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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, November 29, 1988 -- 5 by John B. A tew closing thoughts on free trade, Canada, and our relationship with the United States... We have just come through what many in this country have called an "historic election," one that will have, for better or worse, a profound impact on the future of this nation over the next decade and into the 21st century: : Personally, | am by and large, a supporter of the free trade treaty between this country and our big neighbour south of the border. Certainly, in terms of my own philosophical point of view, |. am a "free trader." And there are several reasons why. First of all, | look at Canada with a population of Just 25 million people, many of whom are employed - In manufacturing or the service industry. Nobody has convinced me that it makes no sense for a country of-25 million, not to have free access to a market just a few miles away of 250 mil- " lion consumers. Surely, | say to myself, Canada can compete, if the playing field is level at both ends. If we cannot compete, then we sure as heck aren't going to make it in the global marketplace. We might as just tuck ourselves into an economic cocoon and pro- duce just enough for our own needs at home. =| don't like: economic protectionism. One need not look. any: further back in time than the 1930's, when protectionism and unbridled nationalism went hand in hand to the alter, and this marriage of con- Viewpoint McClelland | don't believe for one minute that the free trade treaty in itself is going to erode any of our heath and social programs in this country, programs which we hold so dearly. These programs are very, very costly to the ted- eral and provincial governments. And | believe that over the next 10 to 20 years, both levels of govern- ment are going to start looking for reasons to cut back on health and social spending, and they may use free trade as a justification for what they would have done anyway. Let's be very honest, here. With runaway defi- cits, governments look at health and social pro- grams for cutbacks. | also feel a trifle uneasy about a long term rela- tionship with the United States, a country which one historian in particular strongly suggests in on an economic decline. Have we hitched out fortunes to a falling star? Paul Kennedy , a teacher of history at Yale Uni- versity has just published a book titled "The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers." It is a lengthy and scholarly book, heavy going in places, which looks at the rise and fall of several great powers in the world over the past 500 years. Kennedy asserts that the United States today is facing the same problems that led to the decline of the British Empire, the Hapsburg Empire, France and Spain. Essentially, according to Kennedy, American has fallen into the pit of "imperial overstretch." Its Kennedy trots out some prett Sung num- bers to back up his thesis. In 1985, the US federal deficit was $202 billion, the total debt was $1,823 billion. By the year 2000, the present trend will push the US national debt to $13 trillion. Compounding this horrendous debt problem, according to the author, is the fact that American goods and agricultural products are less and less conmpetitive on the world market. In 1985, the US trade deficit was $160 billion. The US has tried to get out from under this problem, not be traditional methods of reducing spending or raising taxes, but by importing capital to the point where the US is the world's largest debtor nation. ~The author doesn't state that the US is headed into an abyss. Indeed, he states that America will re- main a significant power for a long time into the fu- ture. But there are some danger signs: the contin- ued importation of capital, the continued increase in military spending around the globe, and the slow but sure decline in sheer economic might relative to the economies of Japan, for example, and the economy of China, which is set to break wide open on the rest of the world. The decline of America is being masked some- what by its still enormous military capabilities. Maybe there should be concern that we in Can- ada don't get "sucked down" with the Americans if they continue to decline. Maybe we ought not to have put too many of our eggs in one trading bas- flicting interests led the world into war by the end of that unhappy decade. global interests and obligations are larger than its ability and power to defend them all. ket. . Kennedy has written a fascinating book, and al- (Turn to page 6) Yesterday's Memories 70 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 21, 1918 Manchester school opened this week after being closed for four weeks because of influenza. The 62nd Anniversary of St. John's Presbyterian Church will be held Sunday, December 1. Capt. (Rev.) T. Dodds, B.A. of Sonya, will conduct divine services. High grade Australian Opposum Fur muff and neck-pieces - $40.00; Siberian Wolf Stole made up in a pretty style - $10.00. 45 YEARS AGO : Thursday, November 18, 1943 At a Rod & Gun Club meeting recently, Mr. Taylor, Port Perry business man presented a trophy to Mr. Walter Colton, Oshawa for the largest fish caught in Lake Scugog this season. A party was held recently at the Prospect School to honour Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Smith on their recent marriage. Miss Alice Parry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Parry of Port Perry officially sponsored H.M.S. "Seabear," and christen- ed her with a bottle of champagne, broken as she started down the way. Alice is 18 years old and attending school when she decided that arcs, torches, welding rods and masks offered the career that suited her best. . 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, November 19, 1953 District Deputy President, Larry McCarthy of Cobourg Lions Club made his official visit to the Port Perry Club. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Reader celebrated their 50th Wedding Anniversary at their home recently. The Minister of Health for Ontario, Dr. M. Philips, spoke to the Honeydale W.I. at their November meeting. 30 YEARS AGO : Thursday, November 20, 1953 The College of Optometry of Ontario has announced that Garnet V. Gray, Uxbridge, has passed the examinations with honours, qualifying him for the O.D. Degree. The fine autumn days we have enjoyed have been the cause of the most acute water shortage in many years. A large number of wells in this area are dry and water is being hauled to supply the needs of the farmers and residents. This has led to another problem. Unauthorized persons have been found trying to force open the hydrants in order to fill their tanks. This results in damaged water hydrants, waste of water and extra pumping to keep the water tank filled. (Turn to page 8) Letters Mexican relief drive sends 300 boxes of clothing, food to needy To The Editor: Nestleton United Church has just completed its Mexican Relief Drive. We were very pleased to have shipped 300 boxes (3000 pounds) of clothing, blankets, diapers, powdered milk, kitchen- ware, and non-perishable food to Monterrey, Mexico. A monetary -donation will also be made to the Mexican Relief Fund of the Mex- ican Red Cross. The International Red Cross will be making a general distribu- The Police and RIDE program on the street To The Editor: To 'Reduce Impaired Drivers Everywhere" is a constant goal of law enforcement agencies and the community as a whole. The Durham Regional Police Force will be continuing our rov- ing spot check units and adding specifically designated "RIDE" enforcement officers. As the holiday season is a time for family and friends to unite and enjoy we must be ever mindful that the citizens of this communi- ty deserve the safest roads we can provide. To this end the Durham Regional Police Force will in- crease our regular spot checks for the coming weeks. Our Force, like other area Forces, has been provided with Provincial Government funding directly for the operation of the "RIDE" programme. We are therefore able to bolster the ex- isting manpower with more fre- quent use of our spot check officers. Keeping the Impaired drivers from using our roadways will benefit the citizens we serve throughout Durham Region. As the festive season ap- proaches the members of the Durham Regional Police Force extend our wishes for a safe and happy holiday. David J. Edwards, Acting Chief Durham Regional Police tion of goods in Monterrey, on December 10, 1988. Mr. Villereal Cuevas of the Monterrey Branch of the Mexican Red Cross has ask- ed that we pass on their gratitude to the people of Durham Region. We would like to take this op- portunity to add our thanks to the generous residents of Durham Region generally, and Scugog Township, specifically. It was tru- ly gratifying to receive such over- whelming support from the church groups and individuals, in our area. It served to remind us, that small community churches can make a difference, in helping the less fortunate. Once again, thank you to the community at large, for making our Mexican Relief Drive so suc- cessfull. Nestleton United Church 'appreciates your efforts. Yours truly, Carol Hill, Nestleton United Church to the editor. Letters to the Editor | ... our policy It has always been the policy of this newpspaper to encourage our readers to make use of the letters to the editor column. Our readers have a right to freely express their opinions and view- points on just about any subject, and we feel that a lively letters column helps make a better community newspaper. We insist, however, that a letter writer sign his or her name. On rare occasions, we will agree to with-hold publication of a letter writer's name, if we feel there are very good reasons to do so. Under no circumstances will this paper print an anonymous letter While we enjoy receiving letters from our readers, wa must con- tinue to insist on knowing the identity of the writer.