Raise the Hammer

“Rather than control spending they simply found ways to get their hands deeper into taxpayer’s pockets”

Completely agree. I too am angry about the increase in spending (was it 17% over 8 years…? Something obnoxious like that). The vehicle and land transfer taxes smack of money grabs, a tax at every turn. These measures rightly tainted Miller’s term and need to be addressed.

I would also like to address overspending at the union level. Why are unionized employees getting pay rises when the rest of us are taking pay cuts or getting laid off? I want municipal employees to be well looked after but this needs to be commensurate with the economy and the tax payer’s experience.

I also would like someone to address our biggest budget – police services and the fire department. Are we getting value for money? Can we scale back or improve the efficiency of these services? But nobody is addressing this. These departments are untouchable – even by Ford. Cost cutting and government efficiency is not the exclusive mandate of ‘the right.’

“HIV/Aids in western society is still largely a disease transmitted through unprotected gay sex and intravenous drug use.”

Who cares? I don’t care about these issues at the municipal level. But what Ford has demonstrated with his comments – regardless of whether he is right or not – is that he is incapable of discussing sensitive matters in a mature way. I’m not one for political correctness, in fact I find it tedious for the most part, but our leaders have to at least avoid upsetting people if they are going to build consensus. With such comments Ford is going to upset and alienate many of the same people he purports to represent.

“His comment about Asian people was intended as a compliment if not verbalized in the most adroit way.”

Generalizations, even if complimentary, don’t serve anyone well, they just demonstrate ignorance and confirm a lack of awareness. They alienate people. They are not appropriate traits for someone who needs to grasp complex issues and build consensus.

“As for his denials of his actions that may have been less than admirable. Remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIP_KDQmXs”

I didn’t see the clip but come on - the man gets drunk at a hockey game, swears at and slobbers all over the people next to him, and then denies it when confronted with the evidence! Oh, and then he apologizes.

We then find out that he’s been charged with drunk driving and marijuana possession. Again, when confronted with this – what does he do? He denies it!

All this speaks to the man’s character. Sure, I think Ford would be an amusing drinking companion, I don’t believe he’s bigoted or racist at heart. He just says it like it is. A great dinner guest perhaps (unless you have gay, Asian or new immigrant folks around your table. Or unless any of your guests have lost a loved one to a bike accident). But truly, these qualities are not appropriate for a major city mayor.

“I will however defend his right to run for, win decisively with a huge mandate, and hold office in Toronto”

Whoever contested this? He has every right to run and win. But we voters also have a duty to think with our heads and not our emotions. And our democracy should be modeled in a way that puts forward better quality candidates. Ford won because the choice was so poor and emotions were running so high. Many hiring mistakes have been made in this way.

“He has not yet served one day as mayor and the whining from (and let's be honest, it is whining) from the left is piercing. If anyone can find an opponent to Mr. Ford who has vilified him in ink or video that is not identified with being from the left, please share with me.”

Again your ideology is getting in the way of the argument. I’ve vilified Ford on this site and I’d describe myself as centrist if anything. I voted for Thatcher when I lived in the UK. I like elements of both the Tory and Liberal platforms. Who cares? How does any of this help the argument? It’s not about right and left, it’s about what’s good for Toronto. Good policies come from all sides of the political spectrum.

“Good public policy is not the exclusive domain of those that come from the left of the political spectrum”

Agreed, who says it was? You sound bitter. I would love to hear more about your experience under Miller, it’s obviously been upsetting. As I said above, good policies come from all sides of the political spectrum.

“If in four years he has been an abject failure as mayor, I'll be one of the first ones to say so”

I sincerely hope he isn’t, and I’m keeping an open mind. I’ve been disappointed by politicians from every side of the spectrum – including Miller - and voiced my disapproval. And I’ll do so with Ford. But I’ll also give him support for anything he proposes which makes sense and kudos for anything he does well. I hope your experience under Ford is better than with Miller. Toronto needs to hurry up and cut the fat and start making some real progress.

Cheers

Ben