Toronto Municipal Elections 2010

[Mr.Canada]

Yes, let's find a solution to the long national nightmare of marathons!

Seriously: who is this a problem for? I know Ford is obsessed with maintaining the supremacy of the automobile, but this is just silly meddling.

First: I merely opened the door for others to focus on his weight. I personally don't have a problem with Ford's gross obesity.

Second and speaking of failing to bring anything of substance forward, I've yet to see you or any of the other Ford trolls mount any kind of defense of his ludicrous and unworkable platform, even after I went through the effort of detailing just a few of the reasons why it, and Ford himself, suck. I understand, though: its impossible to defend the indefensible. Empty slogans are so much easier.

So the lefts plan to keep growing spending while raising taxes year after year is sustainable?

The amount of money that is currently being spent at city hall is insane. It needs to scaled back drastically. Also Toronto has way too many councilors as it is and Rob Ford plans top decrease the number of seats. Other larger cities have less councilors then TO does and everything works out fine. Los Angles for example has twice the population and only has 15 councilors so I don't see why Toronto needs so many. That's one thing that Rob Ford would do if Mayor.

Rob Ford plans to decrease the annual office budget of all councilors. $70,000 a year for an office budget per councilor is absurd and irresponsible. Another thing thing that Rob Ford plans to do if he were mayor.

The plan of the left to raise spending and taxes year after year is no good. When do you lefties stop raising taxes? When the working class has nothing left to live on? The left always claims to love the working class. Fact is they only love their tax dollars, why else would continually raise the taxes of the working class?

[Black Dog]

You're being intellectually dishonest. The issue he's addressing isn't the marathons, but the severe traffic dislocation and congestion they cause, especially during the summer. Believe it or not, but many people don't enjoy being stuck in traffic for hours on end during sweltering heat. I know, shocking.

There's two parts here: first, there's only two marathons that I'm aware of in Toronto, so we're talking two days out of the year (and not in the summer). How severe can the impact on traffic be? I'd wager fewer people are inconvenienced than actually take part in these events, which leads me to point number two. That is: these events generate a tremendous amount of charitable revenue, and attract people from all over the world. Pushing them off the streets into parks (that probably wouldn't be able to support events of that size anyway) is yet another demonstration of Ford's small-minded provincial worldview.

Good lord, New York, London and Boston, cities of much larger size and with even greater traffic issues than Toronto, are able to close their streets for their world-famous marathons. It's a non-issue.

So the lefts plan to keep growing spending while raising taxes year after year is sustainable?

Who's plan is that?

The amount of money that is currently being spent at city hall is insane. It needs to scaled back drastically.

Okay: what would be an appropriate amount to spend for a city of this size?

Also Toronto has way too many councilors as it is and Rob Ford plans top decrease the number of seats. Other larger cities have less councilors then TO does and everything works out fine. Los Angles for example has twice the population and only has 15 councilors so I don't see why Toronto needs so many. That's one thing that Rob Ford would do if Mayor.

Rob Ford plans to decrease the annual office budget of all councilors. $70,000 a year for an office budget per councilor is absurd and irresponsible. Another thing thing that Rob Ford plans to do if he were mayor.

Won't happen, unless you think Mr. Charisma there will be able to convince half of council to vote themselves out of work. It's an empty promise, and that's not even considering the fact that his cuts to council would account for about 0.09 per cent of the total budget. (Figure from this excellent breakdown/beatdown of Ford's economic "vision").

It just goes to show that once you get past the generalities and the slogans and down to specifics, Ford is hopelessly out of his depth. His only saving grace will be that so many people (as evidenced by this thread) are themselves unable to get past the slogans.

The plan of the left to raise spending and taxes year after year is no good. When do you lefties stop raising taxes? When the working class has nothing left to live on? The left always claims to love the working class. Fact is they only love their tax dollars, why else would continually raise the taxes of the working class?

Actually, the left would rather tax the rich, but the elites and their fellow travelers prefer to push the tax burden onto the diminishing middle class and the workers, so your ire is misplaced (as usual). Not that that has anything to do with this discussion.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Black Dog

[guyser]

You're being intellectually dishonest. The issue he's addressing isn't the marathons, but the severe traffic dislocation and congestion they cause, especially during the summer. Believe it or not, but many people don't enjoy being stuck in traffic for hours on end during sweltering heat. I know, shocking.

You see Ford is to stupid to see beyond his nose when he makes statements like this.

The moment he tries to ban closing roads or severely restrict the attemtpts to, is the day he will regret he ever took the doughnut out of his yap to say so.

Because there goes the Santa Clause parade. He may as well commit suicide.

[M.Dancer]

You're being intellectually dishonest. The issue he's addressing isn't the marathons, but the severe traffic dislocation and congestion they cause, especially during the summer.

Marathons are held on weekends. There is no serious gridlock, congestions etc etc....

[Mr.Canada]

Who's plan is that?

That is the plan of the left wing. It's what Mayor Miller has done for the last 8 years. He's raised taxes virtually every year since taking office. We can expect more of the same with Smitherman or Miller clone, Joey Pants.

[M.Dancer]

This election is the classic case of choosing the lesser of 4 evils.

Luckily the voters know who the greater is..

[Shady]

There's two parts here: first, there's only two marathons that I'm aware of in Toronto, so we're talking two days out of the year

I'm pretty sure there's more than two. Not much more, but one or two more. Anyways, who cares if it's only a few days a year? It's not a significant issue, but it doesn't mean that it's not a good idea.

Ford's small-minded provincial worldview.

Provincial worldview? That's quite the oxymoron. He's not running for Premier or Prime Minister. He's running to be mayor of a city. Give your hyperbole a rest already.

You see Ford is to stupid to see beyond his nose when he makes statements like this.

You must mean too stupid. I guess you're too stupid to know that.

is the day he will regret he ever took the doughnut out of his yap to say so.

That's what I think regarding Smitherman on many issues. Except substitute doughnut for dick.

Marathons are held on weekends. There is no serious gridlock, congestions etc etc....

I disagree. Many of my Toronto friends would disagree. This has been a contentious issue. It's a minor issue, but an issue nonetheless.

Regardless, I find Smitherman far more boorish than Ford.

[Black Dog]

I'm pretty sure there's more than two. Not much more, but one or two more. Anyways, who cares if it's only a few days a year? It's not a significant issue, but it doesn't mean that it's not a good idea.

It's not an issue and it's not a good idea for other reasons I outlined.

Provincial worldview? That's quite the oxymoron. He's not running for Premier or Prime Minister. He's running to be mayor of a city. Give your hyperbole a rest already.

Time to bust out the dictionary:

Provincial (adj):

a : limited in outlook : narrow

b : lacking the polish of urban society : unsophisticated

I disagree. Many of my Toronto friends would disagree. This has been a contentious issue. It's a minor issue, but an issue nonetheless.

And I say caveat emptor. Don't want to get caught up in traffic? Find another route or means of transportation or stay home.

[Shady]

Don't want to get caught up in traffic? Find another route or means of transportation or stay home.

I'm of a different opinion. Want to run a marathon? Find another route. Streets are for cars and bikes.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Shady

[Black Dog]

That is the plan of the left wing. It's what Mayor Miller has done for the last 8 years. He's raised taxes virtually every year since taking office. We can expect more of the same with Smitherman or Miller clone, Joey Pants.

And Rob Ford, who has promised to increase property taxes by almost 2 per cent every year.

[M.Dancer]

Streets are for cars and bikes.

Not according to Rob Ford. In this case, you are both wrong.

[Black Dog]

I'm of a different opinion. What to run a marathon? Find another route. Streets are for cars and bikes.

As I said: I bet more people participate in the marathon than are inconvenienced by it. This is Ford making a mountain out of a molehill, which is another thread throughout his campaign.

Speaking of common threads, I've noticed too a complete unwillingness and/or inability to actually defend any of Ford's proposals on the part of his lackeys here. Too busy making gay jokes about Smitherman I guess.

[Black Dog]

Not according to Rob Ford. In this case, you are both wrong.

Well played.

[guyser]

I'm pretty sure there's more than two. Not much more, but one or two more.

Nope, its two. And only two. Soon to be only one though if the agreement holds up

Provincial worldview? That's quite the oxymoron. He's not running for Premier or Prime Minister. He's running to be mayor of a city. Give your hyperbole a rest already.

And the Mayor oversees a budget larger than ......Nfld, PEI, Nova Scotia, New Bruns,Manitoba, and Sask.

And you talk about hyperbole. Is this where one inserts the laughing at you icon?

You must mean too stupid. I guess you're too stupid to know that.

Yes, spelling mistake. How horrible. Perhaps you have some rebuttal other than a spelling mistake ?

That's what I think regarding Smitherman on many issues. Except substitute doughnut for dick.

I disagree. Many of my Toronto friends would disagree. This has been a contentious issue. It's a minor issue, but an issue nonetheless.

Then your friends are morons.

Edited September 29, 2010 by guyser

[Michael Hardner]

Not according to Rob Ford. In this case, you are both wrong.

You ride a bike, don't you ?

[Shady]

Too busy making gay jokes about Smitherman I guess.

That's ok. You're too busy making fat jokes anyways.

[Shady]

Yes, spelling mistake. How horrible. Perhaps you have some rebuttal other than a spelling mistake ?

It's not spelling as much as it is grammar. However, if you're going to call someone stupid, it may help not to act stupid yourself. Just a thought.

[Black Dog]

That's ok. You're too busy making fat jokes anyways.

Difference being, I can make fat jokes and substantive critiques of Ford's platform. It's called multitasking.

[Shady]

Difference being, I can make fat jokes and substantive critiques of Ford's platform. It's called multitasking.

It's hard to critique Smitherman's platform. Because it's all a carbon copy of Ford's. With some minor tweaking to look as though it's original.

Vote for George Smitherman. He'll waste another billion of your tax dollars. Did you know that he's really smart?

[Black Dog]

It's hard to critique Smitherman's platform. Because it's all a carbon copy of Ford's. With some minor tweaking to look as though it's original.

Not true: Smitherman's platform has far more detail than Rob Ford's "stop the gravy train!" cri de coeur. That being said, he's not my ideal choice for mayor. But how does that help your (and Ford's) cause?

[Shady]

Not true: Smitherman's platform has far more detail than Rob Ford's

All he did is expand on Rob Ford's platform. He has no original ideas of his own. He's too busy cursing out volunteers.

[Mr.Canada]

And I say caveat emptor. Don't want to get caught up in traffic? Find another route or means of transportation or stay home.

So you say Toronto is a world class city yet you don't want anyone visiting it who plans on driving. Is this how other large urban centres behave? Sounds like pouting from someone who doesn't have a traffic solution to me.

Edited September 29, 2010 by Mr.Canada

[treehugger]

Marathons are held on weekends. There is no serious gridlock, congestions etc etc....

There may be two marathons in the summer but there is a dozen other big runs that are held on the city streets in the summer.

Only on the weekends? Do you think that people don't work on the weekends?

There is police,EM, fire, ambulance that all have to take different routes.And regular citizens that want to get where they are going.

There is nothing wrong whatsoever in moving the runs to places such as Downsview Park or another park with a lot of space.

[treehugger]

It's like Lastman grew some hair...then kept on growing and growing and growing....

Mel Lastman was mayor for 25 years in North York and Toronto.

Obviously the majority wanted him.

He was a good mayor until he got very ill at the end of his career.

[Shady]

There may be two marathons in the summer but there is a dozen other big runs that are held on the city streets in the summer.

Only on the weekends? Do you think that people don't work on the weekends?

There is police,EM, fire, ambulance that all have to take different routes.And regular citizens that want to get where they are going.

There is nothing wrong whatsoever in moving the runs to places such as Downsview Park or another park with a lot of space.

Exactly. There's nothing wrong with taking advantage of some of the great parks in and around Toronto. Why is it that marathon runners are treated like royalty? If there's no problem using Toronto's streets for that, then I'm sure the 2 or 3 road hockey tournaments I plan to organize shouldn't have a problem either. Right? I wanna set up dozens of road hockey games in downtown Toronto on several weekends this winter. Maybe a couple during the week too. Close down some streets and have some fun. It'll be a blast!