The man of the house invariably has a sort- bark or same other vague disability which prevents him from working The woman of the house invariably supports her man, because she knows he's a bum. and if she didn't. he'd pound her and the They knou to the Last nickel exactly what they ran skim on a pretty decent society which doesn't want anybody to be cold or hungry or homeless Their favorite gimmick Is to be photo graphed with their tive or six children in front of their new television set They like rubbing our noses in it This. of umrw, is NO murh huguash Take a closer look at them, and they are bums, literally They're not stupid They know "very angle of the welfare. un employment insurance, wnal \Ubudhw Rame, and they play u with finesse The welfare bums would insist that Ihey are culturally deprived. victims of a nonrarmg society which refused to Rive them a decent "duration And then there are a lot of people just along for the ride Wellarr bums and politicians Both species would deny it, wide-eyed with indignation. There are all wrts of people living In Canada these days Most of us are reasonable, ordinary, human beings, not evil, not particularly good, just slugging away a day at a time You and l, Jack Yes, Canada experienced one of the most important days in its existence Saturday. Without a doubt, the date of April 17, 1982 will be an historian's delight years from now. But sadly enough, it was not a peoples' delight. Let's hope that our leaders use this opportunity of a made-in-Canada Constitution to begin anew and install in all of us the national self-confidence and pride we so eagerly yearn for. In 1967 unemployment hovered at around 4 per cent, diiitiit compared to the current 9 per cent. Fifteen years ago, -tmNe inflation was a low 3.5 per cent. a far cry from today's J-Cr-Cr-lr'; double-digit figure. And for people today who wish to buy a ' home and fulfill the great Canadian dream, a mortgage rate l of 19 per cent is enough to discourage and depress the most cEFEc: enthusiastic buyer. Back in 1967 interest rates were around _ the 9 per cent mark, enabling dreams to become reality. But why was there no exhilaration from among the masses throughout Canada? Why. if you ask someone to tell you candidly, will you find that many people weren't glued to their television sets following the historical proceedings in Ottawa. Heyes were focused on Cv. screens. they were more likely than not watching Stanley Cup playoffs, not the Constitution finale. Perhaps the answer is in the statistics. Fifteen years ago when Canada celebrated its centennial, the country welled with pride and self-confidence. Today, Canadians seem sulky and disillusioned. But let's compare the numbers. It's official. Four days ago Zith the stroke of the Queen's pen, Canada became whole -- aster of its own domain from sea to shining sea. P_11GE 8 .7 WATERLOO CHRONICLE, WEDNESDAY. APRIL 21. 1� Where is the exhilaration? published every Wednesday by Fairway Press. a dtwsnon ot Kitchener-Waterloo Record Ltd, owner 225 Faarway mrs., Kitchener, Ont. address correupomterwe to Waterloo allow 92 King St South, Waterloo, (In! [ telephone It“ 2:00 Wulanoo Chvomcb on.“ a mum on 2nd Boot ot the C) tte Spam mung capo-nu Wan-(loo sou-no Put-mg on mug street on a. Wntcvloo Sonata Wn Manna-y Korma" 900nm totr00pm Welfare bums At a drop of the hat. they vote themselves pay and pensinn increases. though their only desire is "to serve my They are individual welfare bums Most of them are small town lawyers with a yen tor the publir eye Having wheezled their way into the nomination. they defeat a lot of born also ram. and take a back seat in Ottawa. Toronto, Victoria And no“ wr (‘nmr m the. other wc-lfart' burns the politicians They are nut corporate "vliare bums, in David Lewis called them. bewomme more and mun- boring as he dud In my timel have been helped. and haw helped others Most of the purple uh†helped me. I have hated And most of thv people I've helped have hated mu That) the way she Moes Better to do " anortytnously The Boat People don't haw Maybe I sound like a middle Mass. right wing pundit who believes that no body should gm any help frum anybody Lord forfend, I have a heart of gold. Norm. mighI say brass, and I believe firmly m helping the helpless The children will grow up in the family pattern. believing that society "Wes them a living. and be sullen. cranky. mean. If anyone suggests they get off their tails and do something. Poor kids children. and they'd have naming Publisher Manager: Editor: established 1 854 Paul Winkler Bill Karges Karla, Wheeler I am not saying that (ht-n- an- not peoplc who g" into politics with ideals. with a desire lo herve their h-Iluvn There. are But they are [on and far between. and eyert the good ones wom In surrumb In that insidious love of power. after a bit It's little wonder that so many Cana diam today are angry They have worked, more or less faithfully. for years. with an organization Suddo-nly they are turfed out Have you ever heard a pull!" nan stand up and sill “I‘m a fun I haw nul represented you. but only myself I will not be running for re election because I don't deserve it "'t They Ro on unemplo) ment payments They don't feel good about it They'd When II Is time for re Mrvlum. regard "ss of their records. they fight ' tigers to hang onto that infinitesimal but of pout-r and prestige With a few "xceptions. they steer clear of gun control. or abortion. or anything t-lsc that might upset the "iommittee" back home At the appearance of a camera, they whip out a cheque from the federal or provincial governmt-nl. and a new five miles at road, or a dock I-xtcnslun. or a post office. is born, constituency to the best of my ability." BILL SMILEY It's vnough lo make a grown man wm-p Not to mention a grown woman Welfare bums al both ends of the stick, hanging on ttrimly. happy m the kmruledg" that you and I will pick it up They are too old to mm" They have mortgages They have children to vdurate And they sm- their "leaders" playing 'lamt'h, arroganl Liberals. pugnacious Tories. wet socialists, rather work They look around and we all sorts of layibouls drawing the Name money The Chronicle wel- comes letters to the edi- tor. Writers must identify themeelves through their name. address and tele- phone number. We re- serve the right to edit. Letters policy