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Times Advocate, 1995-07-05, Page 4Page 4 Times -Advocate, July 5, 1995 iv" Publisher & Editor: Jim Beckett Business Manager: Don Smith Production Manager: Deb Lord Adveiis/t Barb Cons News; Heather Mir, Chris Skatkos, Ross Haugh, Brenda Burke Production; Alma Ballantyne, Mary McMurray, Barb Robertson Robert Nicol, Brenda Hern, Joyce Weber, Laurel Miner, Marg Flynn Transportation: Al Flynn, Al Hodgert Front Office & Accounting; Elaine Pinder, Sue Rollings,_ Ruthanne Negrijn, Anita McDonald, Casale Dalrymple The Exeter Times Advocate is a member of a family of community newspapers 08, '"" h,„ wi providing news, advertising and information leadership V� 1'; 1)1"1'OR1.11,S • • pinion Flowers aren't safe on the streets recent addition to the Main Street core business area has been the constuction of wrought -iron flower boxes at many store fronts. The flow- ers are now blooming and provide the town with a little extra boost to bright- en the streetscape during the warmer mouths. What has started to happen, many people might consider inevitable. The flowers in some of these boxes are be- ing ripped out during the early morning hours. Re -planting flowers means an additional cost for merchants as well as added work to maintain the boxes. This is certainly not the first time that vandals have tried to quash an initiative to make our town more appealing. In the past, flower boxes were installed along the bridge at McNaughton park but before long they were toppled right into the river. In more recent years, Exeter has used hanging baskets of flowers which were placed out of reach of vandals. Unfortu- nately, the flowers were also out of sight 'to the street -level shoppers. This year's first phase in a beautifica- tion project for the town has been the in- stallation of permanent flower boxes at street level where people can enjoy the flowers. The vandalism seems to be isolated to one area of Main Street and while some stores have had to repair damage to flower beds several times, others have not experienced any problems. At least one merchant in Exeter com- mented that if the citizens don't care, the • business owners are wasting their time trying to beautify the town and attract more activity. This individual called for more community involvement in report- ing vandalism as it occurs. It is a sad comment on our community when even flowers aren't safe on the streets at night. The other side of small There is a fascination with re- ducing the role of politicians lately. Premier Mike Harris brings in a new cabinet that is far smaller than his pre- decessor. He speaks of reducing the number of ridings. Former Education Minister David Cooke was constantly threatening to reduce the number of school boards and the number of trus- tees on the boards that were Left. Here in Huron the number of county council- lors was reduced in the name of effi- ciency. It all sounds good. People don't like politicians, don't trust them. They feel they are building empires, and some- times they are. But speaking privately recently, a former cabinet minister warned against the dangers of reducing the cabinet size. The fewer politicians involved, the more power the bureau- crats have. The more areas of speciality a cabinet minister has to juggle, the more he or she depends on non -elected civil servants for information and ad- vice. Government today, even at the county level or the school board level, is big business. The work goes on, whether it is being directed by elected officials'br bureaucrats. Sure, it is possible to have too many politicians at all levels of gov- ernment but at least those politicians are accountable to the people who elected them. Government employees, of the ap- pointed advisers to premiers and minis- ters, are beyond any ability of the public to control. There's this dream that maybe the gov- ernment will get small enough to just go away. It won't. Much as we'd like to paint politicians as the bad guys, they at least have to answer to us every few years. Smaller is not necessarily more democratic. North Huron Citizen ���o • • • WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND? • • • The Times Advocate continues to welcome letters to the editor as a forum for open discussion of local issues, concerns, complaints and kudos. WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP YOUR LETTERS TO A MAXIMUM OF 300 WORDS, The Times Advocate reserves the right to edit letters for brevity. Please send your letters to P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario, NOM 1S6. Sign your letter with both name and address. Anonymous letters will not be published. 1 TORONTO - Mike Harris has tried to show he is serious about cutting government by un- veiling his incredible shrinking cabinet, but it is not as clever a trick as it sounds. The Progressive Conservative premier elected on a promise to reduce government appointed cabinet of only 19 members including himself. Harris boasted that it is the smallest in more than 30 years and he is quickly fulfiiiing his promise. He has to be given credit for having eight fewer ministers than the New Democrats whom he defeated. Tory, Liberal and NDP cabinets in recent dec- ades averaged 26-27 ministers and were bigger than needed because premiers crammed' in rep- resentatives of every geographical area and eth- nic groups as well as MPPs who helped them become party leader The biggest by far, although Harris neglected to mention it despite having been a member was the last Tory cabinet under premier Frank Miller, who had 33 ministers including virtually every MPP who supported ham. There was no indication that Miller's huge cabinet functioned better than its predecessors, although it was not around long enough for much of a trial. The smallest recent cabinet was that of Liberal premier David Peterson, who had only 23 min- isters for much of his tenure and was down to 21 for a time. Despite its size, it produced giant legislation including pay equity and banning extra -billing by doctors. Thebiggest concern expressed about the downsizing of Harris' cabinet is that Ernie Eves will be overworked as deputy premier, finance minister and government house leader. But others have carried comparable work- loads and been effective, including Liberal Robert Nixon, minister of finance and revenue and house leaders all at the same time. Hams also was given a head starfon cutting Publications Mail Rag stratlon Nixn�F0386 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: CANADA Within 40 miles (65 km.) addressed to non letter carder addresses 633.00 plus 32.31 6.3.T. Outside 40 miles (65 km.) or any letter canter address 333.00 plus 330.00 (total 63.00) ♦ 4.31. A.S.T. Outside Canada 399.00 plus 56.93 AST (includes 388.40 postage) Published Each Wednesday Mornlns at 424 Main St., Exeter, Ontario, NOM 134 by J.W. Eedy Pubtkadons Ltd. Telephone 1.519-2363331 • Fax: 519-23507e6 G.s.T. ARieti2 M3 ealth Matters By Heather Mir The caffeine question Medical research has proven the adverse affects of many hab- its or lifestyles that were quite acceptable 20 years ago. Three martini lunches, fat and salt la- den food and smoking are all in- dulgences we know are bad for our health. It seem the only vice we have left is our morning cup of coffee. With the recent resurgence of coffee houses, the status of the dark brew has been elevated from a morning pick-me-up to the center of many social gather- ings. What was once a haven for beatnik culture and poetry readings has been replaced by a gathering place for all ages and social groups. Coffee has expanded from the traditional brewed variety into specialty flavored coffee, cafe latte, cappachino and espresso. Whatever the kind, coffee is a natural stimulant which can aid in mental clarity, improve motor performance and boost energy and alertness. The mood altering properties of coffee vary from person to person and heavy drinkers can develop a tolerance for caffeine. Although there may be less neg- ative effects as the body grows used to caffeine, without a daily intake. Coffee drinkers display the classic symptoms of addic- tion. Withdrawal from coffee can result in headaches, lethargy and irritability. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and people who are not used to this may experience nausea, ner- vousness, headaches or palpita- tions. In large amounts some in- dividuals may develop gastric ulceration, insomnia, anxiety or vertigo. Caffeine is not only present in coffee. Tea, chocolate, and many soft drinks also contain caffeine. Some over-the- counter medicines contain as much caffeine per tablet than a cup of coffee. A moderately - strong cup of coffee may con- tain /5 to 125 milligrams of caf- • feine. The pain reliever Exce- drin contains as much as 65 mg per tablet. Most health care professionals recommend restricting caffeine intake to 200 milligrams daily. In addition, doctors strongly ad- vise pregnant women to limit their caffeine intake. Because caffeine decreases blood flow to the brain it has been used in treating migraines headaches. It is also used in casestof poisoning by depress- ants such as alcohol and mor- phine and studies demonstrate that it may increase the effec- tiveness of common analgesics such as aspirin. By widening bronchial airways, caffeine can help to relieve asthma attacks. While moderate consumption of caffeine may actually in- crease performance and atten- tion, heavy coffee or tea drink- ers may want to check with their physician to determine what is a safe level to maintain well- being. Harris' shrinking cabinet because the NDP already had abolished some ministries but greedily left six of its MPPs as ministers without portfolio so they could con- tinue collecting ministers' salaries. All Harris had to do was abolish these sine- cures and make some natural mergers such as municipal affairs with housing, natural resourc- es with northern development and mines, and economic development and trade with tourism and he had his 19 -member cabinet. This has eliminated eight ministers and their personal staffs, which under the NDP common- ly ran to 0-16 people, and should facilitate more cuts because branches such as those in communications and promoting French servic- es and freedom of information will be duplicat- ed when ministries merge. But it is still a long way short of cutting into the huge mass of the public service, which Har- ris must do to make savings that are significant. Harris like his predecessors tried to make a point in announcing his cabinet -- that he stands for smaller government. The New Democrats announced their cabinet • in 1990 in a university hall where more ordi- nary folk could applaud and later the staid leg- islature rang to the winging of Solidarity Forev- er instead of George Drew Knew My Father. This was supposed to demonstrate that the perennial outsiders, union stewards and factory workers, were in the corridors of power at last. but soon many of them were parading out in the cold again because the NDP broke promis- es. The Liberals in 1985 unveiled their cabinet for the first time on the legislature lawn where anyone could watch to symbolize they had an open government 'without walls', but later a small clique made many decisions in back rooms. Harris sounds more like he means what he says -- but cabinet swearing -ins have not al- ways been an accurate guide to a government's performance.