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our eyeballs." Not many Canadians would disagree with that statement. For far too long Canadians have heard politicians preach doom and gloom about the country‘s growing deficit without seeing much action from our political leaders. Instead, we‘ve heard lots of posturing and very little action. g ccording to Finance Minister Paul Martin "Canadians are in hock up to Perhaps this time it will be different. Perhaps this time the Finance Minister really means business because he seems to be preparing Canadians for the worst. But, let us not forget that a cheap political trick in the past has been to prepare taxpayers for the worst and then hit them with a less than powerful punch. That way we don‘t feel quite so bad afterwards. B First off, eliminate the Senate. It is wasteful, serves no purpose and is an embarrassment to any freeâ€"thinking country which calls itself a democracy. The Senate is nothing more than a political trough where the power of the day can provide rich rewards to long time party supporters and defeated politicians with bleak employment prospects. If the Senate were eliminated today, the government could save hundreds of millions of dollars each year without imposing any hardship to Canadian taxpayâ€" ers. Life would continue just as it had in the past when the Senate majority reflected that of the ruling government.Think about it for a minute. The Finance Minister is pleading poverty and saying it‘s high time government spending was reduced. What better place to start than the Senate. In our view, they have been receiving far too much for doing far too little for far too long. But if the Finance Minister is really serious about cutting the deficit, we have a few suggestions where he could start â€" in his government‘s own backyard. _ Okay, so now that we‘ve abolished the Senate let‘s get rid of those fat fullyâ€" indexed pensions that exâ€"MPs are currently enjoying at our expense. Totally eliminating pensions to MPs would be unduly harsh, but let‘s bring them on line with those of everybody else. Put an age limit on when MPs can receive their pensions and eliminate the shameful and expensive habit of double dipâ€" ping. And since the government will probably limit old age pensions to those on lower income levels, let‘s do the same with MPs‘ pensions. Afterall, why should Canadian taxpayers be shelling out a hefty pension to exâ€"Prime Minister Brian Mulroney when he is gainfully employed by several American firms. That‘s adding insult to injury. Next, take a wide swath at all government perks, including heavily subsiâ€" dized cafeterias, and frivolous trade junkets to exotic holiday destinations. _ Dear Sir: I‘d like to make a complaint about the geese in Bronte...not the feathered kind, but the type that is found behind the wheel during rush hour. ‘ We are not naive enough to believe that Canada‘s massive debt can be elimiâ€" nated simply by these measures. However, we believe that if the government senously expects Canadians to accept massive cuts on social programs, then it must reâ€"examine the way it wastes money on running the country. ‘ The Finance Minister and his government cannot seriously believe Canadians will accept hardships being thrust upon themselves without seeing their government leaders doing the same. Before Canadians will be ready to tighten another notch or two in their belts, they must first see some spending restraint from the ruling government â€" and not cosmetic changes like freezes on MP salaries, but extreme measures such as the ones mentioned above. Eooo oi i tnCmm Common sense could relieve Bronte traffic congestion I must surmise that the drivers‘ licenses of these "geese" was achieved during the Jurassic period or, perhaps, was obtained in the vilâ€" lage of Hornby where to impede traffic was possibly the concern over the right of way of a dinosaur, or in the latter reference, perhaps, an We believe Canadians are willing to follow a deficit cutting strategy, all they need is a little leadership to guide them there. Some deficit cutting suggestions Source: The Canadian Gardener overloaded hay wagon. I refer to the intersection of Bronte Road and Lakeshore Road. If one is southbound on Bronte Road and desires to make a rightâ€"hand turn, one may do so on a red light, if there is no oncoming traffic from Lakeshore Road which is enjoying the green light; hence, the yield sign posted on the right laneway. However, if one happens upon a green light and wishes to turn right, it is not necessary to stop, and give way to those turning left from northâ€" Politics and perceptions can be brutal There has not been an impartial, objective and balanced article coverâ€" ing the Pomeroy affair to be able to form an informed opinion about it. I‘ve read an awful lot of fanfare surrounding this individual and his wife from the local press but no real facts â€" no real truths â€" only allegaâ€" tions. It is true that every citizen of Canada has a legal right to a presumpâ€" tion of innocence. What is less clear is Dear Sir: Congratulations are in order for your editorial ‘Long Overdue‘, Oct. 5th. You state succinctly what needs to be stated, and it would behoove the government to take the same stance and pass Bill Câ€"256 as soon as possible. Billâ€"256 editorial on target bound Bronte Road. You have the right of way peoâ€" ple! There are two lanes on Lakeshore Road, one to facilitate both right and left turns from Bronte Road. I beep at you when you stop and back traffic up to Rebecca and beyond because you don‘t underâ€" stand the basic rules of the road. Get yourself a driver‘s handbook and study up! Much has been said about the building of another bridge over Bronte Creek because of the traffic whether a politician can uphold this legal right amidst media perceptions that effectively portray him/her in a scandalous fashion. Standards are much higher for elected officials and the presumption of innocence lasts only until a formal indictment is made. At that point, innocence is replaced by a perception of scandal and the media takes over. The media have always believed that perception is reality â€" it‘s what sells newspapers. One has to wonder The Oakville Beaver welcomes your comments. All letters must be signed and include the writer‘s address and phone number. Letters should be typed, doubleâ€"spaced and addressed to: Letters to the Editor, The Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Rd., Oakville, Ont. L6K 3$4 4 The Oakville Beaver, published every Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, at 467 Speers Rd., Ian Oliver Publisher Oakuile, is one of the Metroland Printing, Publishing Distributing Lid. group of suburbann newspapers which includes: Ajaxâ€"Pickering News Advertiser, Barrie Advance, Brampton Robert Glasbey Advertising Director | Guardian, Buflinglon Post, Collingwood Connection, Etobicoke Guardian, Georgetown Independent‘ Acion Free Press, Kingston This Week, Lindsay This We rkham e ®* Norman Alexander Editor andoun S;geuflvii{:/ijbriéng%sfiri‘buw, Migh cné?npio?fimgiassauga peers Road, Oakville, Ont. L6K 354 Geoff Hill Circulation Director News, Newmarketâ€"Aurora Eraâ€"Banner, North_York Mirror, Oakville Beaver, ‘Orilia Today, 845â€"3824 Fax: 845â€"3085 Teri Casas Office M or ggtgalwrmbyr ThlsM\iI:I'g?k Peterborough This Week, Richmond HilVThomhilWaughan Classified Advertising: 845â€"2809 o All material published in the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Any reproduction in Circulation: 845â€"9742 or 845â€"9743 Tim Coles Production Manager whole or in part of this material is strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, wil not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categori i ising. In the even i i Betty A. Hansford congestion at this intersection. I conâ€" clude that most of the traffic‘s failure to move smoothly is because of peoâ€" ple not using common sense. Note to the Traffic Department at the Town of Oakville...install a flashing advance green for the southbound traffic...even those too stupid enough to stop and think about the green light may realize they can turn, once they have exclusive permission to do so. if Pomeroy will have justice anymore than O.J. will south of the border. I have a bigger problem with the byâ€"law which permits the loophole of retaining an endless stream of the best lawyers in the province to be covered by the taxpayer than I do with the indiâ€" vidual utilizing this provision. What happens in the event this individual is found guilty and cannot cover legal fees incurred? Who pays then? On the flip side, I wonder how redeeming the media and all those casâ€" tigating Pomeroy today will be, should he be exonerated of all charges. We should remember that this is also a possibility and Pomeroy could return with a vengeance to wreak havoc on those who reeled havoc on his career. When you really get down to it, poliâ€" tics and perceptions can be brutal and unrelenting. Yeah, I live on the west side. Wendy Hiltemann WHAT EVER HAPPENED To THE LONE RANGER? , Robert Glasbey Advertising Director Norman Alexander Editor Geoff Hill Circulation Director Teri Casas Office Manager Tim Coles Production Manager by Steve Nease Roman Bandi Dear Sir: I really enjoy your fresh and wise insight each time I open your paper and your boldness to take a stand on promoting family values in a time when these ideas aren‘t always "politically correct." â€"â€"_ LETTER OF THE DAY _ ‘Stayâ€"atâ€" home mothers should be rewarded financially I wish to applaud your stance entitled "long overdue" (Oakville Beaver, Oct. 5th) referring to Bill Câ€"256 proposing compensation to spouses working in the home c?nno for preâ€"school children. I sent my first born to Grade 1 this year with sadness and trepiâ€" dation. Those six years were wonderful, exhausting, frustrating, exciting, lonely, heartwarming, financially tight, but tremendously rewarding. I would not give those years up for anything. I was privâ€" ileged to be able to be there for them whenever they needed me. An encouraging new trend has shocked the demographers and social experts. Large numbers of women are leaving the workplace and making sacrifices required to stay home while their children are young. The latest findings in a recent issue of the business jourâ€" nal "Barron‘s" flatly contradicts claims that nannies and daycare centers are replacing family members in the childâ€"rearing years. Instead, many moms are choosing to handle this privileged and temporary responsibility themselves. Women report being fedâ€"up with the harried, exhausted chaotic lifestyle that often characterizes the twoâ€"career family. Secondly, many are realizing that very little money is left after taxes, childâ€" care, and related expenses. By the time a women pays for everyâ€" thing from pantyhose to transportation, working could become an expensive hobby. There are millions of mothers throughout North America, who would like nothing better than to quit their jobs and raise their own children, but they are still unable to do so. They simply must work outside the home in order to survive financially. I am very sympaâ€" thetic to this great host of women. There is an unbridled taxation that is hurting our families. Huge numbers of wives and mothers are forced into the workplace because of the wasteful taxâ€"andâ€"spend policies in Ottawa. What incredible damage is being done by our selfâ€"serving politicians. Have you ever wondered how our parents‘ generation could afford the mother who chose to stay at home? According to the Fraser Institute, the three levels of government took 22% of the average Canadian family‘s income in taxes in 1960. By 1992, the figure had risen to 47%. In fact, for those families earning between $25,000 and $45,000/year, the figure reached 75% in 1990. It‘s no wonder that, in all but the privileged classes, there is pressure to help their families survive economically. My wish is for our government to reward women, who choose to work inside the home, nurturing and caring for our future generâ€" ations, by not only lifting the tax burden, but also, by financially compensating them in some way. Lt ad ie N L is P After all, to quote you, Mr. Editor, "We have freed up jobs for someone else, taken a huge burden off the social service network, kept children clear of many social problems that cost us all money and wasted lives, volunteer for worthwhile groups, and have been a boom to Canadian Society." Yes, we are a "largely unrecognized asset that has saved all levâ€" els of government millions of dollars in support programs they don‘t need." I couldn‘t have said it better myself. A letter of similar nature will be sent to MP Bonnie Brown. I urge people to contact her and let her know how they feel about this proposed bill. Happy to be home. Laura Morrison October 19, 1994