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Huron Expositor, 2006-12-17, Page 4Page 4 December 27, 2006 • The Huron Expositor Editorial Opinion Proprietor and Publisher, Bowes Publishers Limited, 11 Main St., Seaforth, ON, NOK 1WO s in argument MPPs need hefty raise There is a fundamental flaw in the logic of MPPs that argue more money needs to be paid to provin- cial politicians to prevent them from becoming a farm team. That is, most farmers don't make $80,000 -plus year, a significant portion of which is tax-free. There are other arguments, too. The first one that springs to mind is MPPs are not hired from among a pool of qualified candidates that hail from the finest schools. While it's likely Ontarians would frown on such an elitist notion, sadly, elitist is very much what the political realm has become. If politicians were to take a gander around the room to check out those among them, they'd see that more often than naught, elected politicians either come from a political dynasty, a wealthy family that is a hefty employer or the most appro- priate candidate for a given party in a specific rid- ing. In short,politics,at the grassroots level, is very much a poarity ontest. There are excetions, f course. But, not many. lb suggest MPPs are underpaid and will move on to the federal realm if the pay •doesn't increase is a stretch. But, the suggestion that MPPs could move on to more lucrative positions in municipal politics is also amusing. Though Toronto politicians may make $90,000 a year, the figure is much lower out- side that centre of the universe. Indeed, midsize cities pay councillors about $30,000/year, and rural ones, like those in this area, pay less than $10,000. The way out of municipal council chambers is almost always up to the next level, as former Liberal MP Joe Fontana recently learned. Ultimately, what is most rankling about the 25 per cent pay hike is the sense of entitlement being expressed by provincial politicians supporting the raise. Being an MPP, MP or a municipal -level politician has historically and will hopefully always, carry a sense of civic duty, and hence, volunteerism, along with it. And, since when is $80,000 chump change? To the Liberals' credit, the increase does not take effect until after the 2007 election. Hopefully, this will be a decision, along with other pesky things like the health tax, that Ontarians will ponder when heading to the polls a year from now. Clinton News Record Your Community Newspaper Sine 1860 E-mail us at seaforth@bowesnet.com Visit our home page at www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com Canada sue t 'We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs.' It's time to give some New Year's resolutions a try New Year's resolutions are funny things. Every Dec. 31, thou- sands, maybe even mil- lions of people around the world take a close, hard look at themselves and decide what it is they don't like and want to change. There's the conventional resolutions, like wanting to quit smoking or drinking, or lose weight. There's the hokey resolutions, like wanting to learn something new, or make a new friend or be more organized. Since I've never given the whole New Year's resolution thing a .try before, I thought I'd give it a shot_ this year. And who knows, it might even make for a few good columns down the road. However, I don't smoke, or drink enough to have to resolve to drink less. And, I moved in with a woman only .six months ago, so I'm constantly learning some- thing new. And actually, I am quite the orga- nized individual already, and I really like the friends I have and I'm not too interested in making too many more (it can be lots of work). I think I would rather make a couple of practical New Year's resolutions. According to the Body Mass Index, with my height and age, my weight is still within the healthy zone. But, I'm only a measly 10 pounds away from qualifying as over- weight. Now I've always been thin - maybe even sickly thin at times - but now I'm just a couple Big Macs, Double -Bacon Cheeseburgers . and large pizzas away from being overweight. This definitely deserves a resolution. But I'm not about to sign up to any gym, start running every morningor subject my body to any health drinks. So, my first New Year's resolution is not to lose weight, but rather not to gain any over the next year. My second and third resolutions are sug- gestions from my girlfriend Lindsay. Apparently, I need to be more kind to our pets. While having two cats welcome me at the door every single day with loud, high-pitched meows that don't stop until I've fed them is a delight,.I sometimes wish for peace and quiet - and .a day I don't have to clean out a litter box. However, I'm told that cats are great com- See MAKING, Page 5 Mom said that because it's New Year's Eve we can stay up as long as e want! SUBSCRIPTION RATES: LOCAL - 36.18 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. SENIORS: - 34.17 a year, in advance, plus G.S.T. Fo : 36.18 a year in advance, plus $181.48 postage, G.S.T. exempt U.SA.: 36.18 a year in advance, plus $92.56 postage, G.S.T. exempt Published weekly by Sun Media at 11 Main St., Seaforth. 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Box 69, Seaforth, ON., NOK 1 WO Meof the Canadian Community Newspaper Association mber Association Tom Williscraft Susan Hundertmark Jeff Heuchert Publisher Editor Reporter Bernie AdvertisingP7fiffice Dianne McGrath Marcie Riegling Front office Composing Editorial and Business Offices - 11 Maki Street.,Seaforth Telephone (519) 527-0240 Fax (519) 527-2858 Mailing Address - P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ontario, NOK 1 WO