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6 ·The IFP· Halton Hills ·Tuesday, January 3, 2012 OPINION 2012: More or less With 2012--the Year of the Dragon-- now upon us, we cast our glance forward with the hope we will see less, or more, of the following: More: Civic involvement. Residents fighting the proposed Highway 4-3 Option in south Halton Hills, stating their views on the planned arenas (both for and against) and aiding the hospital reno project were encouraging signs even though past municipal election turnouts were not. Less: Rob and Doug Ford. Toronto's less than dynamic brotherly duo seem less appealing, and effective, when the spotlight is on them. More: Compelling television. Is it just us or is there an abysmal amount of wasted air time (i.e. Sun TV, reality shows)? Less: Carnage on Halton roadways. Far too many accidents. Far too many drivers stopped for impaired driving. Just too much bad driving overall. Less: Big ticket spending by the Town. We're in the process of adding (or added) two new libraries, taken steps towards two (potentially three) new ice surfaces and put money towards the hospital project. This, just after building/improving the Town's three fire halls. All worthy projects to be sure, but these buildings cost money and there isn't much development dough rolling in. More: Development/industrial dough... particularly from the 401 Corridor. Less: Flip-flopping by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty. More: Personality from PC Leader Tim Hudak More: Andrea Horwath (but less NDP). Less: Stephen Harper soundbites, Bob Rae blathering, graffiti, Peter MacKay fibbing, break-ins, concussions, downsizing, stock market plunges, debt. More: Good health and happiness to all our readers. 905-873-0301 Publisher: Ken Nugent General manager: Steve Foreman (sforeman@theifp.ca) Retail advertising manager: Cindi Campbell (ccampbell@theifp.ca) Managing editor: John McGhie (jmcghie@theifp.ca) Distribution manager: Nancy Geissler (ngeissler@theifp.ca) Classifieds Kristie Pells (classified@theifp.ca) Accounting Rose Marie Gauthier Editorial Cynthia Gamble: News editor (cgamble@theifp.ca) Ted Brown: Photography (tbrown@theifp.ca) Lisa Tallyn: Staff writer (ltallyn@theifp.ca) Eamonn Maher: Staff writer/sports (emaher@theifp.ca) Letters policy Letters must include an address and daytime phone number. Anonymous letters will not be published. Letters should not exceed 150 words and may be edited for content and/or length. Publication is not guaranteed. Email: jmcghie@theifp.ca Steve Nease Mail or drop off: Independent & Free Press, 280 Guelph St., Unit 29, Georgetown, ON., L7G 4B1. Letters to the editor Driving impaired not worth the cost Dear editor, I read the article and editorial in the December 22 edition. I believe the person who blew over the legal limit by four and half times should have their name published in the paper. My only concern was the use of the word "drunk" in the editor's note. If the average impaired driver thought they were "drunk" they likely would not get behind the wheel. It takes the average male takes two hours to eliminate a standard drink from their body. If you are going to have a drink you should not get behind the wheel. Anyone, who blows between 50-80 mg will get a warn range suspension; first offence you lose your licence for three days, second offence you lose your licence for seven days, plus you need to complete the Back on Track Remedial Measures program eight-hour course. With a third offense in five years you lose your licence for 30 days and must complete the 16-hour course. Impaired drivers blowing 80 mg and over need to pay the $675 Back on Track Remedial Program fee, $150 reinstatement fee and have the Interlock device in their car for nine months or longer, with a cost of installation and a monthly monitoring fee. If these programs are a "tax grab" as so many people love to tell me, then perhaps if everyone learned to have an alternative plan to get home after even having one drink these programs would no longer exist. I am sure the police would rather be investigating other criminal activities instead of doing the RIDE program, however, even this program is a necessity as long as you decide that you are different from everyone else and can have a drink and get behind the wheel. So please, for 2012, let's see if we can make Halton Hills have the lowest impaired charges. If you are having even one drink DO NOT choose to get behind the wheel and drive. Nolle Ohashi, Georgetown Sure, you can say "charges have not been proven in court", but honestly, no one pays attention to that. All people remember is the name, the picture, and the crime. Take a minute and imagine that you have been accused of a horrendous crime of which you are innocent, and your name and photo are published in the newspaper. Imagine how that would affect you. But nothing will change, because unfortunately, this is the stuff that sells papers (and yes, I appreciate the irony that your newspaper is free). Derek Bridge, Terra Cotta WEB POLL RESULTS (Go to www.independentfreepress.com) Which new year's resolution are you most likely to try and commit to? · Lose weight (33%) · Reduce personal debt (32%) · Exercise more (25%) · Quit smoking (11%) · Volunteer (0%) Crossword fan thanks Concept Dear editor, As a dedicated cruciverbalist, I was delighted to see a crossword puzzle in The Independent & Free Press recently. Thanks to you and Concept Ford for helping to feed my habit. Betty Hagen, Georgetown (Editor's note: Concept Ford will be running a crossword puzzle in its weekly ad every Thursday. The answers can be found online at www.conceptford.com) View is flawed Dear editor, After reading your Dec. 22 editorial Flawed thinking, I am of the opinion that it is the newspaper industry that is guilty of flawed thinking. In this country, you are innocent until proven guilty. By publishing an accused person's name in the newspaper, you have effectively found them guilty in the court of public opinion. The Independent & Free Press The Independent & Free Press is published Tuesday and Thursday and is one of several Metroland Media Group Ltd. community newspapers. Editorial and advertising content of The Independent & Free Press is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited.