Dave Robinson has left a new comment on your post "Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition":
You have mentioned that the Toronto computer leasing scandal took place on "the watch" of David Miller. That would suggest it was during his term as Mayor. Surely the events of the scandal occurred when Mr. Lastman was Mayor and Tom Jacobek (he of the mysterious bank deposits) was his Budget Chief. Mr. Miller was a Councillor at the time and was a critic of what were alleged to be shady dealings. Tieing the blame to him might be comparable to blaming the worst of the Mormac events on a Councillor at the time who opposed them.
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I did suggest that because I thought that was the correct chronology.
My apology.
The Bellamy Inquiry cost millions. As did the one last year in Missuassaga. What did it accomplish?
In the face of corruption of millions of tax dollars overspent in a computer deal. Where thousands changed hands in a parking garage.
Where sleaze openly abounded within Toronto city hall.
The Province produced permissive legislation to allow municipalities to adopt codes of conduct.
As if such aberrant behaviour among municipal councillors was likely rampant throughout and all it needed was a handbook to spell out for all the potential reprobates and dullards in municipal politics, the precise meaning of the word integrity.
Who did the city catch in the net then with their two hundred thousand dollar a year integrity commissioner?
Councilor Rob Ford of course. For drinking too much at a football game and swearing and blinding at whoever came into his view. And denying it afterwards.
For failing to claim any money from an expense allowance and thereby casting a shadow on fellow councillors who spent it all.
He was said to be a hard-working councillor who cared about his constituents. But that didn't count.
Turned out it did. And all the other stuff that must have been seen for what it was and discounted People voted for Ford.Now they don't choose to explain it.
Because it's nobody's business but theirs.
His ratings are still high.
These posts are not about Rob Ford.
They are about people and their marvelous ability to see through the crap to find the kernel that's real.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to talk about politics and politicians in a manner that tries to place both it and them on an elevated pedestal.
ReplyDeleteYou occasionally harken back to days gone by when things appeared more civil, and the practitioners might have been more professional. Or is that wistful thinking.
And then you pour on the corruption and the sleazy and the permissive legislature and conclude with "all the potential reprobates and dullards in municipal politics."
Abraham Lincoln was a great president but a poor politician. Lyndon Johnson was possibly the greatest politician of recent American times in terms of his abilities in getting legislation passed, but he was a disaster both personally and as President - see Vietnam.
Unfortunately we seem to lack leaders like these, apart from Trudeau, in modern times. What's the matter with us?