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The Citizen, 1991-02-27, Page 4PAGE 4. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1991. Opinion Why not slavery? In the bottom-line world of the 1990’s nothing seems to matter to many consumers except that they get things as cheaply as possible. Speaking to the annual meeting of the Huron County Milk Committee in Brussels Thursday, John Core chairman of the Ontario Milk Marketing Board expressed his frustration with the Canadian Consumers Association (CCA) and its brief to the Canadian Dairy Task Force. While CCA officials said they didn’t begrudge Canadian dairy farmers a decent living, they insisted that dairy prices in Canada were too high, that a fair price would be the world price for dairy products, a price set by countries trying to dump their surplusses on the world market. When Mr. Core asked the CCA officials if they also thought Canadian workers should accept “world prices’’ the officials felt it was a ridiculous comparison. But one wonders if it meant that they saved on the price of a new car or a pair of shoes if Canadian consumers would glady see other workers thrown out of work or working for starvation wages. We certainly know that many Canadian consumers would willingly see their local merchants go bankrupt while they save a few dollars shopping in U.S. border cities. We know that one of the chief arguments for free trade is that the consumer will save money on things like clothing and shoes imported from third world countries where wages are a tiny percentage of what they are here. The marketplace economy has never worked in such textbook fashion as it is right now. Economic theory is that if a store on one side of the street sells something three cents cheaper than a store on the other side of the street, the consumer will cross the street to get the cheaper product. In the 1990’s the consumer will cross the street even if it’s her own grandmother that has the higher price. The greed that the marketplace is based on has never been as strong as it is today. While none of us likes to think of ourselves as greedy, likes to think for instance that only the rich are greedy, we have an outbreak of greediness that would make Scrooge like a philanthropist. Loyalty, neighbourliness, patriotism, nothing matters by comparison to saving a few cents here or there. 1 hose with money will happily beggar their neighbours to keep a few more dollars in their own pockets. But if we really believe in getting things as cheaply as possible, why don’t we just bring back slavery. After all if farmers and merchants can’t make money, they can always go out of business and go to work for the government where they can earn real money. Eventually the gravy train will end when these people get tired of working for nothing. If we could keep them as slaves, however, we could keep cheap goods coming forever. Deficit? What deficit? As the ground war in the Gulf ground on Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney indicated last week that Canada might get involved in a bigger way than we already are. He said it, of course, without first talking to Parliament (he has ignored Parliament pretty much since the start of Canada’s participation). He also said it with no apparent concern for what the war is doing to the Canadian deficit. The deficit has been used as an excuse to tackle many things on the Prime Minister’s agenda from cutting rail lines to cancelling postal subsidies to newspapers to cutting the CBC budget. Time and time again Mr. Mulroney or Finance Minister Michael Wilson tells us we must live within our means and the government can’t afford to increase its expenditures. When it comes to the Gulf War, however, nobody in the government seems to mind the cost. That Canada is spending millions to support this international effort can be supported by those who agree we must play our part. But to talk about increasing our role seems silly at a time when the coalition forces are rolling across the desert sweeping all Iraqi opposition before them. As long as the war goes well extra Canadian help seems hardly needed. The Prime Minister, however, considers it a keystone of Canadian policy to stay on the good side of the U.S. and so, deficit or no deficit, he wants to look like Canada is supporting the coalition. Wouldn’t it be nice, though, if the Prime Minister was as interested in say, fighting poverty here at home as he is in fighting in Kuwait? When it comes to that battle, however, suddenly the deficit becomes important again. People sleeping in the streets aren’t as good a cause for government spending as dead bodies half a world away. Winter’s decoration The short of it The Citizen. BY BONNIE GROPP When given the opportunity to fill this space 1 am given the opportunity to fill it however I choose. You, as the reader then have two choices: to read it or ignore it, and to agree or disagree. I am certain, however, that few of the people who attended the debate at F. E. Madill Secondary School last week, will disagree with the impressions I was left with. This is the second year I have been involved as one of the novice judges and 1 feel very fortunate to have been part. The young people who partici­ pated in the Snowbelt Regionals at Madill do their generation proud. They should be admired for the confidence, determination and hard work they put into it. When debating, these teens have no idea which side of the argument they will be presenting. Therefore, they must be prepared to back up either side by research­ ing the issue thoroughly, compiling data and gathering statistics. They have to have done their homework as the topics debated are not without controversy and conflict and can’t be treated lightly. The Regional debate this year dealt with the issue of government assistance for the family farm, a particularly topical one for Huron and Perth County students. The students are competing on their own as they also do not learn who their teammate is until shortly before the debate begins. Then they must stand up in front of three or four judges to prove or refute the topics, sometimes for as long as 10 minutes. It’s not an easy task and one that I wouldn’t relish. As the judges met prior to the debate for instructions there was a great deal of consternation that we couldn’t meet the task set before us. However, after only a few short minutes, it’s clear who sits in the easy chair. The students had worked extremely hard preparing and were capable of making their- -----—---------------------------1.------------ The Citizen is published weekly in Brussels, Ontario by North Huron Publishing Company Inc. Subscriptions are payable in advance at a rate of $20.50/year [$19.16 plus $1.34 C.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. points with conviction and confi­ dence. They had poured through material from OMAF and other sources and were therefore able to express intelligent and well thought out remarks., As in any competition there were those who stood out, but everyone of them projected a positive image. The art of debating is teaching this future generation skills that will be invaluable to them in meeting tomorrow’s challenges. They are learning the importance of under­ standing controversial and worldly issues and the value of free, open and well-reasoned discussion. They demonstrate self-respect and more importantly respect for the opinions of others. To believe in yourself and your convictions while at the same time having tolerance and the empathy to understand another’s is an admirable, but not easily acquired asset. The students I saw seem to be working in the right direction and for what it’s worth they have my admiration. P.O. Box 429, BLYTH, Ont. NOM 1H0 Phone 523-4792 P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, Ont. NOG 1H0 Phone 887-9114 Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. Editor & Publisher, Keith Roulston Production Manager, Jill Roulston Advertising Manager, Dave Williams Second Class Mail Registration No. 6968