that the leader will necessarily be best for the party or the country, but because the winner will be best for their own well-being in the rewards which come from being in the right corner. The political future of the candidates is at stake, of course, but so too are the futures of a great many people who have associated themselves with any par- ticular candidate or who may make a noticeable attempt to move their support to another when it is in their best interest to do so. Political leadership conventions are fill- ed with hoopla, intrigue, pressure tactics, dashed dreams and many other ingre- dients and that's why they become one of the most interesting spectacles in the life of a party and a nation. This weekend's gathering of the PC clan promises to be a most interesting show and don't be too surprised if Joe Clark has to echo the words of the late John Diefen- baker who told a previous audience that he would return after laying down to bleed awhile. PC race is As I write, the race for the Tory leadership is at the tape, after a cross- country course that would have taxed the endurance , of a kangaroo. Its participants have lurched and shambled and jogged across that rugged terrain, through those bogs and quagmires that make up the minds ' of Tory delegates. For some, it has been uphill most of the way, ow- ing to lack of charisma, money, ideas, or all three. Others have taken some dubious short-cuts, hitch- ed a ride when nobody was looking, or floated along on a carpet of hot air. They'll be a bedraggled lot when they get near the grandstand and try to flog. themselves into a final sprint toward that finish line. The winner, and he has my sympathy, will be handed the magnificent trophy that goes with the job - a Pandora's box. If he. opens it, and he will, politicians being what they are, it will be the Pandora myth all over again. Out will fly all those evil spirits: broken pro- mises, financial disaster, and the cold fury of the losers, who will have him for breakfast as soon as they get their wind back. But one spirit won't pop out - Hope. That peculiar Hope that seems to belong to the Tories will be too tired to leap out of the box. So our "lucky" winner will pick it up, hold it tenderly (in both hands), and prepare to do battle against the individuals, in- sidious hordes of the black -hearted King Pierre, who retire into the swamps and wait patient- ly, chuckling, licking their lips, each time a new dragon -slayer is chosen for them to devour." On the other hand, maybe, just maybe, the new St. George will be am - N Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley at the tape shaking his jowls and Stabbing his finger at him. He did once before. But the giant quickly realized that behind that mastiff's mien lay all the terror of a spaniel, uttered one roar, and sent him scuttling. What about Brian? He bidextrous, and with a sword in each hand will be able to fight off his friends as they help him from the rear, and attack and slay the monster in front of him, who has got a bit swollen with pride, and a bit slow from lack of exer- cise over the years. Which of these fine, fulminating fellows will be our new champion? If our fairy tale were to follow its course, it would have to be David Crombie. He has the right name, and is the right size, to stand up to Goliath. He might even knock him off, because the giant is getting old and fat and overconfident. But, even though he wields a mean sling -shot, does little David have the killer instinct, the ruthlessness required to get the job? Is he too de- cent, too human, too car- ing? aring? Could be. Let's go on with our fairy story and look at the other hopefuls. Joe might startle the big fellow by might try to cow the big guy by jutting a massive chin at him, pointing toward massive rein- forcements in Quebec, and hurling some insults in French. But a couple of massive shrugs and some fat subsidies toward Fran - cos would squelch that threat. There's Jolly Jack the giant -killer from . the Island. He might huff and puff and stick out his not inconsiderable belly at the giant. But unless he made the creature incapable of action by some witty remarks that sent it into paroxysms ,if laughter, it would have him for lunch. • Last time he tried it, with a perfectly honest I8 -cent tax on gas, the crit- ter laughed all the way to the next election, then charged twice as much. That creature can out -tax anybody, any day. How about the others? "Puck" Pocklington has the right nickname for a fairy story, but what chance has he, an en- trepreneur, against a monster that goes to bed with sick corporations, gobbles up others, and washes them down with oil companies? It's just possible that Michael Wilson, far too honest and logical to win anything, might put the dragon to sleep long enough for some of its own mini -dragons to devour it. But that's a long shot. That leaves John Gam- ble. All he's got is a loop- ing right swing that is telegraphed all the way. The giant, dragon, creature, will merely counter with a few sharp, left jabs, and John is no longer even a bet, let alone a gamble. Well, I hope I've sorted things out for you, with this melange of myth, analogy and fairy tale. I really don't- care who wins, since the Tories have no way to go but up. Is Joe a loser? Is Mulroney too smooth and untested? Is Crombie too tiny? Is Crosby too dull, Pocklington too business - oriented, Gamble too neanderthal? I'd be more comfortable. with Crombie than any of them, -with Crosby as se- cond choice. But nobody ever listens to me. I told them Mackenzie King was a charlatan, Diefenbaker a dope, and Trudeau a cynic, but they wouldn't listen. Too bad Flora McDonald didn't run, I'll bet she'd poll a huge vote. But being raped once is enough, I guess. See you at the polls. Tip forbig game hunters One of the advantages of living in the temperate climate of Canada is that there are not nearly as many insects around. For a good five months out of the year we can forget about most of the little pests compared to the folks down In the southern U.S. who fight them all year round. One of the little goobers that I have not seen or heard of up here in Canada until recently is the wood tick. A friend of mine was carrying in some wood to his camp site down in Florida and discovered one on or they're not the easiest to should I say in, his pull out. The harder you Perspectives By Syd Fletcher stomach. His skin felt a lit- tle itchy there and he scratched it, only to find est the rear end of the lit - le devil protruding. Now if' you get one of these ticks into your skin pinch them the more they grab on. I understand that if you take a hot needle or a match (preferably after you've blown it out) and apply it to the insect then it will back out in a hurry. A better method is to cover the insect with coal oil (not always available these days) or finger nail polish, In these last two cases the insect dies and is easily removed. Once you've got it out and on the ground, don't count on an easy execution of the beastie. They've got a shell that must he made out of steel armour. You've got to really step hard to get rid of them. There now, how's that for a tip for you big game hunters out there.