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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1969-09-04, Page 14' u Rifi'H,SIQNALSTAR, THUIISA4iY, SFikTk`M&ER 4, 1969 SLUE 11111UNie • ?Overty" Is a much ove'worked. word these days and "whether -you look east or west, you will laudably find people comlplalning of their, poverty or Of Someone else's pc Verty. It is, of course, a singularly useful. word on which to feed a Political crusade; a handy missile to. throw at any adniinistration; superb ammunition for any "opposition" party; But when you come to integrate in your Mind all the reasons, all the ' examples to be found in the world-wide manifestation of the alleged or real presence of 'poverty, you cannot but help arrive at the Conclusion that poverty is a first cousin -of happiness. Poverty possesses as many different facets as the sands of the seashore. You discover that one Man's "poverty" is another man's "riches." It follows then that the real criterion of "poverty" is the answer to the Question: "Is he, or she, or are they, happy — content?" A father of nine children whose home was recently inspected by a fact-finding poverty commission- said: "I work and support my family and I am- not on welfare. I don't want a damn thing they have. I don't think it was right for them people to come fo my house and scare mylwife and children. I am buying my house and I don't think anyone has a right to come and make fun of it." An African after some time in this country- says: "I have seen 7111111.1111110114111111111111,1 men here who are poorer than the poorest manin Africa." Another writer says:, "I Would not make a jest of poverty, but the critics of the western world, who grossly exaggerate its incidence there, are making it appear worse than ridiculous." Juvenal who lived A.D. 60 to 130 grappled with this problem too; "Here. we all live in a state of ambitious poverty." There can be no gain saying that. ambition is an essential ingredient in every character, but ambition which exceeds the powers of performance of the individual makes for unhappiness. As everyone knows, Bob Hope was- raised in something very close to poverty, yet he believes many of the poor are that way by choice; either because they don't want to work, or becausethey have found satisfaction in their present status. "We have enough money to take care of the poor people," ,he says, "and as far as that's concerned, poor people will always be here. They're part of our economy, and there's -no way you can decide that there won't be people who want to be poor. If they don't want to work, they're not going to work." Why ":does Hope work so hard? "I .actually enjoy the challenge of getting new routines together...That is my therapy." That is what gives him happiness. Not his millions. New educational series The lens of the television ;camera will probe . the courtroom, urban problems and , life of the Kennedy brothers during The Ontario Department of Education's new educational television series which will offer almost twice. as many '"programs next year. 0 Of the several new series, to be shown, six will deal in. Civics. Two of these programs, filmed in courtrooms, are of trials and ars based on actual cases. A series o1 eight programs will deal with urban problems. A history program titled The. Four. Brothers will compare the. fate of the Kennedy brothers • with that of the Gracchi brothers of early Rome. The Gracchis died by assassination. A total of 809 programs will -be-sliown during the 19-69-70 season which begins September 15, a month earlier -than last year. Last year 490 programs were televised. The schedule will also be extended two weeks, finishing on June 15. Transmission time next season . will be increased to 101/4 hours per week, an hour more than last year. Onsome stations ETVO programs will be seen up to 17 hours a week. The programs are broadcast weekday mornings over a network of stations across the province. They are produced as a supplement for teachers in their classroom work. '-'The programs are also seen in •the home and ETV officials say the home. audience' is increasing. The schedule ,includes programs for all divisions of elementary and secondary schools as well as for professional development. More WORK BOOTS than 15 percent of the programs are in French. Ernie's Place, a series of 14 programs on science experiences, will. highlight broadcasts for young children. The series will help children gain an understanding of shadows, the laws of balance and other basics of science. Also new is the first series of programs for pre-school age children. This will be a 40 -program - French language seriestitled . "Le .Monde des Petits." The series • deals with two astronauts on a visit to "the land of the 'little people" on another planet. ow P:P0r).S Bereft of his work he might become the poorest of the poor. Many will reply unthinkingly that any multi -millionaire can be happy, but this is just a measure Qf their thoughtlessness. Those in the world with Hope's sentiments are mercifully numbered in the millions. They are not happy because of the money they make, or have made. They are happy because they can honestly say, like the father of nine children: "I work. I am not on relief. I don't want a. damn thing they have." And who is to say this father and his family is not, just as happy as Bob Hope with his huge bank balance? Accepting this argument, it becomes clear that we, who suffer from bleeding hearts, must proceed in our mercy mission with great perspicacity. For too long we have believed that (shall we say) India's problems would melt like snow before an influx of color TV sets; .by . concrete floors rather than mud; by water -borne sewage; by huge steel making complexes; whereas in point of fact what the bulk of the population of India really needs is fertilizer and good seed, so that each may be.self-supporting in food from his own acre. Thus we conclude that happiness and satisfaction with our lot has nothing to do .with poverty of possessions, but rather with poverty of the soul. There are two classes of people to be considered. Those able and willing to work, and those whose ability has deteriorated due -to age or poor health. Many of the former class, are well organized •to a point at which they stand above the law as it applies to those not so organized. These organizata.ons, usually called unions, ensure by a variety of means, ranging from "bargaining in good faith" to stark violence, that their wages shall increase on a progressive scale which bears no relationship to the amount they produce. Since they are not being paid for what they do not produce, their product has to ba sold at a higher price to keep the company solvent and to pay the stockholders, who have lent money to the company. Thus it comes about that the export market, which cannot - be coerced because it is a law unto itself, is lost. This leaves only the home market which eonsists of a considerable proportion of the second class who are living on fixed incomes. These cannot afford to pay the increased prices, so the market for these particular goods is -still further reduced. It is at this point that nemesis approaches the class, organized ., labor. They are due to awake one day to discover they too, have priced themselves out of work; that the $6 per hour won at the bargaining table has eluded them, so that they become beggars for welfare. They have joined the "poor"; they" have lost their inflated standard of living; they, together with those on fixed incomes,' have become casualties of the epidemic disease: Inflation. The words are not "riches" or "poverty" but rather the contented, the happy and the discontented. When men retired on pension and'br savings, they found them adequate for their particular standard of living. Since everyone's standard differs from the next man's, not because he has saved more than his neighbor, not because he receives a larger pension than his friend, but because individuals differ so much in their tastes; in their -mode of life and in their temperament. Some,- considered well 'off, prefer to live* well within their incomes and find happiness in ' this state, "...looking thewhole world in the face and not owing any man." Others find .,they have either to borrow money, or lower their • accustomed standard. Assuming the latter were content before inflation struck, they are now forced to skimp and scrape in the hopeless effort to maintain their standd.- They - become frustrated. They criticize; rightly, a $75,.0.00 farewell party for a director of education; they are appalled.at the salaries doled out to provincial employees; they despise the permissiveness which allows a Scarsdale, N.Y. High School to, run a summer course in "revolution," sabotage and guerilla warfare. "We found the village is vulnerable to attack," reports a 34 -year-old "teacher" • and he calls , it "academic freedom." In short, what with provincial squandermania and the avarice of organized labor, they can look forward to an ever lower standard of existence. The father of nine, who was content with his lot yesterday, will sooner or later have to meet the steady erosion of hjs pension and savings, if any, once he retires. This state of affairs is just one of the many reasons why the cliche: "The poor will always be with us" is undeniable. Inflation has introduced a new factor into the lives of all. When prices and„ incomes -were comparatively stable, a man could retire with confidence that his standard would be maintained. Today we are busy manufacturing poor,- unhappy, oor,- unhappy, discontented, sub -standard people at an ever SEE US FOR ALL MAYTAG PRODUCTS "THE DEPENDABLE L INE" Including- The New MAYT4G; UNDERCOUNTER DISHWASHER HUTCHINSON TV & APPLIANCES 308 HURON RD. PHONE 524-7831 A Fair to remember! Nine solid fun-packed days of wonder entertainment and excitement for the whole family! • This year's Great Western Fair promises more attractions for everyone to enjoy than Over before: You'J I be dazzled _ from the first. day to the, last for instance, on September 5, 6, and 7, hear the delightul IRISH ROVERS creators of the happy hit record, "The Unicorn." Also. ' Mt. GLENN HAYWOO•D, who can start an epidemic of laughter the moment --he steps on a sta,ge. And impressionist GEORGE K.IRBY, a mimic without peers, a big man with a big smile and an infectious personality. Rounding out the three big opening shows at the grandstand is the former Miss America winner, VONDA KAY VAN DYKE. On September 8, 9, and 10 the spotlight will be on America's greatest trumpet showman AL HIRT, the really big man with the sweet horn! Also the vivacious GOLDDIGGERS, the fabulously talented 12 young beauties who've sung and danced up a storm of popularity on Dean Martin's television series. The master of ceremonies will be ROLLY HAMMOND, the hilarious nightclub erne-rtairrer:-Appt'ring 6n the`s-a`fir e`firog rn is fr popular DEBBIE LORI KAYE, who wears her heart on her sleeve for everyone captured by her appealing voice.` Debbie will be 'accompanied by THE RHYTHM PALS and AL,CHE.RNY and they will also star in the afternoon performances September 8, 9, and 10. On the final three days, September 11, 12, and 13, excitement and thrills take over with the grandstand appearance of HUBERT CASTLE'S INTERNATIONAL CIRCUS, returning to amaze and entertain Great Western Fairgoers three times each day to wind up nine solid days of great entertainment. And there's far more, of course — Dad S d Mom will be royally entertained by the sultry rhythms of THE REGAL TAHITIANS, featuring the Moorea Drum Daricers in the Marco Polo Lounge during the entire nine days of the Fair. There will be photo, fiddler and dance competitions, fashion shows, marching bands, exhibits of farm, industry and sporting goods, the popular horse show, flower show, fine eating in the new "Top of the Fair" dining lounge in the grandstand, many new exciting Midway attractions, and special Kiddieland'features for the youngsters. Phis the opportunity to win a new Chevrolet tar daily! ission is only $1.25 for mesad is at all times, and 25 cents • for children. 'Truly, the Great Western Fair promises to be "A family affair"! • Industrial • ` Farm !� Factory Plain or safety toe. Choice of seven sole materials. 4 •.h VI$1TWESTERN FAIR SEPTEMBER 5 T0,13...IT`S A FAMILYAFFAfR increasing rate and in so .doing laying up more social trouble than we have at the moment. In the result, the only hope of any retiree to be, is to save „bile he. is capable of earning add -invest those savings`rn some live and growing undertaking. Not that even" 'these are not threatened, for their ability to prosper is based on winding the continuing fight against the avarice of labor. This is another way of saying that unless the brains hired by industry are ingenious enough to devise technical means to reduce the price of their produce, and thus stay ahead of the demands of labor, they will not continue as firms in which it is advisable to invest. - Our worst social enemy is inflation and it is aimed at every man, woman and child. Until it is disposed of, it will ensure that every one of us will have to accept a 'lower place on the poverty scale. Politically it can be said:'_.`,`What shall it profit the . individual if 4' the federal government saves " to beeome solvent, but the ,provincial government continues its "Uncontrollable expenditures?" Some further interesting evidence comes to hand from the U.S. Census Bureau to the effect that persohs making less than the official poverty income of $3,553 per annum have been reduced to 13 percent of the population, down from the 22 percent of the 1961 figure. To what is this success attributed? Not to the moneys doled out over the past five years by the Office of Economic Opportunity, but to the business boom of the sixties. From this it is logical to argue that as unions continue to price themselves and their product out of the home and export markets, they are also contributing to the number of those below the poverty income, who would work if they could find it. In shortit is not just the retired who suffer but those in the prime of their lives. When does suicide cease and sanity return? HEARING .TESTS No 001(gation CAMPBEL'L'$G0DERICH THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 1- 3 P.M, Batteries, accessories, repairs to most makes B HEARING AIMS .o E. R. 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