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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-04-28, Page 44 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday,April 28, 2004 =CNA Editorial Opinion n = MISIM TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing casts. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager &Published by Metroland Printing, rt Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIALS Conservatives can't win If you're a Liberal or a supporter of the party, all you can do is laugh at how this country's Conservatives continue to shoot themselves in the foot. With Adscam increasing this country's cyni- cism towards its governing party and polls sug- gesting the Liberals will only win a minority government in the next election, out comes Joe Clark to give his former nemeses a boost. Clark, in a rather bizarre set of events, said last weekend he would prefer Paul Martin win the next election over the Conservative Party's Stephen Harper. He said it would be dangerous to allow Harper to run the country. The Conservatives have responded to Clark in typical fashion, labelling him a bitter old man and a traitor. While at first blush it may appear Clark is turning his back on his old party, his recent comments aren't all that surprising. Clark was always opposed to the merger of the Progressive Conservative party with the Canadian Alliance, and he's not happy the new party is dominated by "Affiance hardliners." Many of the PC's former "Red Tories" have left the party. Clark is not seeking re-election. While Conservative supporters are no doubt upset and puzzled about Clark's comments, it's refreshing in these politically correct times to hear a politician (albeit, one on his way out) actually speak his mind instead of towing the party line. In a country where politics are about as exciting as watching paint dry, it's good to see Clark shake things up a bit. And if a politician as drab as Clark is frustrated enough to speak out against his party, there must be problems. Clark's recent comments and the reaction they received are further evidence the Conservatives aren't yet ready to win the next election. While the Liberals have done their best to force the country to hate them, Canadians aren't ready to hand the reins over to the Conservatives. No, the Liberals probably won't win a majority in the next election (nor do they deserve to), but they will probably be the victors. And for that, their opponents can only blame themselves. About the Times -Advocate I ROLLED %)P THE RIM ANDWONf 2004 Distributed by Canadian Artists Syndicate Inc, Turn off your advice It was the annual Turn Off The TV Week from April 19-25, another of the good causes Those Who Know More Than Us regularly subject the rest of the great unwashed to. There is an industry in telling us how we can live bet- ter lives, and be better people such as con- tributing to saving the starving orphans of Iraq, or Janeane Garofalo's save the starving children of Iraq from the cruel Americans. But whomever organized Turn Off The Idiot Box Week either a) isn't a hockey fan or b) doesn't care Jack Bauer has only three hours to save the world again. With 40 other weeks of the year to pick from, organizers forgot to check it was also the Leafs' annual Toss The Senators Out Of The Playoffs Week. If they are determined to wean couch slugs like myself away from the box, why not pick an easy time of the year to start with, like the whole month of December, since every show is either the 1000th airing of a 50 -year old holiday classic, or an even worse remake of the 50 -year-old holiday classic. The problem with this cause, like every other good cause, is it is organized by people who don't have TVs and don't consider Hannibal, Face, Murdock and B.A. to be quality entertainment. And they won't be satisfied with a week of keeping the TV off. Soon it will be National Throw Your TV Out The Window Week, like some sort of SCTV skit gone horribly wrong. And then it will be the environmentalists demanding a national Clean Up The Smashed TV's From The Parking Lot Week. The people who insist on telling us how we can live better lives will never be satisfied despite what- ever efforts we make. After years of listening to the salad munchers harp on the 'eat less meat and more rabbit food', I've cut red meat serv- ings to something under 10 a week, plus cold cuts, plus hot dogs plus a few servings of pep- perette sticks. In their place I've managed to add at least a few of whatever green stuff is on Canada's food guide. But as usual, the people with water bottles surgically attached to their hands are several steps ahead in deciding what is good for us. Dr. Marilyn Nanney, an author in the United States, has decided in a study it isn't enough to just eat fruits and vegetables such as corn, potatoes, apples and bananas, or in other words anything with the hint of flavour. If people like Nanney have their way, we'll eventually be left munching on a stick of broccoli washed down with something resembling water. So until the so called experts make up their mind on what is considered a healthy lifestyle and diet, I think I'll plop on the couch, unwrap a beef jerky stick and settle in for the A Team marathon. Amerie 0111 PAT BO BACK 40 VIEW Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. 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