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THE NEW TANNERTHURSDAY, APRIL 1, 2010 7 GRAPEVINE with Mike OLeary The Way I See It Federal and provincial budgets have been in the news recently. The figures are mind boggling to the average person. When I was younger I was used to dealing in millions of dollars in sales. Often times we could even see an actual million dollars, there was a dis- play at the Ex every year. These days, Governments tend to talk in billions. Can you even imagine what a billion dollars looks like? I cant. So when the provincial government says its $21.3-billion in the hole in the last year alone, its difficult, if not impossible, for the average per- son to comprehend that amount of money. I mean, it is bigger than a breadbox or the size of a boxcar? My point to all this musing is that government deficits are so big they become unreal. Lets look at it in terms the average person can get their head around. Lets all agree that if you were being paid $100,000 per year thats a pretty good salary. You would have to work one thousand years to earn $1-billion providing you didnt spend one cent on living expens- es or yourself. How you would survive is not the governments problem, but you could probably get a grant of some kind. Thats a story for another day. Our provincial governments deficit for the last year alone is over 21 times the example above - 21.3 thousand times the gross salary of someone making $100,000 per year gross. Gross is the right word for it. Friends, we are digging a hole for future generations that our grandchildrens grandchildren wont be able to ever pay off. And billions more will be rung up over the next eight years. Thats assuming that interest rates will not rise in the meantime. Only a fool would make that bet. A fool or Finance Minister Duncan who delivered the budget as if he be- lieved it. So whos to blame for all this debt? Look in the mirror. Each of us, to a greater or lesser degree, shares the responsibility. The more we ask/demand of govern- ment the more government will supply. And they have no com- punction about mortgaging the future in order to satisfy immedi- ate demands of the electorate. Thats how they stay in office. If you read newspapers you can find any editorial opinion to suit yours. Once upon a time news stories reflected the facts. Not so these days. In many cases items purporting to be hard news reflect the political partisanship of either the writer or the editor/ publisher. The demise of fair and honest reporting is, in my opin- ion, one of the great tragedies of our times. Full Disclosure: My column is an opinion piece. While I try to be factual, my personal political opinions sometimes seep into my columns. Am I biased? Yes, and I make no apologies for that. I do not try to camouflage this space as a hard news story. While I agree that senior gov- ernments had to intervene in the economy in order to stave off disaster, Im not at all sure they went about it the right way. The auto sector had to have a trans- fusion of cash. Far too many jobs depended on it. The domino ef- fect on other jobs would have driven the economy into depres- sion had the government allowed the auto sector to fail. I am less sure that much of the infrastructure funding the feds are announcing is saving that many jobs. I know that infra- structure projects were largely responsible for bringing the world economy out of the great depression of the 1930s. In the 30s much of the work was done by ordinary people who worked for what we would call today minimum wage. I dont see that happening today. What I do see is governments at all levels advancing projects that, while desirable, may have waited until they could have af- forded them. Nor do I buy the argument that there is free money coming in to kick-start these projects. Every time I hear that I want to ask what colour is the sky in your world? Whatever money comes from any level of government comes from one source. Taxes paid by all of us. Free my keis- ter. If governments of all stripes would just leave us with our own money then we could decide where to spend it. Obviously, we need some central taxation to maintain essential services such as water, roads, national defense and others. But to overtax us so they can turn around and rebate a portion seems ridiculous. To then try and buy our loyalty with our own money is nothing short of unscrupulous. Instead of complaining about over taxation I think we should be screaming about overspend- ing. Police Day Free transportation is being of- fered to Acton area families who want to go to the annual Police Day on May 8 in Oakville. First Student Bus Transporta- tion will provide the ride to the daylong event that offers visitors first-hand information about law enforcement through a series of interactive displays and presenta- tions. Activities include motorcycle and tactical rescue demonstra- tions, child safety seat inspections, Childrens Safety Village tours, childrens rides, a magic show and a Crime Stoppers BBQ. To register for the bus call Constable Maureen Andrew at 905-878-5511, ext. 2109 before May 4. Catholic calendar Students at Haltons Catholic schools will have 188 instructional days and six professional activity days in the 2010-2011 school year. Halton Catholic District School Board okayed the calendar last Tuesday - it still needs Ministry of Education approval. Dr. Seuss shows There will be music, drama and Dr. Seuss-themed treats at a Dr. Seuss multi-generational variety show on April 18 at 6:30 p.m., at Bethel Christian Reformed Church. Organizers said each of the short performances can be enjoyed on a number of levels with colour, hu- mour and simple lessons for the kids, infectious rhyming and bi- zarre imagination for those a little older, and applications of seem- ingly child-like stories to any adults life. For more details visit www.ac- toncrc.com Drop-in Storytimes Feel like hearing a story? Drop in at the Acton arena/community centre on Wednesdays from April 7 to May 26 at 2 p.m., for the li- brarys Storytime program. No registration is required for the free, 30-minute program for parents/caregivers with their young children who want a quick dose of stories, music and fun. For more information call 519-853- 0301 or visit www.hhpl.on.ca. Moveable feast Anyone finding it hard to cook nutritional meals for themselves should check out the local Meals on Wheels program delivered to the door on a daily basis by vol- unteers. The menu includes lighter sand- wich meals or hot three-course meals and deserts. *** There is also the option of or- dering a range of frozen meals and deserts. Orders placed on a Tuesday will be delivered on Thursday. An introductory $15 offer buys three main courses, two soups and two deserts. The frozen menu includes vegetarian meals, Chinese meals and break- fast snacks. For details about either program call Anne at 519-853-3310. Waste changes Starting today (April 1) Halton stopped collecting electronics - TVs, computer equipment, cell phones etc. - at the curb. They contain materials like steel, cop- per, aluminums and lead, which can be recycled, not put out with the garbage. Unwanted electronics can be dropped off for free (five items per trip) at the Halton Waste Management Site in Milton. Some retailers take back elec- tronic waste for recycling. Visit www.dowhatyoucan.ca/electron- ics for a list. Dont want to drive to Mil- ton? Halton will hold a special household hazardous waste drop off on April 24 at the works yard on Trafalgar Road from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items including elec- tronic equipment, pesticides, paints, motor oil, batteries and cleaners will be accepted, free of charge. *** Beginning April 7 in Acton, Halton begins its annual yard waste collections for things like leaves, brush, weeds and trim- mings. Pickup is once every other week on garbage collection days, until December 17. Yard waste in cardboard boxes will not be picked up - paper bags or green, reusable, solid-sided containers labelled yard waste must be used. Unacceptable items include grass clippings, stumps, plastic plant pots, sod, soil and rocks. Visit www.halton.ca/waste for details. Hotdog Lady is back You know it is spring when Jenny, the Hotdog Lady, returns to set up her mobile eatery in Ac- ton East. She served up hundreds of dogs and sausages a week in past years - always with a smile and a cheery interest in her loyal customers lives. Jenny kicked off the season earlier this week - much to the de- light of a steady stream of hungry people - and will begin regular lunch service on Saturday. CORRECTION During the production process last week, a decimal point was left out of a front page teaser item concerning the proposed watermain and sewer replacement in the Glenlea subdivision. The cost of the project is $7.6-million (seven point six million dollars). The New Tanner regrets the error. Follow the money, if you can ACTON PUBLIC SCHOOL - GRADE ONE - 1948: DO YOU KNOW ANY OF THESE FACES FROM THE GRADE ONE CLASS AT ROBERT LITTLE SCHOOL IN 1948? Can you help us fill in the blanks? Front Row from left: Charlie Sunter, Jim Waterhouse, Roger Lambert, David Gra- ham, Unknown (Barry Kirkness?), Bruce Andrews, Wayne Ridley, Unknown, Alan Fetterley, Willard Halliday, Donald Luxton, Unknown, Bob Agnew. Second Row: Anne Deforest, Marilyn Rognvaldson, Ruth Landsborough, Unknown, Blair Hotchen, Edith Franciscatto, Rosemary Skilling, Mary Jane Force, Carol Hansen, Joan Courtney, Beverley Price, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Judy Sargeant, Sharon Gervais. Third Row: Wayne Marshall, Chester Lewandowski, Teresa Arbic, Faye McEachern, Unknown, Betty Lemon, Blanch Walker, Yvonne McGladry, Unknown, Unknown, Lois Brown, Un- known, (Valene Varey?). Forth Row. Ms. McArthy, Bill McCoy, Eddie Sterrit, Jim Swackhamer, Unknown, Bill Greer, Donald Emmerson, Donald Cook, Ken Dodds, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown, Howard Janks, Jim Lindsay, Paul Elliott, Keith Mattocks, Miss Bentley submitted photo.