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_Editorial comment Canada gets stuck with the carrot Dear Editor: The real winners in a free trade deal with the U.S. will be the multinational corpora- tions who will have almost complete control over Canadian federal and provincial govern- ment and Canadian workers. Multinational corporations will be able to use the "'carrot and stick" approach by mov- ing jobs to the U.S. if Canadian governments and workers don't offer them the best possi- ble deal. There will be no tariff wall to block the multinationals from shipping their more cheaply made goods into Canada. Canadian workers will have to take wage and benefit cuts or face unemployment. Canadian governments will be powerless to protect our workers or they will be 'beaten'? by the munity interest. leave town to do your shopping. ESPSS. disparity. a poor nation of peasants. ternational economy. enterprise. Shop at home It is high time that we showed some loyalty to our local mer- chants. We demand of them all year long: to support campaigns and charities, to give freely of their time and money in the com- But sadly, we often forget the local merchants at Christmas. Well, that same argument which tells merchants to support their com- munity should also tell that community to support its merchants. You probably won't save that much money on most items if you Sure, there are some things you won't be able to find in town. But there are many other things which you will be able to find. Anyway, the cost of gas makes the trip prohibitive. Yes to free trade Simcoe North MP Doug Lewis was in the area over the weekend to deliver an address on free trade. : He was in Penetanguishene two weeks ago to talk to students at The subject of both lectures was free trade. tes It's a topic that demands a position. Free trade is the only solu- tion to a country which is fractured by regional resentment and Free trade offers the only positive economic path for Canada. We cannot become a smug nation of protectionists without becoming Canadians can compete. Those who say we can't want to see us all sitting in the mud growing soybeans. Autarky is dead. Nations who wish to live must trade freely with others. There is no national economy anymore, there is only an in- Should we have an election over free trade? Ultimately, we will have to. We will have to decide whether we desire serfdom under socialist protectionism or liberty under free trade and free multinationals moving jobs to the U.S. If our governments and workers co-operate then we will get the "carrot" of jobs. The final result of free trade will be bigger profits for the multinationals and lower wages and benefits for Canadian Workers. Richard Austin Elmvale, Ontario Thanks to every donor Dear Editor: Our 1986-87 Fund Raising Campaign is now history. Although we did not reach our objective of $21,000 we did recieve in dona- tions an appreciable amount in the sum of $13,000. We write to thank each and ever donor for their thoughtfulness. This would not have been possible had we not received the valuable assistance of you and your staff. Donations received up to Dec. 31, 1987 will be eligible for 1987 income tax purposes. On behalf of the Huronia District for the C.N.I.B. we wish to sincerely thank you. Yours truly, Tom Hawkins Campaign Advertising Committee MP is challenged to free trade debate Editor's note: This'is an open letter to Doug Lewis, M.P., Simcoe North. Dear Doug: I am confident that I voice the sentiments of the 75 or more Simcoe North residents pre- sent at the open forum held at the Midland Civic Centre on Dec. 12, in expressing our appreciation for the opportunity you gave us to initiate some public discussion in this region of Ontario on the forthcoming Mulroney/Reagan part, dealing with the sub- ject of trade matters between Canada and the U.S.A. and due to be signed in Washington on Jan 2. It was abundantly clear from the comments and questions raised at this open forum that 'there is serious concern among Simcoe North residents over the proposal that is about to be signed. Not least of these concerns is the fact that the official version of the pact, con- taining some 2,500 pages, was only made public on Dec. 11. : In order to give further opportunity for ra- tional consideration of the pros and cons of the proposed Mulroney/Reagan deal, I hereby challenge you to a public debate on the issue, to be arranged at our mutual convenience and under any reasonable guidelines that can be worked out with the media. Knowing each other.as we do, I am sure that such a debate can be carried out with a minimum of ran- cour and a maximum of straightforward argument as to the pros and cons of the issues involved. I make this challenge first as a concerned Canadian but also in my roles as a Chartered Accountant and Managment Consultant, former Member of Parliament, Chairman of the House of Commons Energy Committee and Parliamentary Secretary to both Finance and Consumer and Corporate Affairs Ministers, the Liberal candidate in the 1980 and 1984 Federal elections in Simcoe North, and as the current President of Simcoe North Liberal Association., Looking forward to your early response. Yours sincerely, Alan G. Martin Penetanguishene, Ont. Party a success Dear Editor: On behalf of the Huronia District Hospital Children's Christmas party, I would like to thank French Dry Cleaners, U Bag It, Voort- man Cookies and Versa Foods for their con- tribution in making our party a success. Karen Patchell Chairperson Children's Christmas Party Ag T' See It by David Krayden I recall being told once that ideologies were "19th century fictions."' In other words they were lies. There was no substance to political creeds; all ideology is merely rhetoric to justify the use and abuse of power. I'm not sure if I fully believed it then, but I'm beginning to now. Never have I seen a political world so van- quished of purpose. I think of what's happening in American politics right now. If you haven't been wat- ching, don't worry. The American electoral system, with its primaries, leadership cam- paigns and endless commercials, is often a wearying process to observe so it's best to not start too soon. : There are eleven months of campaigning ahead and as conditions demand an election in Canada, the keenest political observer will collapse from an overdose. What is interesting about the Americans right now is that it has become increasingly arduous to distinguish the Democrats from the Republicans in this election. We have one Presidential nominee from the Democrats who dresses like George Will, speaks like Herbert Hoover and wishes he had the looks and brilliance of William F. Buckley. The first "Meet the Candidates" debate ran about two weeks ago. It was worth watching just because it is always enjoyable to watch people from the same party threaten each other. The Republicans were as vicious to one another as the Democrats were. They also seemed as confused. It seems that Ronald Reagan has been re- jected by the conservatives and any A confusing ideology Republican candidate who desires the sup- port of this eclectic crowd is beginning to distance himself from the President. The Reagan Presidency has becoming something of an enigma. Contrary to what the left-lib hacks are saying, the latter events of the Reagan Administration are not a con- firmation of Reagan's supposed bankrupt ideas. But we are certainly not witnessing a leader retiring in style. What we are left with is a void. Ideology has been so twisted into so many configura- tions during the past 25 years that no one is quite sure what shape it is presently in. Hence we see the potential Presidents line up and try to define untenable positions: Democrats who want to cut taxes and in- crease social spending, Republicans who want to raise taxes decrease defence spending. It's almost as if the candidates are saying, 'What will the people believe this year?"' What sort of sham is coming are way now? There hasn't been a living piece of ideology in Ottawa for many years. Washington is 'beginning to look the same. No one wants to ask, "What is right?" No one dares to answer. We have always witnessed politicians try- ing to justify their management of power through the skillful manipulation of largely empty ideas. Now we are witnessing governments sear- ching the skies for new myths, uncertain that they will find anything convincing enough to sell to a jaded, cynical, embittered public, tired of being served the same stale rations of food. --Letters- ee The Penetanguishene Citizen welcomes Letters to the Editor. They must be legible, signed (by hand), and carry the writer's address and telephone number for verification. Pen names are not allow- ed and anonymous letters will not be published. "Pen e ta ng U ish en e Ci tizen -- Publisher: Andrew Markle . shoe : 18 h Published by Bayweb Limited every Tuesday at Mensee Baten ik Kraan 74 Main Street, Penetanguishene, Ontario 549-2012 Editor: David Krayden Second Class Mail Registration Number 2327 Reporter: Murray Moore Letters published by this newspaper do not Year subscription rate $39.00 (CNA Member Sports: Arnold Burgher necessarily reflect the opinion of this newspaper, Ee its publisher or editor. Page 6, Wednesday, December 16, 1987