The Rural Voice, 1992-02, Page 45PERTH
Matt Crowley, President, R. R. 1, Gadshill NOK 1J0 393-5716
PCFA Office 229-6430
* The Rural Voice is provided to farmers
in Perth County by the PCFA
County Federation of Agriculture NEWSLETTER
A DEMOCRACY MIRED IN "PROCESS"
Following a recent rural planning meet-
ing, I was asked by a workshop leader,
"Were you satisfied with the process?"
"Yes," I answered. 'The process was
fine, but I came for the substance."
As I thought about it more, I realized
that our society has a growing preoccupa-
tion with "the process,"to the extent that the
original goal, the substance, the concrete
action, is often diminished or completely
overshadowed.
One of the most important examples of
this phenomenon is our own Canadian
constitutional negotiations. After the
Meech Lake debate, the government sent
commission after commission across the
country to take the pulse of the nation.
Surely this was an attempt to bolster our
faith in the democratic system. The demo-
cratic process, after all, is one of the most
basic tenets of Canadian society. However,
all we have really seen is a "made-for-tv"
version of the democratic process, entirely
missing the answers to our constitutional
dilemma. If the government wanted to tune
in to the pulse of the nation, why did it not
simply tune in CBC radio for a few months?
Taxpayers would have been spared the fi-
nancial burden of $6-$90 million per com-
mission.
Furthermore, we democratically elect
MPs and MPPs whose responsibility is to
listen to their constituents and relay that
information to the policy -makers in their
respective Houses of Parliament. Since an
MP talking to a person on a downtown street
does not make for exciting news coverage,
there is a perceived need to embellish the
democratic process with lights and cam-
eras. Our American neighbours are masters
at such embellishments. Consider recent
examples such as the Clarence Thomas
inquiry and the Kennedy rape trial. The
substance suffers.
Another example of process overshad-
owing substance is the movement toward
"political correctness." It certainly would
be a welcome change if racism, sexism and
religious discrimination were to simply
disappear. Far too often, though, remarks
are only stifled when microphones are on,
and politically correct policy written boldly
PERTH COUNTY
FEDERATION OF AGRICULTURE
FEBRUARY MEETING
Thursday, February 27, 1992
Contact a Director or the Office
for time and •lace.
on corporate letterhead does not translate
into any social improvement, for we cannot
legislate attitude.
When taken to extremes, political cor-
rectness has the potential to become new-
age McCarthyism.
It has already led to blatant reverse
discrimination in the Ontario government's
hiring policy.
The recent first ministers' conference
on the economy was yet another example of
living for the process. Ideas toted in brief-
cases to the conference were not new.
Anything accomplished could surely have
been accommodated by a conference call,
with substantial savings to the taxpayer.
This meeting was done for show. The first
ministers wanted to appear to be doing
something about the economy.
Canada is poised for a major economic
restructuring, following more than a decade
of massive debt accumulation. Any real
action to reduce the deficit will also lower
the standard of living for a number of years
and alienate voters. The very tough deci-
sions which must be made for the good of
Canada are the same ones which will likely
cost a government its power. (Ironically,
this is similar to the circumstances which
cost Mikhail Gorbachev his job.) We do
still have one of the highest standards of
living anywhere, and are the envy of much
of the world, so why would we ever allow
this nation to fall apart?
When discussing the economy, many
complain about the high value of our dollar,
invariably alluding to the difficulties of
exporting goods. Rarely is it mentioned that
a high dollar is also an international vote of
confidence for our country; its wealth of
natural resources, its food production ca-
pacity, its racial tolerance, and its history of
political stability. A positive attitude is re-
quired to kindle constructive action.
Are the ever -thickening layers of gov-
ernment and preoccupation with process
Perth County Farm Show
February 18, 19 & 20
Come visit the Federation booth
MEMBERSHIP BLITZ
March 2 to 13
Roger George & Carl Sulliman will be
in the county for a kick-off and some
farmer visits.
Any member wishing to help with this
drive, contact your director or the office
simply signs of a maturing democracy, or a
mischievous bureaucracy which does not
want to work itself out of a job? (Surely the
architects of process love to tailor new pir
stripes for the emperor.) To be fair, altema
fives to this natural progression of a demo-
cratic system are not particularly savory,
i.e.: the undemocratic system. But we need
real work, real desire and real action to keep
this country unified and economically vi
able.
First, we should greatly value our lives
as Canadians. We are still a very fortunate
people. Let us encourage more free votes in
Parliament so that our MPs truly represent
their constituents, not just the party whip.
Let us encourage government to open jobs
to each and every qualified Canadian, not
just those who fulfill employment equity
quotas. We should take heart that agricul-
ture is one of the most important aspects of
any economic recovery for Canada, for it is
our industry which actually creates wealth,
not merely shuffles currency from desk to
desk. We must ensure that politicians un-
derstand this, for without anational food se-
curity policy, even great countries are
doomed to failure. Lastly, more attention
should be paid to what may be judged as
correct by history rather than what is politi-
cally correct in this very small space in
time.0
John Drummond
farmers working
for farmers"
NEEDS
YOU!
AS A MEMBER
MARCH 2--13
SPRING
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE
Huron — 482-9642
Perth — 229-6430
FEBRUARY 1992 41