Canadian Musicians Employment Status Archive LETTERS TO THE EDITOR LONDON FREE PRESS Saturday March 4, 2000
Symphony-night dollars would be spent elsewhere Having read Paul Berton's column, Orchestra's loss would be sour note (Feb. 22), an opposing point of view may be in order. A $450,000 annual grant to the orchestra will amount to something like $5.50 per household, assuming that there are 82,000 residential units in the city and assuming businesses pass their taxes on to consumers in the form of higher prices. Berton suggests certain downtown businesses experience an upsurge in business turnover as a result of the orchestra's performances. True, but he doesn't mention the money spent downtown is the same money other London businesses are being deprived of -- after all, the great majority of Londoners spend everything they earn, regardless of where. In an age when federal and provincial governments espouse the virtue of capitalism and self-sufficiency, London has embarked on a course of municipal socialism. Municipal socialism to bolster capitalism. Convenient. Outside of the infrastructure necessary to maintain the operation of this city, there is not a single other facility or entity that is capable of independent existence without tax imposed welfare. These white elephants, and there are many of them, are draining the resources of the average taxpayer. If Berton and others enjoy Orchestra London, it is commendable and more power to them. But they may absorb the entire cost of their enjoyment and may not expect me to help them pay their way, for I, like many others, have more urgent priorities, like survival.
CHESTER CHWIECKO
This site is best viewed at a resolution of 800 X 600 CMESA Website © Paul Sharpe 1999, 2000 |