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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-07-18, Page 4TigfiR4dvocote, July l$ i S4 PI • • t. 1 el • Ames - Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvoca Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by J.W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager Bill. BATTEN Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager e ROSS HAUGH Assistant Editor DICK JONGKIND Business Manager Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0366. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $22.00 Per year, U.S.A. $60.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' Not a time for panic Canadians should stay out of debt to protect themselves from the next recession, which will pro- bably happen sometime next year. That's the advice from Tom Maxwell, chief economist for the Conference Board of Canada, who also advised in a recently published interview that the unemployment situation is not going to get better and if people have a job at present, they should hang on to it and not make waves. Maxwell may have valid grounds on which to base his prediction, but similar to most economists, is basically guessing. Few envisioned the last recession (or is that present?) and their opinions have varied on how Canadians can get out of economic troubles. The problem with Maxwell's comments is that they may well prompt people to take the steps that will indeed make his prediction come true. It is not unlike the situation with stock hustlers. If they can convince enough people that a certain stock will increase in price and get those people to invest in it, the stock will indeed increase due to the increased demand. The promoters, of course, scoop off their windfall profit during the increase and laugh all the way to the bank while the other buyers watch as the stock starts to tumble after the artificially induced increase. The prospects of a recession are heightened when people start to plan for one. They stop making pur- chases and sock their money away. Sure enough, the decline in purchasing results in industrial and commer- cial slow -downs and the entire economy starts to drag its feet with all the attending problems.. Maxwell's comments are worthy of consideration, of course, but it should be noted that those who take steps to avoid the perils of a recession often find that the action will be justified in the end, but primarily because the action in itself feeds recessionary results. Obviously, it is a most perplexing problem, but one that requires caution and not panic. A wholly ripoff Evangelist Rex Humbard is sending Canadians special "holy" oil to bless their money and wants them to send large amounts of the money to him for God's work. The London & District Better Business Bureau is warning recipients that the only person who will benefit from the "blessed money" is Rex Humbard Jan Delaney, the General Manager of die' & District Bureau states that several senior citizens have contacted her office after getting the oil - in packets similar to ketchup servings from fast food outlets - and a letter "promising financial assistance from God". Humbard urges people who are "sick financially" to anoint their money - just as the Bible says they should anoint their bodies when they're sick physical- ly. He also asks people to make a cross with the "Ho- ly Anointing Oil" on each piece of paper money and cheque and send the largest to him. The Toronto Bureau reports that one woman in her 80s came to them in torment after receiving the let- ter. Her problem was that the largest cheque she had was her Canada Pension Plan and she felt that she should send this to Rex Humbard because of the let- ter she received. Hardly cost effective Two brothers in Cobourg, aged 9 and 13 years, have been facing a major problem. They set up in the fishworm business and were succeeding quite nicely until the tax man intervened. They weren't charging sales tax on the wigglers - and that's against the law. But, although they were willing to register their business with the tax depart- ment, they weren't old enough to provide legal signatures. Their father eventually signed for them. Now Tod and Travis have amended their roadside sign to include the words "Plus Five Cents Tax". But under the regulations small businesses may keep the first $16 in tax collected- and the boys don't expect total sales at 75 cents a dozen to bring in anywhere nearly that much for the government. To cap it all, it will cost the tax department $2 to process their file this fall. Perfect timing for ern There's a lot to be said for a summer election campaign. As Tong as (he mos- quitoes don't get too bad, most people who enjoy the outdoors won't have to sit and listen to the politicians carrying on their fueds on radio or TV. Some Canadians will also be fortunate enough to plan wilderness vacations where even newspapers won't reach them with their running commentary on the election pro- mises being made. While Canadian activities and weather do not provide any one ideal season for an election, summer comes about as close as possible to the ideal. However, this particular election may be more interesting -than most, primari- ly because both major parties will he hit- ting the hustings with new leaders, and to an extent, unknown quantities and qualities. Prime Minister John Turner has a slight edge in identification as far as political ability goes, having served in the cabinet as finance minister some few years ago. But his leadership and cam- paign ability is basically as untested as his Tory adversary, Brian Mulroney. Each of the twjo men, along with their supporters, will he feeling each other out in the initial stages, waiting for the right opportunity to pounce should the other ntake any glaring error. •• Turner, of course, will be attempting as much as possible to disassociate himself from the Liberal record of the past few years, while Mulroney will be reminding voters that the team Turner has chosen for his cabinet is primarily composed of /the men and women who have been in charge of the deplorable state of affairs in this nation for those past few years. The exception is that many familiar faces from the Trudeau era have gone on to their just rewards and that in itself BATT'N AROUND with the editor could be a major campaign issue. The Liberal faithful were given lavish, high - paying jobs for their tenure, and while the Tories probably would have done the same under the circumstances (if Ontario is an example of PC patronage politics) they will no doubt attempt to make as much mileage as possible over Pierre Trudeau's appointments. The state of the economy will probably be the main issue, and well it should be. The Liberals have to take considerable blame for the current situation, but voters should not be fooled into thinking that casting blame is enough reason to make changes in the party in power. The Tories clearly have to espouse their economic platform so it can be judged in comparison with the Liberals. Hopefully if the topic_is given enough debate and new ideas are promoted, then the govern- ment will be able to use some of the ideas generated by the election to make some desired impact, regardless of which par- ty gets the nod from the electorate. There are other issues, but they pale in comparison) to the need for sound fiscal election management in this country. That dic- tates an inordinately low number of elec- tion promises and it will be interesting to see which of the two new leaders is prepared to bid the lowest for votes. It goes against the grain entirely, but there's a feeling that an increasingly large number of voters are prepared to give marks for the party which makes the fewest costly promises. Of course, the charisma of the two leaders will be watched carefully, and be given unnecessary and unwarranted em- phasis by people who are swayed by such shallow necessities in a leader. Pierre Trudeau was probably the can- didate who used the tool to the best advan- tage. He turned it on when it suited his purpose, but could quickly turn it off after that purpose had been suited. Unfortunately, people do what they think they have to in order to win elec- tions. That is not their problem alone; but basically a problem with an ill-informed or easily swayed electorate. Charisma should be discounted almost entirely over the next few campaign weeks. This country does not need politicians at the helm who can smile the best or make the faint-hearted swoon. The need is for a courageous leadership that will be honest and fair with people, prepared to take the necessary action to right the wrongs, and not sell their own souls and the country for votes. Summer is in fact an ideal time of an • election. Most of us have the extra spare time to give the campaign the attention that is required for the important decision facing us. ' "Any luck?" Can't please them all It's extremely difficult, as any columnist knows, to please all of the people all of the time. In fact, if this column had done so, it would be extinct. Half my readers get so mad at me that they can't wait to read the next column, so they can get madder. The other half sort of enjoys it, forgives my lapses and looks forward to what the silly twit is going to say next. In the last couple of weeks, I've had some let- ters from both sides. A Manitoba editor is think- ing of cancelling the col- umn. Reason? "Too many columns dealing with per- sonal matters. ' I quote bits from his letter: "While it is understan- dable that family members are dear to Bill Smiley...I feel our readers might tire of how the grandboys are behaving. Once or twice a year would be sufficient." I should be so lucky. You are quite right, sir. Once or twice a year word be sufficient, for the grandboys' visit. And from Vancouver, a young mother writes to say, "Keep on writing about your family and grandboys. I love these columns." The editor was fair. He added: "Columns, other than family related, are good and have received favorable comment from our readers." Thanks. I get letters from religious people who ac- cuse me of being the right- hand man of the Devil, when Iestingly remark that God must have been out to lunch when he was drawing up the menu for this year's winter. I get letters from other religious people who send me dreary tracts and let- ters .full of Biblical references, with the hope that I will print the lot. And I get letters from still other religious people, mostly clergy, who enjoy quibbling with me over a point but urge me to con- tinue writing as I do, to make people think. But on the whole, it is • not exactly a dog's Life. I ritagitAK ;i2‘'' month. No room at the Smiley inn, little Smiley. On the whole the letters I get are delightful. A typical example came in the other day from Bill Francis, Moncton, B.C. He says such nice things about the column that I blush even to read them, and would never put them in print. But more to the point, Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley remember receiving a fairly vicious editorial blow from a weekly editor about teenagers, because I was a school teacher. I retorted with a bit of tongue in cheek. In high dudgeon, he cancelled the column. It's still going. I wonder if he's still the editor of that paper, deciding what his readers can read. (Had a number of letters from his subscribers supporting me, none supporting him.) I receive letters from places like Baker Lake, N.W.T., excoriating me for talking about the tough winters down here, which to them is almost the deep south. And I get a letter from my kid brother retired and living in Florida, with pic- tures of the house, flowers, pool and an outline of his day: coffee and morning paper, walk down the beach with the dog, etc. The swine. Wait till the Florida flies get to him in July and he wants to come north and visit for a his letter is witty, infor- mative, alive. He's no chicken, a W.W.I infantry private. I'll quote a bit. "Though obviously a man of sound common sense, I wonder how, in your youth, you got involv- ed in flying a fighter plane, let alone risking combat in one. (Ed. note: me too!) I remember dur- ing those war years, wat- ching a young fellow land his old Avro Anson like a wounded pelican ih the middle of our freight yard and walk away from the wreck looking a little sheepish. Soon after, and nearby, another boy flew his Harvard trainer at full speed into a grove of trees one foggy morning. He didn't walk away from that one." Speaking of education, he says he attended five different schools and doesn't think much of to- day's big schools. Of the new permissiveness: "Anti -social behaviour to- day may be blamed on everything from sun spots to Grandpa's weakness for women and hard liquor, which all agree is a vast improvement on the old concept." A strapping at school and another at home for being strapped at school. His last school was graded "superior" because it taught to Grade 11. Equipment consisted of a tray of mineral specimens, the remains of a cheap chemistry set,, and a leather strap, but' 'managed to turn out dr number of people who, went into the professions. Bill Francis says: "The school's rather good record was due not only to excellent instruction, but also to drawing, from a radius of five miles around, those whose eyes were fixed on distant goals and whose legs were equal to hoofing it back and forth. There was nothing wrong with my legs and I lived nearby. "Just a little light upstairs, they said; a han- dicap I've learned to live with. "Now, some seventy years later and a little wiser, I have become just an old fellow round whom the wind blows in the laugh of the loon and the caw of the crows and the wind whistles by so dreary and cold, in chilling dis- dain of ways that are old. But this feckless old fellow hust putters around and eeds not the wind nor its desolate sound. Cares not a whit for what the winds say; just listens for echoes of things far away." I think that is wise and honest and real. May I feel the same. I'll be in touch, Bill Francis. You're a literate man with some brains in your head. An unusual phenomenon. Hurting own business It strikes me that Cana- dians have not really twigged to the fact that they are living next to the richest nation in the world, with a wealth of untouch- ed tourist dollars just waiting to be tapped into. With the American dollar worth almost a third more than ours with a wealth of beautiful scenery and historical landmarks Canada is a natural choice for visitors, especially when we are only minutes from much of the American population's home towns. But why should L be con- cerned about a developing tourist industry you might ask me? You're a teacher. Your job is secure. All those visitors just clutter up our town. Let's just keep it a nice quiet spot to provements in your town, live in. When we go up to for example, improving the hardware store or the its sidewalks or its visual Perspectives By Syd Fletcher local restaurant one shouldn't have to look more than a minute for a parking place, nor should I have to wait for a clerk while some American is having his money exchanged. If you feel that way you're being pretty short- sighted and selfish. If you don't support im- 'appearance then people will not want to come there. Soon the businesses will die for a lack of customers and you will have to drive thirty miles to buy a hammer and nails. Believe me it has happened in many places across the province already. And business people have to go that extra mile with their customers also. They have to be friendly, courteous and caring, or bapeople will just not come ck I walked into a place the other day and made a small purchase. I happen- ed to have one American dollar in my pocket. The clerk looked at it as if it was dirty, then gave me fifteen cents extra for it. Now I obviously won't die for the sake of fifteen cents exchange that I was short-changed: but I thought that the clerk was surely hurting his business. I would hope that there aren't too many around like him. •