Will prominent Socialist Olivia Chow win Toronto Mayoralty Race?

[Michael Hardner]

1 minute ago, Contrarian said:

Did you go beyond that, like Singapore? Because, in order for public transit to be fixed in this city, needs a mixed approach it seems, is my view.

Perhaps but that type of organization needs to be developed.  Private Companies don't work with government agencies right away - I have experience with this.  It's like breeding two different breeds of dog.

2 minutes ago, Contrarian said:

 in order for public transit to be fixed in this city, needs a mixed approach it seems, is my view.

The video is informative, you should listen to it (you don't have to watch just listen)

[Michael Hardner]

5 minutes ago, Contrarian said:

You don't think the private sector can help Uncle Sam? What are Olivia's tactics then? Throw money the issue?!

You are trying to engage me without understanding all the issues.

There are indeed advantages in using private providers to deliver public services, but it's complicated.

[herbie]

Noticed how one day after she's elected, National Post idealogue's front page article predicts her election will 'drive people to the right' next election.

Hasn't even taken office, they're already in attack mode. Maybe anit-Chow opinions will push anti-Trudeau tirades to Page Three soon.

[Michael Hardner]

40 minutes ago, herbie said:

Noticed how one day after she's elected, National Post idealogue's front page article predicts her election will 'drive people to the right' next election.

Hasn't even taken office, they're already in attack mode. Maybe anit-Chow opinions will push anti-Trudeau tirades to Page Three soon.

When Rae got elected, they actually organized to tell him that they weren't going to cooperate with anything he did.  There's your "elite" right there...

[ExFlyer]

On 6/27/2023 at 11:55 AM, Michael Hardner said:

Perhaps but that type of organization needs to be developed.  Private Companies don't work with government agencies right away - I have experience with this.  It's like breeding two different breeds of dog.

The video is informative, you should listen to it (you don't have to watch just listen)

That's funny

A dog doesn't care who it screws as long as it gets to screw, private companies follow the same pattern. LOL

[ExFlyer]

On 6/27/2023 at 12:59 PM, Contrarian said:

You don't think the private sector can help Uncle Sam? What are Olivia's tactics then? Throw money the issue?!

Forgive me for asking but you have used "help Uncle Sam" reference quite a few times and I am at a loss by what you mean. Who is "Uncle Sam" in your rhetoric?

[Michael Hardner]

2 hours ago, ExFlyer said:

That's funny

A dog doesn't care who it screws as long as it gets to screw, private companies follow the same pattern. LOL

Don't fall off your chair, but I'm going to defend companies against the government right now.

 

When I dealt with the government, the only person with any power to make decisions was the person 10 levels up...

It was insane, you could get nothing done and they wanted to have the right to reverse any decision.

The whole structure is set up to be as expensive and unproductive as possible.

Anybody doing business with that needs to jump through so many hoops, but when they get in they know enough to protect themselves and make a healthy profit also.

[SpankyMcFarland]

What a weird vote to hold with so many candidates. Time for ranked ballot or a run-off. 

[herbie]

5 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

When Rae got elected, they actually organized to tell him that they weren't going to cooperate with anything he did.  There's your "elite" right there...

I was there when Dave Barrett got elected. Did the CIA and mining companies conspire in a S American coup to undermine Chow yet?
And Glen Clark, the Opposition spent a whole term trashing his fast ferries and then surprise surprise could only get a penny on the dollar once they won and put them on the market?
Only to see BC's richest man hire Clark to run his billion dollar company's sales?

Ideology... more important than what's good for the country or the world.

[CdnFox]

2 hours ago, SpankyMcFarland said:

What a weird vote to hold with so many candidates. Time for ranked ballot or a run-off. 

I really like the idea of 'elimination rounds'.   Be it municiple or party leadership or what have you,  they should let everyone run, but  if more than 5 apply then extend the campaign and two - three weeks before the main election have a vote and the top 5 can continue - the rest are out of the running.  That gives voters time to really focus on viable candidates and what they offer and eliminates vote splitting amongst 1005 candidates

[ExFlyer]

12 hours ago, Michael Hardner said:

Don't fall off your chair, but I'm going to defend companies against the government right now.

 

When I dealt with the government, the only person with any power to make decisions was the person 10 levels up...

It was insane, you could get nothing done and they wanted to have the right to reverse any decision.

The whole structure is set up to be as expensive and unproductive as possible.

Anybody doing business with that needs to jump through so many hoops, but when they get in they know enough to protect themselves and make a healthy profit also.

I agree.

The problem the "underlings" have when it comes to serving the public is they are bound to the existing rules. If issues fall outside the rules, they have no authority (nor responsibility) at all and someone has to decide.

The myriad of rules and regulations are so intertwined between departments it is often not just a case of yea or nay from one, it is a case of various departments ensuring none of the rules and regulations are broken.

My tenure in the public service has led me to see that the biggest blockage is the rules put in place to be "transparent". While everyone wants transparency, when dealing with the multitude of departments and their requirements and mandates, transparency is not just the department that you are dealing with, it has to be checked to ensure no other department is affected.

Of course, when that happens, it always enters on the bottom rung of each department and moves its way up to where the information or permission can be released.

"Red Tape" is there because of public intervention.  Someone is not happy or pissed at a regulation and  forces change only adds to the already full book of rules.

For instance, the Supply Manual, the rule book used by government employees when purchasing everything the government needs or uses is more than 5000 pages long and many of the rules within refer to other documents that need to be complied with. The size is as a result of complaints made and every time a complaint is made, and another line is entered to ensure that complaint will not happen again.

Having said that, there are many companies that know exactly how to play by the rules and outside of the rules. The latter is why the rules change regularly.

Edited June 29, 2023 by ExFlyer

[ExFlyer]

13 hours ago, Contrarian said:

or Uncle Sugar:

Still do not know why you keep bringing this up.

We are not American and the video has no application here in Canada.

[Nationalist]

So Chow is our mayor.

Well...there goes the neighborhood. 

Time for me to leave.

[ExFlyer]

1 hour ago, Nationalist said:

So Chow is our mayor.

Well...there goes the neighborhood. 

Time for me to leave.

No, your mayor maybe, not mine

[Nationalist]

52 minutes ago, ExFlyer said:

No, your mayor maybe, not mine

Well...that's not really how democracy works but...ok.

Can I say Pixie-Dust is not my PM?

Edited June 29, 2023 by Nationalist

[Moonbox]

It is if you don't live in Toronto.  ?

[ExFlyer]

40 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

Well...that's not really how democracy works but...ok.

Can I say Pixie-Dust is not my PM?

Duhh, ya think everyone lives in hogtown???  Think again LOL

[Nationalist]

3 minutes ago, ExFlyer said:

Duhh, ya think everyone lives in hogtown???  Think again LOL

Did I say everyone lives in Toronto. No.

I said I live here and with Chow as the democratically elected mayor...I WANT OUT.

[Moonbox]

2 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

Did I say everyone lives in Toronto. No.

Sort of, because apparently ExFlyer saying she's not his mayor is not how democracy works.  

2 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

I said I live here and with Chow as the democratically elected mayor...I WANT OUT.

You should go live in Russia with your pal Vlad.  

[Nationalist]

7 minutes ago, Moonbox said:

Sort of, because apparently ExFlyer saying she's not his mayor is not how democracy works.  

You should go live in Russia with your pal Vlad.  

No I think I'll keep my house in Czech, and buy another in somewhere like Peterborough.

But thanks for the advice.

[Moonbox]

Maybe stay in Czech more.  ?

[SpankyMcFarland]

11 hours ago, CdnFox said:

I really like the idea of 'elimination rounds'.   Be it municiple or party leadership or what have you,  they should let everyone run, but  if more than 5 apply then extend the campaign and two - three weeks before the main election have a vote and the top 5 can continue - the rest are out of the running.  That gives voters time to really focus on viable candidates and what they offer and eliminates vote splitting amongst 1005 candidates

I suppose one objection to two votes is sustaining voter participation. However, something has to be done. That number of candidates to consider for an important political post is ridiculous. People are signing up for a laugh. Failing other possibilities, I’d make it much more difficult to run, e.g. five hundred signed endorsements (who then can’t endorse anyone else) and a 10,000 dollar fee. You’ll run out of friends and family members a long way before that. 

Edited June 29, 2023 by SpankyMcFarland

[CdnFox]

1 hour ago, SpankyMcFarland said:

I suppose one objection to two votes is sustaining voter participation.

Sure.  Try to look for ways to make it easier and less intrusive to people's lives (2 hour line ups are bad) but at the end of the day democracy does require participation and if you don't care enough to be bothered then maybe you shouldn't have a vote anyway

Quote

However, something has to be done. That number of candidates to consider for an important political post is ridiculous. People are signing up for a laugh. Failing other possibilities, I’d make it much more difficult to run, e.g. five hundred signed endorsements (who then can’t endorse anyone else) and a 10,000 dollar fee. You’ll run out of friends and family members a long way before that. 

Exactly. And the electorate can't reasonably focus on the credentials and policies of 15 different candidates. Most couldn't tell you all the stats of the players of their favorite hockey team, they're going to know the top 5 or 6 guys well and the rest not so much. Sure - some die hards will be able to say what every player's fave cake is but most won't.

Narrow it down in the end and that weeds out the small fry and gives people two weeks to really focus on what's left and for those candidates to really put their goods on the table.

Seriously - just for fun name 6 people who were in the mayor's race without looking it up.  LOL.  it's got to stop.

 

[ExFlyer]

3 hours ago, Nationalist said:

Did I say everyone lives in Toronto. No.

I said I live here and with Chow as the democratically elected mayor...I WANT OUT.

No, you did not say you lived there. You just said "So Chow is our mayor. "

So go... I am sure Chow won't miss you LOL

[herbie]

Move to Vancouver. Ken Sim might be more to your liking..... (or not!)