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The Citizen, 1991-01-09, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1991. Earning respect There’s no doubt our politicians aren’t getting the respect they deserve these days as Canadians, fed up with this or that leader, dump on every politician in sight. Still, our politicians certainly don’t do anything to help themselves. Take the news that federal MPs have voted to exempt themselves from paying GST on office supplies after foisting the unwanted tax on the rest of us. It was a stunningly stupid move that only added to the cynicism abroad in the land. Politicians are regulars in this kind of silliness that makes a small situation into something much bigger. While they preach restraint to the rest of us, for instance, they often give themselves pay increases that more than cover the cost of living. While indexed pensions for those of us in the private sector are not possible for actuarial reasons, politicians give themselves pensions that increase according to the cost of living. Politicians, not wanting to raise the ire of the public, hide many parts of their salary. Ontario M.P.P.s, for instance, get a salary of $57,922. But of that, $14,548 is tax-free making it the equivalent of a $65,000 salary for ordinary mortals. That’s for ordinary M.P.P.s, but ordinary M.P.P.s end up being in short supply. Of 130 M.P.P.s, 102 earn extras for such things as being party whips (there are three parties and 10 whips) or Parliamentary Assistants (each getting $9,808 extra). The goodies for being part of the government party are better than the opposition of course because there are more jobs like Parliamentary Assistants to be had. All 73 NDP members get some extras. But even opposition MPPs get in on the gravy train. The base salary only pays for when the house is in session (about 26 weeks a year). In the other half of the year if the member sits on a committee, he/she gets $78 per day. Out of town M.P.P.s get an annual rent subsidy of $13,116 to offset the cost of having to keep a residence in Toronto as well as in the home riding. There’s also travel allotments (52 free trips by economy class flights to the home riding), and dozens of other perks of office. All these things never get mentioned whenever salaries are mentioned. Politicians would gain much more respect if they were open and honest in such things and if they applied the same kind of logic to themselves that they expect of others. No doubt politicians can find hundreds of reasons to give themselves little bonuses like exemptions from income tax or the GST but so can the rest of us. Politicians must work harder to restore respect to their profession by setting good examples and by being honest and above board with what they do get. What alternatives? As the January 15 deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait draws nearer, many people in Canada and elsewhere wonder why. we should get ourselves involved in a war on the other side of the world. A recent poll showed only a little more than a third of Canadians support our taking part in an international effort to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. There are lots of reasons for doubts. There is the worry that we’re being manipulated by multi-national oil companies into helping them secure Kuwait’s oil supplies, 10 per cent of known world reserves. There’s the worry of many Canadians that we’re being sucked in to another U.S. macho exhibition of military power. There’s the worry not only about the loss of lives as thousands of soldiers but of innocent civilians. There’s the worry about the environmental catastrophe of huge oil fields left billowing black smoke. There are dozens of reasons not to go to war. And yet what is the alternative if Suddam Hussein refuses to back down? Yes we can and should wait longer hoping economic sanctions will work but if they don’t, and if Hussein refuses to use common sense and continues to feel justified in occupying a neighbour, what then? Do we let him win, demonstrate that aggression does pay? Do we send the signal that military might win and that people are so afraid of war they’ll back down from even the most flagrant aggression? The world has a remarkable opportunity to start laying the ground work for a new peaceful era. The almost-total opposition to Iraq’s invasion could send a signal that the United Nations really is united against war and nations will act together to prevent it. But ironically, to prevent war those nations may have to prove they’re ready to go to war. We must do everything we can to prevent war but wishing won’t make it go away. In the long run we may have no choice but to use the combined might of the United Nations forces to drive the aggressor back to his own land. x Open water Letter to the editor Kids have to be comfortable with sexuality THE EDITOR, I found the articles by Bonnie Gropp on Oct. 10/90 “Things haven’t changed for Teens’’ and “Garbage Goddess strikes again” of Dec. 15/90 to be very contradic­ tory. On one hand she is pointing out that we have to better educate our children about sex and on the other hand, we have to limit that teach­ ing to stay within certain aspects of human sex or sexuality. She is quite correct that we have to teach our children about birth control, how to prevent the spread of diseases, and the mechanics of sex, but. we also have to make them feel comfortable with their sexuality, no matter what it may be. There is more to sex than just heterosexual activity and procre­ ative, missionary-style intercourse. It is obvious that any display of sexuality is unacceptable especially when done by a woman (the Garbage Goddess) and should be suppressed. There is a great fear of exposing kids to sexuality because we feel they aren’t old enough to handle it or it may influence them. Genetics and their bodies are giving them quite a different message. Displays of bisexuality and homosexuality (Madonna’s video) are not about to influence anyone to one particular behaviour. These are genetic qualities that are characteristic to the human spe­ cies. It is when you try to suppress their sexuality or alter their in­ stincts that lead to a host of other problems. It’s no wonder that violence and disrespect among the young is escalating at an alarming rate. The teaching of feminine roles, along with the suppressive and regressive sexjial attitudes changes women from being very confident with themselves at age 11 to being very insecure by age 16. This is not just a female problem. The same thing is being (Jone to men as well. Men and women are taught to be “different” when apart from the physical characteristics, they are basically the same. And this leads to a multitude of problems. Continued on page 5 The Citizen. P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. N0M 1H0 Phone 523-4792 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $2O.5O/year ($19.16 plus $1.34 G.S.T.] ($40.00 Foreign]. Advertising is accepted on the condition that in the event of a typographical error, only that portion of the advertisement will be credited. Advertising Deadlines: Monday, 2 p.m. - Brussels; Monday, 4 p.m. - Blyth We are not responsible for unsolicited newscripts or photographs. Contents of The Citizen are © Copyright. Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. 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