Take Your Pick, Ontario
Why is it that the best and the brightest, the most competent, dependable, honestly reliable individuals shy away from politics? So that we're left with the brightly incompetent, dependably unreliable and honestly dim picks waiting to be elevated to candidate status and ultimately their goal - governing us. So do we or do we not get what we deserve?
Suppose so.
For Ontario the next big date with voter destiny and provincial disarray is October 10. An otherwise auspicious date but I'm not divulging. The electioneering, long ago launched, but now apparently in earnest, is tediously reminiscent of all those other, earlier elections when we brought aboard yet another incompetent administration of our provincial affairs. Do we deserve this?
Guess so.
Here's Dalton McGuinty standing doughtily on his record, as befits the consummate politician. If anyone was groomed by familial antecedents and personal attributes it's got to be this guy, a politician born. Greasy, slimy too, but that, alas is the unfortunate picture that forms in any electorate's mind, lazily elaborating on type and forecast.
Premier McGuinty doesn't think much of his main adversary's platform, so he's demeaning and degrading it and in the process making himself look even sleazier than usual, handily dodging his own responsibility in off-putting voters and his responsibilities as far as verbose promises go.
All of a sudden the premier views the public funding of faith-based schools as inimical to the civic and social health of the children of this province. He's the sterling product of a faith-based school, as are his siblings and his children. Ongoing funding of the Roman Catholic Separate School system is in a hands-off position; the status quo remains.
It's all those other obviously undeserving religions clamouring for public funding in the interests of fairness that has him aghast at the very thought of further dividing the populace and churning out greater numbers of people whose parochial religious outlook on life in general and on life in this great province has him huffing and puffing with indignation.
Hypocrite.
Then there's John Tory, born with the proverbial silver spoon, his mother the doyen of Toronto high society, looking for something to do with himself other than employment as a high-charged, highly paid corporate CEO. He's the one who brought up this whole mess yet again, promising to fund faith-based schools. Little did he know the far-reaching effect his tax-funded generosity would have on his campaign prospects.
But he's also got other and better ideas with which to woo the voters. To undo, for example, some of the disastrous decisions brought forward and placed into law by one of his own colleagues, former Conservative premier Mike Harris (hiss when you say that). Who downloaded provincial responsibilities onto municipalities, forcing them to pay for public services beyond their scope of operation and their ability to fund.
He's also promising to fund public transit across the province to a far greater degree. Again, taking us back to a time that once was, when public transit vehicles proudly bore signage giving due credit to the province for its transit funding. Good stuff out of the mouth of a Tory - John Tory: "I am simply presenting myself as I am. the most important thing you can do is to be true to yourself."
Yawn.
These motherhood statements have a self-serving whiff of indigestible blather about them. Here's Dalton McGuinty's counterpoint: "It's not about strategy. It's what fundamentally you believe is the right thing to do." Yep. Fundamentally you earnestly give your word to the public, then believe the right thing to do is to betray that word. If that's the criteria, it's a winning one. Or at least it was.
Voters appear to be of the opinion that it's time for change. On the other hand, in polls, voters representing a minuscule 6% of the electorate claim that honesty, integrity and trust are among the top three issues for them. Think about it: voters have given up on the possibility that if you're a politician you're honest, display integrity in your behaviour and decision-making and are worthy of trust.
Education through experience. A sad and weary cynicism.
Suppose so.
For Ontario the next big date with voter destiny and provincial disarray is October 10. An otherwise auspicious date but I'm not divulging. The electioneering, long ago launched, but now apparently in earnest, is tediously reminiscent of all those other, earlier elections when we brought aboard yet another incompetent administration of our provincial affairs. Do we deserve this?
Guess so.
Here's Dalton McGuinty standing doughtily on his record, as befits the consummate politician. If anyone was groomed by familial antecedents and personal attributes it's got to be this guy, a politician born. Greasy, slimy too, but that, alas is the unfortunate picture that forms in any electorate's mind, lazily elaborating on type and forecast.
Premier McGuinty doesn't think much of his main adversary's platform, so he's demeaning and degrading it and in the process making himself look even sleazier than usual, handily dodging his own responsibility in off-putting voters and his responsibilities as far as verbose promises go.
All of a sudden the premier views the public funding of faith-based schools as inimical to the civic and social health of the children of this province. He's the sterling product of a faith-based school, as are his siblings and his children. Ongoing funding of the Roman Catholic Separate School system is in a hands-off position; the status quo remains.
It's all those other obviously undeserving religions clamouring for public funding in the interests of fairness that has him aghast at the very thought of further dividing the populace and churning out greater numbers of people whose parochial religious outlook on life in general and on life in this great province has him huffing and puffing with indignation.
Hypocrite.
Then there's John Tory, born with the proverbial silver spoon, his mother the doyen of Toronto high society, looking for something to do with himself other than employment as a high-charged, highly paid corporate CEO. He's the one who brought up this whole mess yet again, promising to fund faith-based schools. Little did he know the far-reaching effect his tax-funded generosity would have on his campaign prospects.
But he's also got other and better ideas with which to woo the voters. To undo, for example, some of the disastrous decisions brought forward and placed into law by one of his own colleagues, former Conservative premier Mike Harris (hiss when you say that). Who downloaded provincial responsibilities onto municipalities, forcing them to pay for public services beyond their scope of operation and their ability to fund.
He's also promising to fund public transit across the province to a far greater degree. Again, taking us back to a time that once was, when public transit vehicles proudly bore signage giving due credit to the province for its transit funding. Good stuff out of the mouth of a Tory - John Tory: "I am simply presenting myself as I am. the most important thing you can do is to be true to yourself."
Yawn.
These motherhood statements have a self-serving whiff of indigestible blather about them. Here's Dalton McGuinty's counterpoint: "It's not about strategy. It's what fundamentally you believe is the right thing to do." Yep. Fundamentally you earnestly give your word to the public, then believe the right thing to do is to betray that word. If that's the criteria, it's a winning one. Or at least it was.
Voters appear to be of the opinion that it's time for change. On the other hand, in polls, voters representing a minuscule 6% of the electorate claim that honesty, integrity and trust are among the top three issues for them. Think about it: voters have given up on the possibility that if you're a politician you're honest, display integrity in your behaviour and decision-making and are worthy of trust.
Education through experience. A sad and weary cynicism.
Labels: Inconvenient Politics, Life's Like That, Realities
posted by Pieface | 1:50 PM
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