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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-01, Page 5ORANGES 994 0z I r etters to the editor... • from page 4 allocation of funds in the provincial budget. One cannot refrain, however, from tracing this tragic development to the time when the Trudeau government proclaimed its concept of universality in health care, thereby eliminating the private insurance companies then • in. existence.' This legislation en- sured that the ,govern— ment would be the only carrier of health in- surance, and with ex- panded facilities, a level of excellence, irj.which we have all been basking, was reached. During these years of luxurious coverage, however, there was in the minds of many the inevitable threat of complete socialization of health care with all its inherent disadvantages - and contrQlS._Even with...• high taxes, OHIP premiums, and subsidies from Ottawa, it was difficult to understand how our health ministry could allow us to be ill so comfortably. It couldn't, and now after grumblings and threats to close some hospitals for the last two years or so, the boom has been lowered, and, caught in the socialistic grasp of Big Brother, we have nowhere to turn. We and the government most, nevertheless, face the situation as it now exists. Instead of giving.us no alternative but to be ill in squalor, it seems to me that our only salvation lies in the government's willingness to back down from;"its all protective, all powerful policy and allow us to take some extra financial responsibility ourselves. „. This should be in some form ' of deductable in- surance paid at the time we present ourselves for treatment in the emergency rooms or as patients 'for admission to the hospitals, _and the 11 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$•$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$sss$ . w. $ � _ =" OCC=�.� $ 17•M .= r Wa� $ 4. $ $ $$$$$$$$-$$$ amount would be dependent upon our taxable income - with those unable to pay being of course given a waiver. The increased revenue would obviously be significant, and with people taking a portion of the resnpnsibility for their own treatment, the resulting reductio° in unnecessary, claims would also lessen the government's load. Will our Ministry of Health listen and allow us to participate? If. not, I must conclude that we are, in 1979, perilously close to Orwell's concept of 1984. Yours very truly, Elizabeth Lambert Grows on her Dear Editor: Your last week's front page pictures demon- strate well one of the Points the ware im- provement supporters have made all along -the glare -of the old highway type lights and the softer illumination by the new lights, more compatible with the location. Quite frankly, at first sight the new lanterns looked a bit out of proportion on the tall poles (a necessity determined by the lighting experts) but their visual appeal grows. on me every time I look at them.1•I presume many people share this im- pression. It is not quite fair to judge a picture before it is finished. At present the sight •of the old poles interferes and the lights in the Courthouse Park are still to be installed. When it is all finished, with trees and flowers in place - then let us judge, with an open. eye and mind. Maybe it is unkind, bust I am greatly tempted to remind some of the more ardent critics of the new lights that these lanterns are the same to which they pointed as their first choice', at a meeting where- many light fix- tures were viewed... The economics of the lights are in a similar category. Highway 21 South widening (this year) requires lights which must be either bought by the Town nobody seems to be irritated by that costjor have to come from somewhere. The excess lights from Highway 8:will beused on -Highway 21. In addition, of the 24 highway type lights on •the Square, 13 will be used on Highway 21. The remaining 11 lights from the Square will be used in the Britannia Road area related to the Highway 21 widening pI'OjCCI. We cannot forget that the Highway 21 project will go ahead, no matter what happens or does not happen on the Square. All that takes place now is that suitable lights end up in_ different 'areas,. at no extra cost. In my book, that is economical realism. • The figures I have mentioned can be verified by calling the P.U.C. Manager. Those who make a career out of attacking the Square im- provements and those of us whose reflexes make us dash out in defence and explanation, start to sound like a record with the needle stuck. I must admit I would rather talk about something new. Sincerely, Elsa Haydon Wrong Dear Editor, - Since there will be a sufficient number of light standards removed from Highway No. 8 to com- plete the lighting on Hig-hway No: 21, no new light standards would have to be purchased for No`. 21 as reported in February 22 edition • of Signal Star. If and when the former light standards on the Square are removed, they will be put ."in storage"! Sincerely, Eileen Palmer. u Thanks Dear Editor, The Si'gnakStar seems to have reached us in Sydney and then Broken Hill, N.S.W. We assumed that this was a kind gesture on your part and cannot begin to tell you how pleased we were to. receiyc„ the paper "Way Down Under," Thanit-you for thinking of res and we look forward to seeing Goderich once again. Sincerely, Harry, Judy and Sarah Cieslar, Royal Flying Doctor 'Service of Australia (N.S.W. Section) Red tape Dear Editor, As a young person, whose' family have been natives to Canada for many generations, I find myself becoming more and more disillusioned with the Canadian government. Any project our government starts, gets so involved with red tape, that it ends up becoming a complete financial fiasco. No one in the government today seems to have any common sense. Right now I am ex- tremely concerned about the government's proposal to cut the beds at the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital down to 37. They ob- viously cannot have researched this idea any further than a dollars and cents sign. They could not possibly realize what this hospital means to our community, or any other small community such as this. There comes a time when money cannot ' be first on our list of priorities. The hospital in our community often IN ALL OUR FOOD DEPARTMENTS MEAT DRESSED PICNIC PORK SHOULDER $139' • LB. FRESH PORK RIBLETS 89 HOMEMADE HAM SPREAD $1 ”LB. CANADA PACKER'S CHICKEN LOAF $1 4:91.s SCHNEIDER'S SPECIALS POUCH SAUERKRAUT 892 LB. HEAD CHEESE . BOOWLS 109 COOKED HAM LUNCHEON LOAF 279 • LB. 199 • LB. CHOICE RIB STEAKS $2 5'9 LB. Prices effective Feb. 28 March 3179 PRODUCE RICH'S COFFEE RICH 16 OZ.3 1• PIEHOUSE 994 APPLE, STRAWBERRY/RHUBARB KENT ORANGE JUICE 120z. 694 TEMPLE 125's U.S.A. NO. 1 RED GRAPES 69 WHITE OR PINK GRAPEFRUIT 6 / 994 ONTARIO NO. 1 CARROTS 2 BAGS 79 4 CHOCOLATE SWISS ROLLS 4's 69' EA. s GAY LEA BUTTER 1 29 LB. $$$$$$$$$$$ CLARK'S Kernel Corn, Cream Style Corn or VEGETABLES74OZ' 4 if $ 1 SUNLIGHT LIQUID 24 OZ. DETERGENT ALLEN'S PURE 48 OZ. APPLE JUICE CRISCO OIL AYLMER 1902. TOMATOES AIR CARE SOLID AIR FRESHENER E.D. SMITH PIE FILLING APPLE OR RAISIN SUNLIGHT LAUNDRY DETERGENT 694 694 750 ML. 1 2.9 means the difference between life and death, or good health and bad health. At this point in time, Goderich has an extreme shortage of doctors. The doctors who do practice here are extremely overworked. They often have to leave town for a few days just to get some badly needed rest to preserve their own health. When this hap- pens, their patients depend . solely on the services of the hospital when a. member of their family gets sick. I have three small children aged 2 to 9 and have had to have them admitted at least• once each winter over the past five years. I would like to point out t,�hA6• I am not a native of ''tidderich. I was born and raised in .the city of Burlington where you are always within reach of good medical attention. You have only to pick up your phone any time of the day or night to reach a doctor. In Goderich this is just not the case. You often cannot get your doctor and must rush up to the hospital. It is a totally different system to that in the city! I-Iere our hospital is far more important to the welfare of the community. Government must also realize that Goderich is a 'retirement community. Many people from places such as . Kitchener and London have chosen to live -the rest of their lives in Goderich. This means that we have a greater percentage of people who soon become ' chronic bedcare patients. For this reason alone, we need more beds than some of the larger Centres. Now, I realize that money has GOT to play a big part in the running of a hospital. And no one knows better than the average housewife such as myself, what inflation must be doing to the cost of running a hospital. But gove;r'nment must realize that money can be found whereas a life lost cannot be gotten back! - If `chis entire program had been run by private insurance agents, whose livelihood depended on the proper management of it, I doubt. that it would be in the mess it is in now! As this was not the case, however, and the government is running it, it is the responsibility of the government to find intelligent ways of get- ting MORE money; not less beds. I would suggest that government revamp the whole program along the lines of they new "Baby Bonus" program that the Federal Government started this past January. Each person would be allowed a certain set amount towards the daily cost of their hospital stay. Then according to their income, they could pay from 0 to 30 percent of the total cost. Then gover- nment could leave an opening for the person with a high salary but financial difficulty to apply ,, for aid if he couldn't meet the entire percentage. As I am sure that there are a lot of people who would rather pay a part GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, MARCH 1 , 1979—PAGE 5 of the cost of their stay than lose the right to have a stay, this could be one source of income for the O.H.I.P. program. Gov ern ment!eau ld also have each county com- bine such services as labs and laundries etc. This would probably be less expensive than each hospital , having these facilities. Government could give each community the opportunity- to help raise money towards the cost of running their own • hospitals through charity dances, , walk-a-thons, bakesales, etc. Government could do so many other things to raise money to keep the hospital' beds open. Why aren't they? As a taxpaying, voting citizen of this.country, I expect governmentto listen to my opinion, and that of the other people in this comrrlu-nity who have written to them on this matter, and seriously constider changing --its mind about closing any more beds at the Alexandra Marine and • General Hospital. Sincerely Dona Baker P.S. Although the above letter was rather hastily done as I am quite busy this time of• year, it did serve to get my point across, I hope anyone who hasn't yet written„ will do so soon. I Sent a copy of this -letter to Dennis Timbrell, William Davis, Dr. Stuart Smith, • Michael Cassidy, Jack Riddell and Murray Gaunt., Anstett Jewellers LIMITED 11 ALBERT ST., CLINTON 482-3901 OPEN WEDNESDAYS F r Your Convenience HOURS: Monday through Saturday, 9 p.m.: Friday nights pill 9 p.m. luncooft rnc�ll , PRE -WASHED FLARES MOST SIZES 26-38 You've asked for it... ou've ound it!!! You have just found a rare and extraordinary offer Je Regency 594 79 • Velour in Pants, Skirts, Jackets and Tops_ 794 2 7,9 6 L. • DUNCAN HINES MOIST 'N EASY 14 OZ. CAKE MIXES 854 GREEN GIANT SPECIALS NIBLET CORN CREAM STYLE SWEET PEAS GREEN BEANS WAX BEANS LU E5 SUPERMARKET 12 8 14 0Z. 2 FOR 79 SILVERWOOD'S DELUXE ICE CREAM $ 19 • 2 LITRE 4 FLAVOURS REG. '2.35 WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIMIT QUANTITIES PRICES EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 21 to 24 SHOPPERS SQUARE GODERICH 524.9411 Denim & Corduroy in Blazers, Vests, Skirts and Pants. Also in stock Sweaters and Blouses 25°k OFF /he ' ale•;^a.: •tiv::.r,.::i::� ciotAes close ,4, 3fi North St. Shoppers -Square" r ciilerieh 524-8572 CHARC:t:X VISA OPEN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS ALL YEAR ROUND '1