Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "It Aint That Simple":
The comment you have chosen to print is but a short addendum to a longer previous one that you elected not to share.
A Board of Directors votes on issues and the majority holds sway. No different from any form of democratic government. But a Board of Directors is usually far more knowledgeable about the matters on which they vote.
You have a wonderful sense of what politics should be in a democracy. But the fact is that potential voters have become more and more disengaged from and disgusted with the entire process. In last week's Ontario election 49.2% of eligible voters cast ballots, the lowest percentage ever. The Liberals had 37.62% of votes cast, the Conservatives 35.43%, the NDP 22.73% and the Green Party 2.94%. I will let you do the math to determine what percentage of votes cast represents the will of the people. Less than 20% of eligibles voted in the barely minority government.
It was also very interesting to see that the blowhard Toronto mayor, who was supposed to gather in all sorts of Conservative votes in his city, produced not a single seat. It should be obvious that a big man with an even bigger voice making outrageous statements is not going to be a positive influence for very long. And so it came to pass.
The Department Director who in my opinion is doing a good job is Leisure Services. . The report card recently issued by Christopher Watts dealt quite accurately with members of Council and the mayor.
One cannot expect high performance when four out of nine are well below failing grade.
Politics and politicians have become things and creatures generally less than admired. Some seek office in order to give something back of themselves to their community. Many others are attracted by a message their egos rattles around in their heads. They like the concept of power. I am sick and tired of seeing a news story start: "So and so has come to power." The only acceptable word is "responsibility." "Power" should be treated as a weasel word.
You talk about good working relationships and trust, about bringing out the best in people. What if there isn't very much of this "best" to start with? If you follow American politics could you please show me where there is any good working relationship and trust. Politicians and their parties to the south of us act like two of packs of rabid dogs. What was a once great country is losing its political, financial and moral way.
And even though we aren't nearly as bad as them we are also in a decline
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My commenter will note a slight edit of his post. Protocol demands it. I generally don't publish a comment unless I can publish the whole but I sense this writer's need to explode about the recent election and I do not disagree with the opinion.
The election was indeed a lack lustre affair. A bit like my views on war. Nobody wins. The losers makes the most mistakes and run out of machines and manpower and finally lose the public's support.
No war is glorious or triumphant. Nor was the result of last week's election.
Politics have been on the decline for a long time. For many reasons.
Rob Ford is the Mayor of Toronto because he told people what he really believed. Toronto voters had had their fill of effete bafflegab. They picked Ford because he was the one who was real.
It's the reason municipal politics is most satisfying. People can have influence even after an election. As long as they are kept informed of what is happening.
The new media is the means of renewal. It's an exciting prospect which can only grow and improve and have an increasing influence.
Stephanie did not win nearly enough votes in the Riiding of Nickel Belt to make the effort worthwhile. But she did enjoy the experience, gave a good account of herself and learned what she could never have learned otherwise.
We were guests on election night in the home of Pat Robertson, the Green candidate for the Riding of Sudbury, who had initially resolved to be an independent candidate from outrage over current social conditions.
It's a driven and passionate person who chooses that route The Green Party attracts candidates of passionate conviction. It does not reflect in votes..
What the passionate people need is to infiltrate the traditional parties and make them be what they claim to be. It would not be easy. It would take however long it would take. However long that might be, it would be shorter than displacing them in the political spectrum.
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Dear Evelyn:
May this brilliant day bring health and happiness to you and your entire family.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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