PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1985, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby - Voice of the County Town Michael Ian Burgess, Publisher - Managing Editor The only Whitby newspaper independently owned and operated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Published every Wednesday El by M.B.M. Publishing and Photography Inc. Phone 669-6111 The Free Press Building. 131: Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby. Ont. MMANUEL HADZIPETROS Community Editor VALERIE COWEN AdvertisIng Manager Second Class Mail Registration No.5351 Local elections are closest to home The nominations are in. They've all been duly signed and accepted by the clerk. It's three weeks to election day and the race is on! This newspaper Is pleased that so many people have taken an active Interest in the future of this community and made the committment to stand for one of the many offices available this Nov. 12. The willingness to run displays a desire to serve and In this day and age it's re-assuring to know that many people still have such community spirit. We've said It before - and despite the risk of sounding a little repetitive - we'll say it again, there Is no more important an election than the In the treatment of alcoholism, medicine has become aware of a phenomenon known as the "geographical cure". Some alcoholics, sensing that they are drinking too much or simply that life has become difficult, begin to think that the problem is In their surroundings. They suspect that if they lived in some other city, some other environment, in another group of people, things might be different. Many of them do move, only to find that they have taken their major problems with them, that is, them- selves and their own alcoholism. I was reminded of the illusion of the "geographical cure" recently when the Libyan Foreign Minister told the United Nations General Assembly that New York and the Americans were the world organization's major problems, and that everything would get bet- ter if the UN were moved. What wishful nonsense! It lsn't the first time that some indignant member nation has suggested that the UN would be better off out of New York. New Yorkers tend to regard the UN as a bit of a joke, and are often rude about it. The Libyan spokesman also pointed out that his own leader, Muammar Gaddaf1, wouldn't come to the UN because he was afraid of the CIA. But no matter how much the U.S. would like to get rid of Mr. Gad- dafl, you can rest assured that the CIA would work overtime to prevent his being snuffed out on U.S. soi. Perhaps we should ask ourselves who would pay for the UN's relocation. At the moment, the United States pick up a quarter of the annual $4.5 billion UN tab, or $1.15 billion. Congress doesn't like it, and is agitating for a weighted UN voting system based on contributions. The Soviet Union picks up 12.22 per- cent of the tab, or about $560 million. Canada pays 3.08 percent, or about $142 million. And Libya, which proposes an expensive move, pays about a quarter of one percent of the UN's annual cost, or roughly $11 million. What disturbs me most about these hare-brained suggestions Is that they give ald and comfort to all those elements in the western alliance which have concluded, not without some justification, that the UN is a crock. If what Libya and some other nations want is a UN without the United States, then this is the right way to go about it. And a UN without the United States would be even more ineffectual than the UN was without the real China, whether we like what that China stands for or not. one that will be held Nov. 12. It's a shame that, historically, municipal elections get the least amount of attention from the individual voter. In 1982's municipal election, barely 33 percent of the eligible voters turned out to cast their fran- chise in Whitby. Whenthis is compared to the 53 percent who turn out for provincial elections and the 61 percent who take an interest in the federal campaign, that's a pretty poor record. And yet, Whitby Town Council, Durham Regional Council and the two school boards have a much greater ef- fect on the day-to-day lives of the average citizen and resident of Whitby. Look, the federal government takes care of highly philosophic Issues such as foreign affairs all the while keeping the ship of state intact. The provincial comes a little closer to home, but once again in an indirect way. They provide some of the money needed to build roads, schools and hospitals. But it is our local and regional councils that provide such things as police and fire protection, snow clearing of roads (and, we're happy to say, sidewalks), road maintenance, parks, recreation facilities, schools, water, sewer services, buses and a whole range of valuable and vital services that we not only use every day, but take for gran- ted every day. The four local levels of government serving Whitby spend a total of over $300 million every year - employ thousands of people and provide a countless number of necessary programs. At one time, most of the offices up for grabs were extremely low paying part-time jobs. Today, the time demands on local elected people are get- ting greater and greater. The jobs are becoming more complex and require not only more time but more dedication, education and understanding of the world in whIch we live. For example, the mayor's job used to be part- time. Now, It's a full-time job that Is strongly akir to being chairman of the board of a corporatior employing about 100 people, serving 45,00( customers and operatIng on a budget of over $1' million. It's a big job. Even being a regional councillor Is probablI more complex In 1985 than It was when the reglor was formed 11 years ago. Regional councillorE have to become knowledgable about a wide range of subjects Including municipal finance, planning public works, social services and more. Local councillors have many of the same com plex Issues to master in a short period of time I they are to do their job properly. School trustees also have a great deal to con tend with, once elected. The problems facing thE education system - especially ln terms of funding (not withstanding the mass confusion and ange caused by Bill 30) - are horrendous and wel documented. The demands being placed on municipa politicians are increasing. They have to learr more, do more and be able to grasp highly com plex Issues quickly and easily. Furthermore, the) have to be able to communicate these Issues tc their constituents in a language that Is easily un derstood. Most of us don't understand the in tracacies of planning and zoning so we turn to ou elected representatives and expect them to dea with them. Everyone of those people who filed thei nomination papers and put their own money or the line in a bld for election Is deserving of all o our thanks. What they are seeking are demanding time consuming, and, often frustrating jobs. Bu they are vital and Important. In many ways more important than being a Member of the LegislaturE or a Member of the House of Commons. So, to all the candidates - good luck and thani S/(CONIAftS COMPLFTE -LE:CTiO)N PLATFO r4~~Cj etNCLI /5 -ISW09~L 0 FAMOUS #1 T SI,4/WS :fýe CLf«A YELLOW IR.ooog'- '504-6ff&y-RAN' - 'PIhJ< P7ON<j.mAyoQ'Àéi ON f4145-I RUww O M >4' E.LO BOU -0 yoyu CAN'r eC(ITAM LUWkCÇO5 'E£rig)QI' P% L o 'e X ic d mae4.M1aUCk, MUCH.. ____________ IT64 e144_A