Doug Ford: A hero in his own mind

Doug Ford wants to run in any May election that gets called. I am not sanguine about his prospects, or any results if elected: while the constituents of his riding may go for it, I sincerely doubt that such a prospect may warm the cockles of Tim Hudak's heart. Hudak has not established himself as thoroughly as a good candidate, and if the Liberals do go down, it will be to the benefit of the NDP, not him. Having Doug in his pocket does not guarantee a good hand, because, frankly, he and Rob are national embarrassments. At least the rest of the country can take comfort in that they are confined to Toronto.

Metrolinx has prepared a list of possible taxes, fees and charges to facilitate badly needed transit construction in Toronto, including subway construction (ie, the Downtown Relief Line, not the utterly useless subway to Scarborough). Naturally, this is anathema to the proud Ford nation! Cheered on by the hacks at the Toronto Sun, Doug will no doubt ride a populist wave to victory (no...couldn't say that with a straight face, sorry), and if he dosen't win, and if the Tories aren't in power, no doubt he will challenge Hudak for the party leadership---and I'm certain the prospect of that is making many Dippers and Grits smile.

Doug Ford's declaration of intent sounds like a high school bully rather than a grown man. Granted, I'm sure this will have some sway over a certain category of voter. The kind that hates all taxes, ever, period, yet still expects things handed to them---the reaction, in other words, of a dense and spoiled brat, who wants things but turns their nose up at working for them. Somehow this is the embodiment of populist conservativism. Somehow.

Taxes suck. On that there is no disagreement. However, how else are we going to make meaningful contributions of transit and infastructure construction and maintenance? A casino at it's best would make, what, a hundred and twenty million a year---versus 1.7 billion dollars on a dollar a day parking levy (which I noticed Ford was not unopposed to at one point). Ford has had enough time to put together a free-market based strategy. He has failed. A year ago Karen Stintz sat down, did the numbers, and came to the conclusion that there was no way Ford's underfunded turkey could fly.

Here's the dirty little secret: every major North American city has done some combination of what Metrolinx is proposing. Even Chicago, which is basically the second home of the Ford twins. Dealing with information you do not want to hear is one of life's great challenges. It's not fun.

I pray that Ford, both of them, gets turfed at the next two elections. The city of Toronto cannot afford either of them. If they do get their way, this city is heading into a political dark age. But we won't be taxed to death: productivity sapping gridlock will reign, we'll be overpolluted and congested, perhaps, but we still won't be taxed, and that's the important thing!