Upg is out to lunch Dear Editor: Interesting isa’s it that city hall felt it necessary to have a referendum on whether to borrow $2 mil- lion for a running tack at Mahon Park and yet they can find $2.85 million out of the coffers to renovate city hal with no such pub- lic consultation. If the public had to be asked on one — why not the other? The city clerk is quoted as saying the city has been ‘funding the project since 1990 from “excess funds” and that the renovations | would not result in a tax increase to homeowners. Funny — my taxes have gone up since 1990 — aren’t those increases the source of these so- called “excess _ funds?” Isn’t that a tax increase? Good for Councillors Dean and Fearnley: some- body. has to call this into. question. How dumb does the mayor and the majority of council think the public is? - Roderick Clark North Vancouver Dear Editor: I strongly support free speech for all: feft, mght, centre or any shades thereof. However, I have a probiem, as Mr. Collins does, with the misrepresen- tation of information. In his Aprif 23 column, Mr. Collins referred several times to the 17th-century English Civil War faction, the Levellers, as being strong supporters of Oliver Cromwell’s dictatorship. They were not. The Levellers fought on the Parliamentary side in the Civil War along with Cromwell’s group, the Geutlemen Independents, but the Levellers, extremists in their own time, believed strongly in freedom from tyranny and oppression, the extension of the franchise to include considerably Chretien bad for your health north shore news MAIL Box more males than just landowners, clearly delineated checks on the power of represenvatives, fair and frequent clections, and freedom of reiigion. Their pamphlets included all these ideas, which culminated in their most noteworthy achievements: three Agreements of the People, each more refined than its predecessor, were endeavors to create the first modern constitution in England: the “Magna Charta [1215] ... containing many markes of intollerable bondage, and the Lawes thar have been made since by Parliaments, have in very many par- ticulars made our Government much more oppressive and intollerabic,” Richard Overton wrote in 1646. Cromwell and his son-in-law Ireton despised and feared the Levellers. Unfortunately, Cromwell's Independents were the more numer- ous group, and they were able to silence the Levellers after the Civil War. The Levellers were generally forgot- ten until the late 19th century, when some of the reforms they were in favor of were finally implemented. The measures the Levellers pro- posed were extreme for their own ame, but they were the first in Europe to believe in equal rights (albeit for men only) and among the first in England to stand up for religious toleration (for all Christians). They were undoubtedly, as Mr. Collins put it, a “prisste group” in their own social context, out it does not follow that they would now be in favor of stifling “right-wing” views as in ye olde Levellers Mr. Collins says. me J believe that, as the Levellers them- selves created “freedom of speech” by speaking out against their oppressive monarchs and. governn.ents, they would now continue to support what they were so instrumental in creating. Everyone who has the good fortune to live in a constitutional democracy like Canada should rake a moment to thank the Levellers for their courage in sup- rting the rights of the people. ; po On ace note, I would like to commend the “Youth Views” reporter, Adam Shaughnessy, for his outstanding article, “Olson’s Antics too much for escheuer@unixg.ubc.ca MAILBOX POLICY LETTERS to the editor Dear Editor: Canada has reached the locale known as “Dire Straits” a.k.a. being in deep trouble. Wake up all daydreaming Canadians! Courtesy of Jean Chretien and his disciples your future health is in dire jeopardy. Already a multiplicity of beneficial herbs, minerals, and vita- mins have been banned from sale to Mr. and Mrs. Public. Or have you noticed? Therein lies the danger. We sleep while this ghoul of a so-called prime minister proceeds to remove health-giving nat- ural medications from our reach. He bends to lobbying of drug cartels who see these God-given products as a threat to their future profits as more and more people use them and recognize their worth. The very fact that prescription drug-pushers are so concerned about herbal remedies obviously speaks volumes for the efficien- cy of these natural sicdications, . I personally use rlawthorn, perhaps the best known natural heart conditioner, since suffering two heart attacks a year ago. It is now a banned item. There’s more to come! His machinations even aim at reducing potencies of essential vitamins C and E (both proven vital to’ health by acclaimed medics for decades) to a point where they will become essentially valueless. I’m but one voice. Make yourself heard. Write to Chretien forcefully {no stamp required) and demand he refer to his proud Charter of Rights and ‘Freedoms and abide by ie. Demand. your tight to choose your own medical route. bert B. Griffin North Vancouver must be legible (prefer- - ably typewritten) and include your name, full address and telephone number. . Due to space con- straints the North Shore News cannot publish all letters, Published letters may be édited for brevi- y, clarity, accuracy, legality and taste. Submissions can be faxed to 985-2104 but still must be signed and fully addressed. If you have to convert your RRSPs this year, you owe it to yourself to meet with one of our experienced retirement advisors and try the new Scotia Lifetime Financial Guide. it's a computerized service that projects your personal financial situation throughout your retirement years. You will receive a free, personalized and confidential report of your best retirement ‘income strategies. There is no cost or obligation. 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