November 13
Well. That's it, then. The municipal elections are over. And Larry O'Brien is the new mayor of Ottawa.
A guy who talks in sports cliches and looks for all the world like Daddy Warbucks won the 2006 local prize.
Speaking of which, he's a boffo fundraiser, apparently. Yup.
He also promised a freeze on taxes. I don't know why I'm surprised he won - he promised a freeze on taxes. I mean, how stupid were the other contenders not to pipe up, "Oh yeah. And if elected Mayor of Ottawa - I will freeze taxes." Maybe even adding, "Taxes are TOO HIGH!!"
Voters lap that stuff up like kittens crouched over a nice warm bowl of milk.
But rather than go on and on as I tend to do whenever rich old Conservative white guys win a go at public office to make government smaller (as in - belly up to the trough to grandly dump in more slop, I guess), let me just pick out a bit at random from an article I read today on Bourque - a bit which pretty much sums up Larry O'Brien, local technology executive. (And who can forget about Ottawa and technology executives - eh? - oh - except for the part where the big bubble goes, "Pop!").
Here is a little excerpt from the article:
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O'Brien said the change endorsed by voters is his vision of a tax freeze and a safer, cleaner city.
"The city is not a business, but they want it to start being run like a business," he said.
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Safer, cleaner. Hey! I've got an idea on how to make Ottawa a safer, cleaner city! Make public transit better! And free! There you go Mayor O'Brien! A safer, cleaner city - GUARANTEED!
Oh. Wait. I just noticed the "tax freeze" part. Nevermind.
Wow. "The city is not a business, but they want it to start being run like a business"? Beauty, eh, Larry? A built in excuse for when the citizens start grumbling and the infrastructure starts crumbling for why your attempt to run the city like a business didn't work out - "the city is NOT a business". Clever.
Anyway, I have an idea for candidates who just can't bring themselves to sink to the tax freeze promise level. Say loudly and clearly to the candidate who CAN bring himself to sink to the tax freeze promise level, "Fuck Off".
Do it for me - Sooey.
Thanks.
