Today's media circus and spin doctoring over Rob Ford was good reading material at lunch and fun to listen to driving home but it amounted to bread and circuses.
Toronto doesn't need that -- it needs someone who, after being Mayor, can say "I found Toronto brick, I left it marble."
All great Mayors have a passion and a vision for their city -- they see their city as something to build up -- not merely as something that needs to be cut back and limited. Can you imagine Fiorello La Guardia saying New York City is too big already and we better limit who can come and live in NYC?
But that's where Ford's head is -- Toronto has had its day -- its too big and now we have to retrench. The glory days are over.
And Ford's response to the media criticism was typical enough. "They were coming after me because people know I'm the only one who can stop the waste at City Hall," he said. "They know I'm going to take the bull by the horns and stop the wasteful spending."
Of course that's nonsense -- "They" were coming after Ford because he does seem to have a record of bad judgment, mistating facts and a violent temper. Now, if there was the ability to make people work together and some good policy ideas, perhaps the other issues could be overlooked. Sir John A. Macdonald, had personal issues, but he was still a great Prime Minister.
Rob Ford's biggest plus is he's fiscally prudent. And that's important -- but it's not enough to attack "waste" (remember how well cutting waste worked under Mike Harris?). A crabbed, narrow view of the world, consumed by fear of foreigners, is not the approach we need. You need to invest prudently in the future. And there are options available -- Ford isn't the only game in town.
There is passion and competence in the candidates for Mayor. Rocco Rossi gets my support for fiscal prudence with vision -- but look for yourself. Go online and read the various platforms. Ask who will make Toronto a better city, who will make it a city of marble?
6 comments:
Like waste in Education, Social Services and Health care by Chretien Martin in the range of $ 25 Billion?
Chalk River was to be decommissioned in 2000. (Six years before CPC were given the opportunity).
How much spend was put off to fix roads bridges during those cuts by the Federal Liberals?
It is funny how you attack Harris, ignore Bob Rae cuts because both attacked the Liberals for hurting Ontario.
Rob Ford suggests government should be accountable and NOT do everything.
He is offering to scrap programs including budgets of his own, the media are free to pick up where his opponents are failing.
Toronto voters may have had enough with Liberal taxes, fees.
Truth is Toronto voters don't like any of the choices. The Rob thingie was ridic for 2010, who cares? Rossi is simply the pragmatic choice (and when did he ride a bike last?) *yawn*, Smitherman is a fake leftie, the burgoise in all it's glory. Vote meatloaf, like it'll make any dif.
Does improving management, productivity and cutting waste help Toronto?
You betcha!
I wouldn't ordinarily consider voting for RF but I see how ineffective the others have been.
Really? You'd support a neo-con who would privatize assets like Toronto Hydro?
I'm waiting to see who's running hardest against him -- assuming he doesn't flame out before -- and vote for that person. Anybody but Ford!
Impressive job of taking specific quotes painting him as a radical bigot. It is very original Fernhill.
Sorry but the character assassination smear campaign and panic from the media, angry left needs a new script.
Try attacking his policies and platform. Best of luck from what I see the leftist noise are being tuned out.
Sensey, the man is a violent, ignorant creep. He makes Mel Lastman look like a statesman. And that's saying something.
What is his platform, beyond gutting all the programs that make Toronto liveable?
Oh, except for the world's tallest flagpole. He's for that. It's at Finch and Mars and will be a 'tourist attraction'.
As for 'smear'? Totally unnecessary. The man smears himself and his followers every time he opens his fat yat.
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