The Rural Voice, 1982-12, Page 40GUEST EDITORIAL
Chicken Little -ism
by Mark Lapping
Mark Lapping, Ph. D. is a professor and
director for the University School of Rural
Planning and Development at the Univer-
sity of Guelph. Dr. Lapping wrote this
article for The Rural Voice in mid-Oc-
tober.
Like just about everyone else, 1 have
become increasingly angry and depressed
over the current state of economic affairs.
All of a sudden 1 feel extremely vulnerable
and 1 don't understand why this is the
case. I now know farm families forced to
give up their farms, businessmen who
have gone bankrupt and families who
have lost their homes. I cannot help but
believe the recent down -turn in U.S.
interest rates, which influences our own,
is merely a political contrivance geared to
the coming elections in the States. Once
these have passed 1 am convinced things
will get very tight again. I feel that
someone or something is manipulating
me. I feel helpless, like somehow I am no
longer in control. This is, admittedly, a
deep-seated fear of mine. 1 promised
myself long ago I would never lose
mastery over my own life. I am confused
and hurt. 1 have played the game by the
rules. I have been moderate in my needs
and expectations. Like many of the
farmers and businessmen going under, I
am one of those who actually creates
wealth. 1 am part of that incredibly
productive and resourceful middle class,
the goose that lays the golden eggs. 1 am
part of that group which is not included
into the socialism the rich enjoy nor do I
participate in the ever -narrowing wel-
farism which the poor must endure. I foot
everyone's bills.
1 no longer give my vote happily; I
always seem to end up settling for the
"lesser of two evils". One group of
Smyth Blowers are tough and dependable snowblowers bum 10,
Canadian winters Farmyards carparks and driveways don I have
to be big winler problems Get into that snow with a Smyth Blower
• Heavy duly gear box with t n snaps
• 65 hppower shalt with shear pin on 72 84 and 96 models
• 120 hp power shalt with shear pin on 96 and 108 models
• Ball or tapered rover bearings on an revolving shafts
• Strongly constructed 4 blade tan designed for powerful suction
intake and high capacity output Blows ali types of snow more
than 60 feet
Choose your Smyth Blower from the speciticdnon chart or inquire
about lront mounted models at the George Smyth Welding and
Machine Shop ltd
(eorje S1th tVe/di'nj
Ind machine Shop £tc/.
"WE BUILD THE BEST AND REPAIR THE REST"
R.R. 2. AUBURN, ONT.
NOM 1E0
PG 40 THE RURAL VOICE/DECEMBER 1982
politicians tries to re -assure me with a
warmed-over social Darwinism that the
rich deserve to be rich and that by making
their lives more secure, more risk free,
their capital will magically "trickle
down" to the rest of us. Another group of
politicians demands that we subsidize
jobs, any jobs so it would seem. As
sympathetic as I am to people who have
lost their jobs, I am not prepared to
subsidize yesterday's jobs. If we put
people back to work it must be in jobs and
industries which will not suffer future
dislocation by foreign robots. It must be
possible to create an industrial/service
sector which will nurture people and
families.
As widely opposing as these ideas may
initially seem, the proponents of both are
the same in that they are really "Chicken
Little -the Sky is Falling" types. They seek
to convince us that without them we are
helpless. The Chicken Littles suggest that
we grow ever more dependent upon them
to chart our futures, to dream our
dreams, to guide us in the "right"
direction. 1 am coming to reject these
notions. It seems to me, given the long
sweep of history, that those who take
control of .their own destinies, those who
seek that sense of mastery, that sense of
control, are those who sustain and en-
hance society. It is not the other way
around.
Perhaps as never before, then, we need
to call upon our resources -- individual,
familial, community -- to provide the
framework which will get us beyond the
present mess. Instead of developing
approaches to helping ourselves and one
another, we have come to rely too much
on the Chicken Little crowd. Instead of
new opportunities, we are faced with
anxiety, uncertainty and frustration. In-
stead of bringing out the best we have to
offer, the Chicken Littles lead the way to
mediocrity. They offer a retreat from
excellence and a confirmation of all that is
mean-spirited and narrow in us. We need
to salvage those values which have
sustained and nurtured us over the years.
We need, I think, to build upon our
long-standing traditions of mutual sup-
port, co-operation and reciprocity. We
need to believe -- and to know -- that we
deserve better than the old pap the
Chicken Littles have been handing us.