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snl 0 CB ne a SRT age ST = ~fntyp PRESSING MATTERS by John James "Are We Having A Good Time Yet?" We've come a long way, Baby. There is no denying the fact. Thanks to roughly twenty years of sweeping social changes in Canada, there may not be a bet- ter place to live on the entire planet... juding from the way things look on paper. But when examining these substantial alter- ations in our way of life, one cannot ignore the harsh, cold-blooded reality that most changes 'for the better' were implemented by political parties trying to remain in power by 'bribing' the electorate with handouts. Therein lies an important clue why 'change' isn't necessarily 'better', and Ontario's voters just sent all politicans a strong signal that they're be- coming very aware of that fact. The issue is best clarified by a few simple questions. Is there anybody out there who doesn't think life in the' Fifties was better than today? Would anyone old enough to remember the old days, and old ways, want to 'start out' in today's world? Is there a parent out there who isn't wor- ried sick about the future his or her children face? How many parents fear their kids will nev- er be able to afford their own house, or be unable to provide the 'family' environment which forms the basic foundation of society as we know it? Catch our drift? The protective umbrella of legislation and benefits now 'enjoyed' by Canadians is, in the main, a wonderful idea..but it isn't working well. A wicked 'cost' is attached to the package, and not merely in a monetary sense. Were caught in the same predicament as a cat chasing its tail. For example, "Day Care" is now deemed a necessity to allow both parents in a young family to work. That's the only way they can afford a decent existence for themselves and their chil- dren. However, one of the biggest reasons both ents are forced to become wage earners is the uge tax load necessary to support all these so- cial benefits. Unfortunately, the more they work, the more they pay. The extra expenditures of time and energy necessary to Beco phish the objective are sucked into a whirlpool of new commitments and obli- gations. This places enormous pressure on the parents, and on the family unit. Mentally and physically exhausted parents o about their daily duties in near-Zombie fash- ion, and today's children essentially Net through their formative years being rai by surrogate parents: Day Care staff and elementary school teachers. The' Day Care Syndrome and Two Parent Working Family combine to form a "Ticking Bomb' scenario which could eventually destroy the family unit. We are already at that point in many cases. Another problem that has been created by the social benefits safety net is removal of the in- centive to seek work. Canadians are inundated by daily reports of high unemployment, but at the lower end of the pay scale employers are faced with a serious shortage of manpower. One and one no longer add up to two, unless the pay rate is sufficiently high to compensate for what workers are eligible to receive via welfare, unem- loyment insurance and other supplementary nefits. This situation has deteriorated to a point where the work force has been polorized into 'Haves' and "Have Nots', with the "Haves' pay- ing a heavy tax load to support the readily avail- able but understandably reluctant "Have Nots.' Clearly the system is running us, instead of the other way around. But who can put a stop to it? The "Have Nots' have grown to a size where they represent a potent political power base, and t ays politi- cians base their pany latforms on public opin- ion polls rather than what's best for the country. Somehow the trend must be reversed, but how to doit? Strong political leadership is a. necessity. Given the current philosophical stunting at sen- ior government levels, positive action can only come from the grassroots level in Smalltown Canada. That is where precious old-fashioned values have gathered to make their 'last stand' against modern-day trends. Fortunately those values still exist, albeit in fragile fashion. As this 'new wave' of substantive concepts and time-tested ways takes root, and then hope- fully progresses upward through the system, its success will be noted and imitated. Eventually the trend' becomes the norm. That day will come none too soon, in our opinion. ...john ( ) Please recycle this newspaper \_ J PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, October 30, 1990 -- 15 Vice principal named Ontario Ag. Minister A 44-year old high vice principal has been named Onta- rio Minister of Agriculture by Premier Bob Rae. Elmer Buchanan, MPP for the riding of Hastings- Peterborough was raised on a mixed farm in Belmont Town- ship. The farm has been in his family since 1834 and his par- ents still reside there. Mr. Buchanan has been a teachey for many years in Has- tings unty, including four years as vice principal at a high school in Bancroft. He has an extensive knowl- edge of rural issues through community work in Hastings County. He's a director of the Ban- croft-Haliburton Community Industrial Training Committee and past president of District 19, OSSTF. He has been a member of the New Democratic Party since 1972 when he helped form the Hastings NDP Association, and has been actively involved in building the rural caucas of the NDP. He attended teachers col- lege in Peterborough and earned a BA from Queens Uni- versity in Kingston. QUALITY FOOTWEAR FOR MEN AND WOMEN Big Town Selection Small Town Prices CONVENIENT! 1240 SIMCOE STREET NORTH OSHAWA, ONTARIO 436-2497 JUST SOUTH OF TAUNTON RD. SLIPPERS L.A. GEAR OPEN: Mon., Tues., Wed., Saturday 10-6 pm - Thurs., Friday to 8:00 pm Port Perry High School will hold its annual COMMENCEMENT PROGRAMME -- at -- 8:00 PM on FRIDAY NOVEMBER 2nd, 1990 Because of the large number of graduates and the un- fortunate lack of space to adequately accommodate all of the graduates' intended guests, graduates are ask- ed to invite no more than two guests each to ensure some degree of comfort for those in attendance. . 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