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wp" 8 -- Scugog Citizen ~ Tuesday, August 30, 1994 co-publishers : John B. McClelland, Valerie Ellis editor : john B. McClelland advertising manager . Valene Ellis advertising sales : Chris Hudson Gon accounting : Sibylle Warren reception : Janet Rankin production : Tanya Mappin feature writer | Heather McCrae "Proved Canaan, prov to call Scugog Township home." 36 WATER ST, PORT PERRY, ONT. L9L1)2 Phone : (905) 985-6397 Fax : (905) 985-1410 OCNA Member CCNA Member Eva =r CCNA Verified Circulation Comtrolled " EE published by Scugog Citizen Publishing Ltd. THE SCUGOG CITIZEN an independently owned and operated weekly community newspaper, is distributed, free of charge, to over 12,000 homes and businesses in and around Scugog Township Subscriptions sold outside Scugog Township EDITORIAL Does this sound like taxpayer Utopia by Paul Pagnuelo It's considered one of the most credit worthy countries in the world. Its unemployment rate is almost non-existant--somewhere between two and three per cent. It boasts low taxes, low inflation, and streets that are twice as safe as Canada's. It has the second highest standard of living in the world, and because of its bright future, the Economist magazine just called it the best place in the world in which to live. Does this sound like a taxpayers Utopia? Who runs this country, anyway? What kind of politicians live here and what kind of salary and pension benefits are needed to attract such qualified leaders? Last year, the people actually agreed to an increase in the gasoline tax The country is Switzerland and everyday people are running the place The Swiss have used referendums to control their politicans since 1848. This industrialized country has achieved a political and economic climate that is envied by other nations. The relative harmony in Switzerland provides a valuable model for Canadians, especially when one considers that Switzerland has four national languages. Switzerland is a citizen state. Non partisan, everyday people, through direct democracy are allowed to make the decisions that affect their lives. In fact, the Swiss parliament cannot pass any laws until the people have the opportunity to decided whether they will vote. If a petition with 50,000 signatures is gathered, the issue must be put to a vote. The results of the vote are binding on the government. If the law is not challenged, it comes into effect. Anyone who wants to institute a new law can initiate a nation-wide binding vote on any issue by collecting 100,000 signatures. . When these nation-wide votes take place, the government has the right to put forward a counter-proposal. Essentially, the people can either choose the citizen-initiated proposal or the government's version, or reject both of them. This binding provision makes all the difference--witness the non-binding 1991 balanced budget vote in Saskatchewan where 80 per cent of voters asked for such legislation and the government has been able to ignore the voice of the people So, how will our politicians oppose these kind of proven reforms? They will argue that the average citizen is "not qualified" to make complex and important decisions Do you really buy that? A hundred years ago, representative democracy may have made more sense. It took weeks to communicate from one end of the land to another, people had less education and less knowledge of government. Canadians now have enough experience with governments to be very sophisticated in the opinions they hold and the decisions they make. Governments have increasingly got in their way, on their backs and into the wallets every chance they had, and taxpayers have learned more about "governing" every step of the way. ) Governments have also provided some services that people have come to value and are willing to pay for Technological advances have given us tremendous power to learn about and discuss public issues instantly Politicians, in an about-face from their usual antics, will also argue that direct democracy is costly. The truth is that referendums do not pose an added.cost--simply a transfer of priorities. There is one simple reason why politicians don't want to exténd democratic power to the people. They don't want to give up their own political power. (Let's Talk Taxes is a feature from the Ontario Taxpayers Federation) WELL FOLKS THIS IS THE BEST DEMOLITION DERBY IN BLACKSTOCK ) DEMOLITION FAIR HISTORY- THE CARS - THE MAYHEM -- THE DESTRUCTION > PRESS pas YOU'RE WATGHIN THE COTTRGE TRAFFIC ON AH JOE-THE DERBY IS P---- LerTers To THE EpiToR -- Film reviewer should stay with films, not world affairs To the Editor: This letter is a response to the column by John Foote in your edition of August 23. In his review of "Schindler's List," he makes the forgivable error of repeatedly misspelling the object of his lavish praise, Steven Spielberg, not "Speilberg;" and makes the unforgivable error of stating that Mr. Spielberg"...should have won a Nobel Peace Prize." To place Mr. Spielberg in the company of Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., the International Red Cross, the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces, and our own Lester B Pearson, among qthers, is more than overstatement It is both inflating the importance of art, which interprets humanity and occasionally enlightens some segments of the population but leads very few, and a devaluation of the Peace process and the previous winners. Undeniably "Schindler's List" is a great film and a great work of art, but what does it or Mr Spielberg do for the cause of world peace? Is Mr. Spielberg donating his share of the tens of millions in profit to the Rwandan relief effort? Is he helping to fight the spread of ultra-rightist groups around the world? This is not a criticism of Mr. Spielberg, but the sign of frustration over Mr. Foote's frivolity with a very serious concern, world peace One might argue that the film provides an education to people who, unless they learn from the past are "doomed to repeat it". However, the film is an emotional experience that shows that in the midst of unbelievable evil some goodness survives. It is not a rational, logical argument against fascism, and it was not intended to be. If we wish to teach the lessons of the Holocaust, "Schindler's List" might be included as one small resource, not a lesson in itself. Perhaps in the future Mr. Foote will stick to reviewing films, and refrain from commenting, however indirectly, on world affairs. Sincerely, W.R. (Rusty) Hick, Port Perry. (Editors note: Phe incorrect spelling of Spielberg was a typo on the part of the Citizen, not a spelling error by Mr. Foote). Scout leaders have as much fun as the boys To the Editor: With fall approaching its time to start thinking of youth programs and registration. After our June registration 1st. Port Perry is almost full again this year. Anyone who missed registration can call Europe and will return home Aug. 31. We would once again like to thank the residents of Port Perry for financially supporting us and for the many adults who came out as leaders and group committee b Ellen Gr gh i diately at 985-8047 Our scouts have held their first camp in July, their second camp is on Sept. 10, Cubs first camp is also Sept. 10. Beavers will start 3rd or 4th week in Sept. We are still in need of 2 Beaver Leaders. We also need at least 1 or 2 Scout leaders to fill the space left when Ephraim Dufoe moved to Sudbury. Our Venturers are hiking through You don't have to have a youth involved to be a leader, just have to enjoy the outdoors, enjoy working with the youth, hiking, camping and have a few hours a week to invest in our future. In 1st Port Perry our leaders have as much fun as the boys. After all, that's what it's all about. Ellen Greenough 1st Port Perry Chairperson