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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, February 6, 1990 -- 7 WHAT NEXT FOR THE USSR Now that the good citizens of Moscow can spend their hard-earned rubles on such western gastronomical delights as a D5 Mac, double fries and large Coke, one is tempted to suggest that the universe is finally un-folding as it shoul : Lenin (wherever he is) must have turned slight- ly one fine morning last week when the first ever McDonalds Restaurant opened its doors in down- town Moscow. Ah, yes, now that the Golden Arches are cast- ing their gilded shadow across the cobble-stones of Red Square, we can now say with a degree of cer- tainty that the Cold War is finally over. When the boys of the Politburo are burning the mid-night oil behind the Kremlin walls trying to come to grips with the problems facing the USSR, it's nice to know that when the hunger pangs strike, they can just pick up the phone (not the red one) and order in McNuggets and double cheese- burgers. What's next for the USSR? Oprah on state TV? California-style surfers on the banks of the Neva River? Country clubs in the 'burbs? Baseball, hot dogs and Miller Lites? Jack Daniels? Moscow has endured for centuries; turned back countless hordes of invading armies at the gates, survived famine, plague, the Czars, Lenin's revolution and Stalin's Gulag. Can this city survive the ultimate invasion of the Big Mac Attack. Good question. Was it just co-. incidence that the day McDonalds was opening in Moscow, George Bush was calling for substantial Viewpoint by John B. McClelland George is no dummy. He knows that American culture now has more than just a firm toe-hold. If ou can't beat 'em. in the trenches, send in the Big acs. Karl Marx (remember him) must be shud- dering in his grave. Seriously, the opening of a McDonalds in Mos- cow won't do much to help the USSR through its crisis. But symbolically, the importance simply can't be measured in terms of ending the idiotic Cold War and arms race that has sapped and drained the economy of both east and west for the last 40 years. OH, THE TRAIN "Not a Sentimental Journey" is the title of a lit- tle book that came off the presses January 15, the same day about half of the VIA train routes in this country went down the tubes. The book is actually a collection of newspaper articles, Commons debates, cartoons, and state- ments about the butchering of the VIA passenger service in this country. It was edited and compiled by Jo Davis, who is connected with the Turnaround Decade Group, an organization devoted to environmental economic issues. As might be expected, the book carries a strong message: namely that the cuts in VIA ser- vice were wrong for this country, and will hurt this country in both the short and long run. | have been reading bits and pieces of this book for the last week or so, and | have found it most interesting. One very fascinating section deals with the ec- onomic impact of the VIA cuts. The government's argument for these cuts has been purely economic. The direct subsidy paid to VIA will be reduced from $641 million in 1988 to $350 million Ly 1993, which looks like a direct sav- ings of tax dollars of about $1 billion over these five years. Not so, says Dr. Roy George, a professor of business at Dalhousie University. He really crunches the numbers, so to speak, and puts forward a quite convincing argument that the actual savings will be much, much less than that. He adds in the cost of UIC for laid-off VIA em- ployees; added congestion at federally-operated airports, loss of revenue for CN and CP, cost of re- training VIA employees, loss of tourist. dollars, even is cost of fixing roads due to additional cars and uses. In his analysis, the actual five year saving won't be $1 billion, but $695 million, or $140 million per year. That is 1/1666th of the current $30 billion an- nual federal deficit. Is this worth tearing apart a nation's passenger rail service, he asks. The book is not pleasant reading. As a Canadi- an, | felt a sense of shame that this country, found- ed by the railroad, settled by the railroad, is now the only western nation on the face of the planet that troop reductions in Europe. (Turn to page 8) Remember When? 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 8, 1945 Another box was packed at the Red Cross meeting on Scugog for overseas. Word has been received from Merle Dowson and Roy Hum- phrey of their safe arrival overseas. At the meeting of the YPU on Monday evening, Mr. McClellan, principal of the Port Perry High School was guest speaker and gave an informative and interesting talk on "What to Expect in Post-War Education." 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 10, 1955 In family doubles Bob Vernon walked away with the men's prize for high bowling with 603 (242, 205) ; Chuck Bathie was se- cond high with 586 (223, 215). Evelyn Stata was high lady with 575 (231) and Eleanor Cawker second with 546 (200). School students at Epsom started on Monday in the Sunday School rooms after a week's holiday following the fire. Repair work has started on the school house. A novel idea to raise funds for the Lions' Charity work which started last year is being staged again this year. The Tiny Tot Contest in connection with the Ministrel Show is now in progress and you are asked to contribute your votes (dimes, nickles, quarters, what have you?) to your favourite tiny tot in the contest. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 11, 1960 The Initiation was held in our Lodge Room on February 2, when the degree was conferred on Sister Charlotte Forder of Port Perry and Sister Rose Killey of Brougham. The "Tops" Club sponsored a euchre in the hall on Satur- day evening. 20 tables were played and the following were win- ners: Ladies - C. Reesor, J. Bain. Gents - Art Ashmore, Vic Larocque. Door Prizes - Mrs. McTaff and Harry Morris. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, February 11, 1965 Anna Forder and Richard Stephens, the young Port Perry skating couple, made a very creditable showing by winning a third place in the Canadian Figure Skating Championships held in Calgary last week. Mr. James Adderley, Bigelow Street, Port Perry, has been named Chief Steward and Business Canteen Manager for Branch 419, Royal Canadian Legion. Congratulations to Brian Mountjoy on obtaining honours in Grade 8 piano. He is a pupil of Mrs. Lorne Thompson. (Turn to page 12) Letters ri Preserve small town atmosphere To the Editor: As a newcomer to town, I find it interesting reading letters "to the Editor" with such opposite views on future development in Port Perry. Donald Tansley's "Smaller is Better" (Jan. 9) and Elsie Valentino's 'What a Great Town" (Jan. 30) verses Mark Hamilton's letter (Jan. 30) and others advocating aggressive growth. Growing up in a community of 10,000 residents, my wife and I witnessed our town grow to a ci- ty of 120,000 by the time we had reached adulthood. We ultimate- ly felt some resentment over the major changes forced onto our lifestyle. After long debate we decided to return to small town (Port Perry) to enable us (and our children) to reap the benefits of a small community once again. Wishes to extend his thanks To the Editor: Regarding the separate teachers strike but regardless of the issues, may I express my ad- miration to E. Waddelmayer and his family, your paper, Jan. 30. A very meaningful expression of self pride, appreciation for the basics and, to borrow a phrase from your paper, "Nobody Owes You A Living," - regardless of one's position in life. I extend compliments and good wishes to the Waddelmayers. A. Grant, Port Perry. If you, like Elsie, enjoy "Hellos"' on the street and the other pleasures of small town life, then keep a lid on.any major growth. If you are willing to accept the side effects of a larger communi- ty (i.e. increased traffic and stoplights, greater pollution, 'higher crime rate, longer line-ups at your stores, loss of small town identity, etc.) then growth should receive your approval. However, as "small towners,"' I suggest you first talk to some "originals" of communities like Markham or Unionville. You will today, I am told, have to go to small towns such as Uxbridge or Claremont (or Port Perry?) to find many of them. There are lots of cities out there if you prefer ci- ty life, but please let the rest of us try to preserve one of the few Smile For The Day towns left within reach of '"'Hogtown."' Sincerely, Jim Bradbury, Port Perry. Bankrupt law is not Canadian To the Editor: In 'Viewpoint' of January 23rd, John McClelland's righteous in- dignation led him into error. Writing about the Campeau bankruptcy he wrote, 'Only trou- ble is, the little guys. like you and (Turn to page 10) "OH, STOP BEEFING, WHEN YOU MADE YOUR DEPOSIT YOU KNEW THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL PENALTY FOR EARLY WITHDRAWAL." a a AN 1