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Back to Home Letters - September 15, 2011 Letters: Sept 15

Re: Reid’s use of tax dollars, Adrian O'Connell

Re: Energy policy is about more than hydro rates, Lauder Smith

County and the Common Sense Revolution, David Daski

Re: Reid’s use of tax dollars, Karen Holmes

Show Must Go On, Robin Deruchie

Re: Reid’s use of tax dollars

Mr. John Wallace  (Letters, Frontenac News, Sept. 8/11) is correct in identifying the $2.04 for every cast vote as socialism. Socialism is not a bad, nine-letter word. Socialism and taxation are good things. The former provides national defence, law and order, education and health care and the latter pays for these. Without socialism, this country's roads and railways would never have been built. Socialism has helped agriculture and industry to flourish in North America, most recently bailing out the auto and banking sectors. In Canada and most of Europe, it has also been moderately successful in protecting the poor, sick, disabled and disadvantaged. Prominent Conservatives, including John Diefenbaker, Sir John A. Macdonald, William Davies and Peter Lougheed avidly pursued socialist agendas throughout their political careers.

The assertion that taxpayers have no say in where their taxes go in a democracy like Canada's is nonsense. Furthermore, there can be no representation without taxation. The redistribution of national wealth is achieved most effectively through national and provincial legislatures. Mr. Wallace rightly condemns the "old time habit of buying votes with free booze" but attempting to buy votes by showering millions in public money on one's own constituency, without parliamentary oversight, as Federal Cabinet Minister, Tony Clement did recently, is arguably just as bad.

As to M.P. Scott Reid's mail-outs, his inflammatory missives are designed to appeal primarily to the prejudices of his supporters and are thus, statistically flawed. Conversely, real studies, such as those which reveal uncomfortable facts such as a falling crime rate and those which outline the benefits of the prison farm system, have been derided or ignored. Mr. Harper repeatedly seeks to limit national debate by shutting down or truncating those institutions of the state, e.g. the Census, which fail to tell the Prime Minister what he wants to hear. Mr. Tim Hudak's Ontario Conservatives recently tried to stifle the free speech of Ontario's public servants by asking the courts to ban an advertising campaign that was deemed to be offensive. Fortunately, the Canadian judicial system, despite its many faults, is not privately funded and is part of Canada's socialist fabric. It rightly threw the case out.

Government should be based upon rational and civil debate in parliament and in society, valid research into the common wealth and public good, rather than personal anecdote, myth, hucksterism, and the facile 'yes' or 'no' referenda so beloved of dictators everywhere.

Adrian O'Connell

Re: Energy policy is about more than hydro rates

I would like to compliment you on the insights you shared with your readers in your editorial (Energy policy is about more than hydro rates, Sept. 1/11). You make a very compelling and accurate point of the real issues surrounding the issue of electricity. That said, it seems you overlooked the fact that there is an active party representing those very issues in this election and on behalf of this riding.

We have become accustomed to the large media agenda to ignore and marginalize the Green Party and our struggle to add to the agenda the issues of which you write. It comes as a surprise that we do not exist even locally to people who champion the same issues we are trying to get on the table.

Consider our policy handout “It's Time: A five point plan for Ontario's future”.

I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail

Lauder Smith,LFLA campaign manager, Green Party

County and the Common Sense Revolution

I may have voted for Mike Harris and his Common Sense Revolution. I did attend and talk with him at one of his rallies. At the time it was refreshing to hear a politician telling the truth about what he intended to do, even though it might be unpopular. Many of us mistook that for actual vision and insight. Having moved to the ‘have-not’ portion of Central Frontenac I see first-hand how it has decimated Arden, Mountain Grove and the other local towns. It does not seem to have created administrative efficiencies either, judging by the size of our municipal offices.

It has also created a weird relationship with Sharbot Lake, a town 20 minutes to the east, with which I have almost no connection. I have watched as Sharbot Lake has gotten a new medical centre, a new fire hall, bigger municipal offices and soon a new museum and cultural centre, a new school and perhaps a new ambulance base. My neighbours and I have had to fight to keep our local school, which needed to be destroyed to allow for the new school in Sharbot Lake, and we will likely have to fight again to keep our libraries, for the same reason. Since amalgamation it seems that governments at every level have focused on the hub town - just too bad if you don’t live there.

People have since told me that the reason for amalgamation was really to allow the province to download roads and certain services to towns that could afford to maintain them. In truth, amalgamation wasn’t needed for that. Those roads and services could have gone to a strengthened county. As it is, aside from ambulance and old folks home, I’m not sure what our county government does. The County of Frontenac has always seemed to me a strange entity, kind of like a rich nephew, lots of money, not many responsibilities, trying to make it and its money relevant, without giving too much away.

It has been encouraging, however, to see it recently undertake strategic planning for the entire county. It has also undertaken a Community Improvement Plan to help rejuvenate Verona. Members of the Friends of Arden, including myself (and this letter reflects my personal views not those of the FOA), have talked with county representatives about the possibility of Arden being second in line for such assistance. It seemed only logical given the massive up swell of support for the grass roots movement to improve our town and the fact that Arden has received almost nothing since amalgamation. County has elected to go the ‘safe’ route and give the next Community Improvement Plan to Sharbot Lake. On a personal level I find that really, really disappointing.

David Daski

Re: Reid’s use of tax dollars

Mr. McEwen  levels some fairly serious accusations against our incumbent MPP, Randy Hillier, in his letter to the editor of September 8th, 2011 (Letters, Frontenac News, Sept. 8/11).  I'm just wondering:  Where is the evidence for his claims? Perhaps he could enlighten us. If Mr. McEwen's claims are true, and not hyperbole, then perhaps many voters would think twice about re-electing Mr. Hillier.  I certainly would. The voters of this riding deserve the facts and not mere hearsay.

Karen Holmes

Editor’s Note: We contacted Leona Dombrowsky, and she confirmed that the details in John McEwen’s letter to the editor about Randy Hillier’s “dead deer” email to her were accurate. The incident was widely reported in the media at the time.

The Show Must Go On

Sun did not shine this year for the 2011 Elphin Fest. Due to weather conditions some of the bands did not participate. The crowd was smaller than usual, but regardless of circumstances, as loyal fans they were smiling and toe tapping, and best of all the Fest was "Free". What more can one ask for? The bands donated their time, energy and sounds for all to enjoy. The "Pocket Change"- electric progressive was very good. "Defy All" from Lanark was a hit with the crowd. As usual the Elf Inn Express did a good business with Barbara's delicious food. Rick, you made it happen once again and the community is proud of you. As dusk began the bonfire came alive. All was well. Picture courtesy of Sharon Southward. Thanks to Kathy Young for sending this article to "The News".

Jen Roberston.