Times Advocate, 1991-04-10, Page 4•
Pape 4 Times -Advocate, April 10, 1991
Publisher: Jim Beckett
News Editor: Actrlan Harte
Badness Manager: Don Smith
Composition Manager: Deb Lord
Seoorxt Class Mall Registration Number 0386
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inion
r
Shape of things to come
After hearing the arguments on
both sides, one still can't help
but come to the conclusion the
introduction of computer data bases
into all police departments is inevitable.
In fact, it is surprising Exeter has got
along so far without one.
The $38,000 cost is what has turned
council away from approving a system
for the town, and while it is more ex-
pensive than other computer equipment
the town has bought over the past few
:,4,years, it is of more obvious benefit.
Some councillors have continued to
oppose the purchase, probably because
computerized policing does not fit into
their concept of how a small police
force operates. Television cop show
glamorize the bad guys getting nabbed
on the streets and in the alleys, but in
reality, policework involves more
searches through files, records, and
data than anything else.
Computers are even making their way
into police carsd in most municipalities
and OPP detachments, and yet Exeter
doesn't have even one unit in its office.
Another real problem is that other de-
tachments are becoming less patient
with requests for information from non -
computerized forces. Why waste time
on the phone when the information
needed is only a few keystrokes away?
And who has time for those still in the
dark ages?
Obviously, council are very concerned
with the future costs of policing in Exet-
er, especially since the new Police Ser-
vices Act threatens to take away much
of the control over budgets and expense
council enjoyed before.
However, if council is committed to
the idea that a town police force is worth
having, and there are definite advantages
a separate detachment can offer a mu-
nicipality, then they should be resolved
to make sure it is fully equipped to deal
with the changes in criminal trends.
There is probably room for a computer
system in there somewhere.
A.D.H.
You're welcome to my money
The first time I bought an insu-
rance policy, I was twenty years
old. I had been too timid to say
no to a fast talking salesman. I
found it easier to fork over the
dollar, one hard-earned dollar,
for a piece of paper that said my
heirs (what heirs?) would inherit
a fortune of one thousand dol-
lars. All I had to do was to die.
Needless to say, no one has
ever collected on that policy, and
I have no idea what happened to
it.
Since then I have bought more
than my fair share of life insu-
rance, car insurance, fire insu-
rance, accident insurance, health
insurance and travel insurance.
A very rough estimate is that
since that first encounter with the
aggressive salesman I must have
spent at least an average of
$1,000 a year in insurance pre-
miums, a total of about $40,000
without interest. I am certainly
no accountant, but I think you'll
agree that with compound inter-
est, these $40,000 would have
increased to at least $250,000 if
I had invested them in bonds
over all those years.
The only insurance money I
have ever collected in my life
was nickels and dimes stuff for
one minor collision and one
break-in. Obviously, somebody
has been getting rich on me.
So if there are readers out there
who feel guilty about taking
more from an insurance compa-
ny than they paid in; Stop! Don't
lose any more sleep over it. It
was my money, and you're wel-
come to it. As long as you ap-
preciate where it came from. My
Pocket.
The above figures don't in-
clude unemployment insurance,
of course. I don't pay any now,
because rm self employed And
if 1 fire myself. I can't collect ei-
ther. Bet I've paid a handsome
amount into the fund for many,
many years without ever collect-
ing a penny.
So if you happen to be on
Fogey, don't feel badly about it.
Relax! It's not "the govem-
ment's" money you're collect-
ing. It's mine. I paid it to them,
month after hard-working mon-
ey. I had no choice. They just
took it from me and my employ-
ers. You're entitled to it, and
you're welcome! Just remember
the next time you cash your
UIC cheque: it's Peter's money
PETER'S
POINT
by
Peter Helsel
they're giving you, and I want
you to enjoy it.
Have I learned a lesson from
all my financial losses? Of
course not. I'm still paying in-
surance premiums to fat -cat
companies at the tune of at least
$7,000 a year and will continue
to do so until I die. This in-
cludes nothing fancy, just the
bare essentials.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not
and -insurance. And rm not ad-
vocating the abolition of hum -
ranee companies. They and their
profits, and their employees and
sales reps: are entitled to their
salaries and commissions. I
don't begrudge them their earn-
ings. I just want to get it off my
chest. And l want to let you
know how I feel about having
thrown away all that money.
Use it wisely, that's all I ask.
Spend it on things you really
need or enjoy or dserish. Don't
gamble with ft .Don't fritter at
away on useless trinkets or
tasteless gadgets.
And most of all: don't feel
guilty about taking it. You're not
hurting anybody. You're not de-
priving anybody. Except me. As
I told you, it was once mine.
And now it's yours. I don't
mind. Keep it.
On the other hand, if you are
truly guilt -ridden if what I just
said bothers you profoundly, if
you feel you would like to share
some of your good fortune, you
can always contact me through
this paper.
I could, under certain circum-
stances be persuaded to take
some of it back. The same goes
for the insurance companies.
Their executives have a con-
science. I'm sure. Some of them
may read this and lie awake at
night, worrying about my huge
losses.
They may take this column to
their next board meeting and ask
for a token refund of, say,
$50,000. Just to show good
will. Just to demonstrate how
much they care about their poli-
cy -holders.
I don't want to intimidate peo-
ple of good faith. I'd even be
glad to get a $25,000 cheque in
the mail. Or less. It's not the
money. And it's not the piing-
pie. It's the thought that counts.
A card, how about a measly
little "'Thank You" card? No? In-
cluding the 40 cents postage it
would *set you back maybe
$2.50. That would only be
0.001% of the money I've lost to
you. No?
Ah,weli. 111 lick my wounds
and struggle on, paying premi-
ums forever, to keep other peo-
ple happy. Maybe that's enough
reward. To know that there are
all those smiling faces out there
in the insurance board moms of
the nodal
"Men are never so likely
to settle a question rightly
as when they discuss it
freely."
... Thomas Macauley
Published Each Wedsiesday Exeter, Ontario, NOMJM Morning M424 Male St.,
by fed), Pvbllcatlo, s Ltd.
Telephone 1-61112361331
a.$.T. M10I210eli
CIGARETTES
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HeIIo,.,I must be going
It was less than a year ago
when my boots landed on the
steps of the .Times Advocate.
And 11 months and a few gray
hairs later I find it's time to say
good-bye to the wonderful folks
at the T -A and the people of Hu-
ron, Middlesex and Lambton
counties.
The first few months were the
toughest - moving from a city of
200,000 to a town of 3,800 and
later to Dashwood, was quite the
shock to the system, I must say,
but more than anything it's been
a good experience.
I've enjoyed being able to
leave my doors unlocked at
night, looking up at the sky and
actually seeing stars, sniffing
fresh air, looking at smiling fac-
es and knowing in times of trou-
ble; help is only a few rods
away.
Lending a helping hand seems
to be the way in Huron - in the
last year, my car's broken down
about 2.5 billion times (engine,
water pump, brakes, battery,
etc.) and every time a friendly
stranger has been there to help.
I've made a few mistakes in
my day (hee, hee, hee, oops)
like the time I reported an early
closure for the Lucan pool when
it was actually an early closure
for the arena. And of course,
there's been the occasional cut -
line error which resulted in ...
rolling heads.
I think one of my funniest mo-
ments at the T -A was in early
January and I had to cover court
on Tuesday moming (getting out
of layout is always a plus). Any-
way, them was a witness on the
stand who continued to describe
an accident in terms of "rods"
resulting in a considerable
amount of confusion for the
Crown.
Say
what?
By
Cheryl
Clark
•
The judge politely asked the
lady to give the measurement in
' feet or metres because the
Crown was from the "city" and
wasn't familiar with rural terms.
The lady responded that she
wasn't quite sure how to de-
scribe it and asked the judge
who did have a "rural" back-
ground to do it for her, and he
admitted with a laugh that he
couldn't either. No one in the
courtroom could!
There's been a few very, de-
pressing incidents over the year
as well like GMH's receivership
and layoffs at General Coach
and D.I., but I believe Huron's a
strong county and sooner or lat-
er it has got to get better (gasp, I
sound like a bleeding heart liber-
al).
At the risk of sounding incred-
ibly sappy I have to admit some
people I have met will be hard
to forget and since this is my fi-
nal column, please indulge me
in this long, but sincere list of
thank yous.
Thank you big-time Adrian
Harte and Jim Beckett for giving
me my first real break in the
business practically right out of
college, thanks to Don Smith for
those thousands you slipped me
under the table (just kidding),
thank you Ruth Anne for the use
of your truck when I was a poor
transient, thanks to Norma, Pat
and Elaine for taking those
2,000 calls from my fianc%c,
big-time thank you Mary and
Joyce for the countless number
of smokes I have "borrowed"
from you the two thousand
times I have "quit", thanks to
Nick (R.J.N.) and Barb for their
totally excellent darkroom work,
thanks to Alma, Laurel and Mar-
garet for not "really" minding
when I was especially bother-
some on Tuesday momings and
thanks Deb Lord for helping
find those "special" features that
no one else got!
And retired editor Ross
Haugh, although we only
worked together for a fcw
weeks, his charm and corny
jokes made a lasting impression
(So this woman walks into a bar
and ...).
I am going to miss the friendly
faces at the local businesses and
the guidance given to this green
reporter - the first year is always
the toughest and thanks to the
good people i have met it has
also been one of the best.
Where am 1 going you humbly
inquire? Well these boots are
walking to Ridgctown, so if
you're ever "down" in them
parts, give me a shout.
HAVE AN OPINION?
The Times Advocate welcomes letters to the editor. They must be signed and should
be accompanied by a telephone number and address should we need to clarify any
Information. The newspaper also reserves the right to edit letters.
Letters can be dropped off at the Times Advocate Office or mailed to:
Exeter Times Advocate
Box 850, Exeter, Ontario
NOM 156
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