Comments on: Don Valley West – Ground Zero on D-Day http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/ Dissecting What You Choose to Ignore Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:59:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Emilia Liz http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23778 Emilia Liz Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:36:56 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23778 To Anna, yes, I see your point, that I should have voted, even as a protest vote (say for the Green Party or other "alternative" parties). Ironically, I was noting that I've nicknamed my daughter the joey (baby kangaroo) because she's always at the breast. But if I were a real kangaroo I'd have to vote because in Australia it's an obligation for all citizens. I suppose the counterargument is that freedom includes the freedom not to vote. I just hope the parties have more impressive leaders. I suppose as I get older I get more conservative, not socially (for example, I have no problem with same-sex marriage) but fiscally. I don't think we're getting what we pay in taxes. Example: TTC. The other day I walked from my house to the subway station, which took 15 minutes. In all that time the bus never came, even though this is a well-travelled route. So maybe the Conservatives will come up with a more charismatic leader next time... To Anna, yes, I see your point, that I should have voted, even as a protest vote (say for the Green Party or other “alternative” parties). Ironically, I was noting that I’ve nicknamed my daughter the joey (baby kangaroo) because she’s always at the breast. But if I were a real kangaroo I’d have to vote because in Australia it’s an obligation for all citizens. I suppose the counterargument is that freedom includes the freedom not to vote.

I just hope the parties have more impressive leaders. I suppose as I get older I get more conservative, not socially (for example, I have no problem with same-sex marriage) but fiscally. I don’t think we’re getting what we pay in taxes. Example: TTC. The other day I walked from my house to the subway station, which took 15 minutes. In all that time the bus never came, even though this is a well-travelled route. So maybe the Conservatives will come up with a more charismatic leader next time…

]]> By: Anna Keightley http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23774 Anna Keightley Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:39:35 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23774 My voting procedure was identical to yours, Cynapse. I.D., made to state name and address, etc. It must be standard regulation. However, I deplore reports of bigotry and ill-feelings expressed even visually by ignorant members of our community. Sorry you and your new bride had to experience that. No need for it. However, I don't view John Tory as "back-tracking" per se. As pointed out, other provinces employ the faith-based schooling with some notable successes. Tory simply stated he retained the principles of the proposal, but people didn't get it was just a proposal at this stage. Tory did say, he'd "seek the will of the people" on the matter, should he have been elected. IMO, too many far right Conservatives lost this one for Tory, unwilling to make concessions, despite his principled/centre right stand on issues. They couldn't 'see the forest for the trees' unfortunately. Amazing how people voted for higher taxation -- that's a given under the Liberals, once again in charge of the taxpurse, with their vested interests being served regularly. Emilia, even if the inspiration wasn't necessarily there to vote, either because of your perception of the individual or policy platform, there should be a way to choose anyway. Your vote, along with the many eligible that wouldn't vote, may have made all the difference. Please remember that next time round. I think Ontarions will have to decide to demand tax justice, way prior to four years being up. Too long for economic justice to ensue. My voting procedure was identical to yours, Cynapse. I.D., made to state name and address, etc. It must be standard regulation.

However, I deplore reports of bigotry and ill-feelings expressed even visually by ignorant members of our community. Sorry you and your new bride had to experience that. No need for it.

However, I don’t view John Tory as “back-tracking” per se. As pointed out, other provinces employ the faith-based schooling with some notable successes. Tory simply stated he retained the principles of the proposal, but people didn’t get it was just a proposal at this stage. Tory did say, he’d “seek the will of the people” on the matter, should he have been elected.

IMO, too many far right Conservatives lost this one for Tory, unwilling to make concessions, despite his principled/centre right stand on issues. They couldn’t ‘see the forest for the trees’ unfortunately. Amazing how people voted for higher taxation — that’s a given under the Liberals, once again in charge of the taxpurse, with their vested interests being served regularly.

Emilia, even if the inspiration wasn’t necessarily there to vote, either because of your perception of the individual or policy platform, there should be a way to choose anyway. Your vote, along with the many eligible that wouldn’t vote, may have made all the difference. Please remember that next time round. I think Ontarions will have to decide to demand tax justice, way prior to four years being up. Too long for economic justice to ensue.

]]> By: Emilia Liz http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23755 Emilia Liz Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:06:53 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23755 Oh, I know politicians backtrack all the time - it comes with the territory. But it doesn't give them much credibility. I think Tory backtracked on the school issue when he saw polls showing that people didn't support funding religious schools. Oh, I know politicians backtrack all the time – it comes with the territory. But it doesn’t give them much credibility. I think Tory backtracked on the school issue when he saw polls showing that people didn’t support funding religious schools.

]]> By: Cyanpse http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23754 Cyanpse Thu, 11 Oct 2007 03:05:49 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23754 11:06 - Tory has conceded his seat and the election 11:06 – Tory has conceded his seat and the election

]]> By: Cyanpse http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23753 Cyanpse Thu, 11 Oct 2007 02:10:41 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23753 10:11pm - Tory and Wynne are about 300 votes apart. Emilia - most politicians wait until after being elected to backtrack. I have no doubt that Tory's flip-flop hurt his party's chances, although the real mistake was trying to push for FB-schools in the first place. This isn't the Deep South. Moreover, many of the Muslims etc in this region are trying to ESCAPE the extremism tied to religious education in their homeland. Tory only really got serious support from the GTA Jewish community and rural evangelicals - hardly a statistically significant demographic (though possibly a monetarily important one). 10:11pm – Tory and Wynne are about 300 votes apart.

Emilia – most politicians wait until after being elected to backtrack. I have no doubt that Tory’s flip-flop hurt his party’s chances, although the real mistake was trying to push for FB-schools in the first place. This isn’t the Deep South. Moreover, many of the Muslims etc in this region are trying to ESCAPE the extremism tied to religious education in their homeland. Tory only really got serious support from the GTA Jewish community and rural evangelicals – hardly a statistically significant demographic (though possibly a monetarily important one).

]]> By: Emilia Liz http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23752 Emilia Liz Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:52:45 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23752 I actually didn't vote; none of the leaders particularly impressed me, so I just abstained. Now even though I disagreed with Tory about his stance on school funding, that per se would not have made or broken my vote. On the other hand, I think his "flipflop" on the position made many people sceptical of him. Again, even though I disagreed with his support of school funding, I think his backtracking on the issue made me even more suspicious of him. Anyway, just my opinion. I actually didn’t vote; none of the leaders particularly impressed me, so I just abstained. Now even though I disagreed with Tory about his stance on school funding, that per se would not have made or broken my vote. On the other hand, I think his “flipflop” on the position made many people sceptical of him. Again, even though I disagreed with his support of school funding, I think his backtracking on the issue made me even more suspicious of him. Anyway, just my opinion.

]]> By: Cyanpse http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/comment-page-1/#comment-23751 Cyanpse Thu, 11 Oct 2007 01:49:07 +0000 http://www.cynicsunlimited.com/2007/10/10/don-valley-west-ground-zero-on-d-day/#comment-23751 9:47pm - City News has declared a Liberal majority. John Tory trails 754-380 9:47pm – City News has declared a Liberal majority. John Tory trails 754-380

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