Ah, the joys of living in a democracy! Safe in the knowledge we have a system where the public gets to vote for the leadership it thinks it should get. Of course, there may be the odd glitch, a snag. But, well, what does one expect? Perfection?Now this is not about our federal or provincial levels of government. Both are above reproach, shinning examples of all things judicious and wise. No, this is a cut below, a look at city politics. Those who aspire to lead us to a better way.
Not so long ago, the voters of Toronto gave David Miller and his supporters of similar political stripe the mandate to run our city for another term. They, in turn, began by crying fiscal poverty, voting to take a raise and generating discord.
The poverty issue is particularly bothersome.
Miller and his council spend countless hours over a free lunch struggling for ways to meet Toronto's budget woes. Those elected officials who do not share their collective view sit at another table.
This results in the electorate watching and wondering what is smoke and what is screen? Most of us are in a perpetual fog. Others attempt to take action, such as the guy who shoved a card in my hand the other day.
"Here! Read this and decide if this is sane, fair and in the public good," he said, while rushing to assail others intent on buying a case of libation.
The card screamed, in large print, "Enough is enough," then went on to report how our mayor and his group's plans to raise money to offset Toronto's burgeoning deficit.
Miller and supporters are in favour of a 10 per cent new tax on any alcoholic beverage sold within the limits of Toronto. This tax, if adopted by this leadership, will raise the average cost of a case of beer $3, a bottle of wine $1, plus, and about $2.60 on spirits.
This new tax would be on top of the 58 per cent taxes we already pay on these items and could add annually $140 per household to the city's coffers.
A pittance when one considers the same mayor and crowd have increased city spending by $1.4 billion or 22 per cent in the last 30 months.
Who am I to judge such leadership?
I mean these dedicated souls are entitled to a raise, free lunch and coffee, free parking and newspapers, any other perk that comes his or her way. Their salary, you ask? Why, hardly enough to buy a Gucci suit, a decent pair of shoes.
Of course, if this tax is put in place, Toronto residents will just go outside the city to purchase, drink and generally enjoy themselves. The money saved on taxes could pay the cab fee.
In another move, Miller and crowd had decided the Support Our Troops ribbons must be removed.
Of course, the majority of the public want the ribbons to stay put, at least until our troops from all distant lands are home safe, the conflicts resolved.
The have now voted to keep the ribbons on indefinitely.
Is this leadership listening?
Fortunately we have some intelligent elected souls. They reason and react. The others simply follow, as do sheep. Maybe they will be sheered at the next election.