Whltby Free Prou, Wechiesday, Januay 31, 1996 Page 7 than ever our grandfathers dreamed. What we suifer fr-om is a change in priorities. Our society - that's us, _fbks, - is now- saying that private profits, stock wiudfalls, the squeezing of pennies frovm cyberdollars - are more important than medicare, education and safe, dlean streets. 1 won der what we have ta suifer through before we get those tbings back on tak The Fear Computers can do alrnost everi ob today. So if everyone -in Canada were laid off tomorrw, would that make the bankers happy? Would shareholders and CE0s rejoice? Computers have done more to alter jobs ini the past 10 years than anytbing i the paut 50. But those who cal comaputer the beginning of a revolution have been far too modest. The revolution has not yet defined what the future will be. Oh, sure, we've seen apreadsheets and automated tellers and talking dashboards and assembly line robots and bank debit crSda and electronie around-the-world trading anid money changing and . .and.. and .. . e It neyer ends. We've only seen the beginning. What this bas produced has been not 80 much downsizing as the fear of do;Wnsizn.- ecn e hena future: automated. burger joints, downloading of videos, driverless cars, higb speed Internet links, teacherles schools, computer shopping and banking fr-om your very own home. ,Here it cornes: the Jobless Society. This creates Fear. With a capital F. The ultimate ii Fwords. This Fear has sent shivers up and down the spines of sieesCEOs and boards of directors.,And governments. This'Fear has prornpted corporations ta squeeze the moment - and the profits - and mun. If you cannot predict the future, you cannot plan for it and you cannot invest in it. So the bèst thing you can do is maximize short-term profits and hope lfbr the beat. When the future gets here, you have the cash to invest iu that. -In the meantime, we dump hundrede, thousands, millions of loyal employees into the jaws of Downsizing. Twenty-five years with the firm, eh Jenkins? Weil, well, take thislittle lump of cash and get Icet. ight. The first wave of downsiz:ing bit the private sector. With the recession of six years ago we saw its start..No use worrying about whether the downsizngcusd*h recession or the recession caused downsizig. They caused each otber. Now the economic downturn bas lowered government revenues aud so it is the public sector's turn. Downsize. Lean and Mean. Chop, cbop. The private sector had at least ta adbere to the law. Governments don't - they are the law, and can change the rules overnight. Close hospitals, dictate doctors' billing practices, bey, bey, get this one: to eliminate vested pension rights of public servants. Twenty some odd years tii *"**le-el FRANK FOLEY'S STORE AMD SERVICE STATI[ON,,1929- This store stood near the corner of Dundas and Anderson Streets where the Swiss Chalet restaurant is now. Frank Foley, the proprietor is standing at right with a snow shovel. The signs advertise Free Crank Case Service, Autolene Motor Ofis, Winchester Mild Blond and Super Power Gasolene. WbItby Archive. photo 10 YEARS AGO from the Wednesday, January 29, 1986 edition of the WHm ITBmFEEPRESS " A new elementary school in the Pringle Creek area could begin construction ln May and be open by September. " The Whitby Clinie will open a new building at Brock and Mary Streets neit week. " Joe Nieuwendyk of Whitby is a star hockey player at Corneil University ln the United, States. " Betty Van Burren is president of the Brooklin Horticultural Society. 35 YEARS AGO from the Thursday, January 26, 1961 edition of the wHITY WEEKL'Y NEWS " Construction of RA. Hutchison Public School should be completed by March 1. *Public School Trustee Tom Edwards urges meetings'between the School Board and* the Home and School Associations. * Temperature bit a record 16 below zero Farenheit on Jan. 24. *Whitby Public School Board honoured Fred Ing for his 12 years of service on the board. 100 YEARS AGO from the Thursday, Janurary 31, 1896 edition of the WIMTY CHONICLE < Major J.E. Farewell of Whitby bas been re-elected as vice-presidont of tiie Canadian Military Institute. * The Whitby Highland Club is holding a smoking concert in honour of the. Sttl.h poet- Robert Burns tonight. Admission ls 15 cents. * A series of public lectures in the new Frances Hall at the. Ontario Ladies' College bogins tonight with a talk on "Glimpse of Europe," by Rov. Dr. Dowart. *A severe ice storm on Jan. 23 cut off ail telephone, telegraph and electrlc light service ln Whitby.