Comments on: Things I’m wondering about… http://trashysworld.ca/2009/05/21/things-i%e2%80%99m-wondering-about%e2%80%a6/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=things-i%25e2%2580%2599m-wondering-about%25e2%2580%25a6 Scribbling some perspective on Canada, Ottawa and whatever else crosses my mind... Sat, 19 May 2012 14:25:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: trashee http://trashysworld.ca/2009/05/21/things-i%e2%80%99m-wondering-about%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1105 trashee Fri, 22 May 2009 12:14:26 +0000 http://trashysworld.ca/?p=986#comment-1105 I'm the same as you. If I could bring in about the same income for about the same number of working hours, I'd do it in a flash. But, municipal councillors put in very long hours -I'm not saying that they need be "productive" hours. for a salary that is low relative to the amount of time on the job. Have I ever mentioned that I once was one of those evil ones? Not here but back in my homeland in the Parry Sound area. It is a thankless job and you work late nights and every weekend. It was a part time position in my my little ol' township, but still demanding. Maybe I'll run one day. But not right now. I’m the same as you. If I could bring in about the same income for about the same number of working hours, I’d do it in a flash.
But, municipal councillors put in very long hours -I’m not saying that they need be “productive” hours. for a salary that is low relative to the amount of time on the job.
Have I ever mentioned that I once was one of those evil ones? Not here but back in my homeland in the Parry Sound area. It is a thankless job and you work late nights and every weekend. It was a part time position in my my little ol’ township, but still demanding.
Maybe I’ll run one day. But not right now.

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://trashysworld.ca/2009/05/21/things-i%e2%80%99m-wondering-about%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1092 Evolving Squid Thu, 21 May 2009 19:08:51 +0000 http://trashysworld.ca/?p=986#comment-1092 If I could maintain my current standard of living I have now as a city councillor, I would run in the riding in which I have lived for the bulk of the last 21 years (i.e. against Maria Mcrae). In essence, it's not worth it for me to run, even if I think I could do a better job. Regardless of whether or not I will run, there have been other choices in nearly every riding. It would be a simple matter to clean house on city council... people just don't do it. I would love to see all 24 replaced, but I'll settle for a majority of them being replaced. People love to blame the mayor, but the mayor is only 1 vote. The problem is the rest of them and their teenage "we're not going to do what you want and you can't make us" attitudes. All I've seen out of the rural folks is them wanting to go back to the day when the Ottawa taxpayers paid for everything and the rural poeple got it free just by being sort of close. Living rural isn't nearly as attractive when you have to pay to bring services to you, rather than having the services pay to come to you. From my point of view, amalgamation seems to be working just fine - or at least as fine as city council ever worked... which I suppose means it's not working, so you have me there. If I could maintain my current standard of living I have now as a city councillor, I would run in the riding in which I have lived for the bulk of the last 21 years (i.e. against Maria Mcrae). In essence, it’s not worth it for me to run, even if I think I could do a better job.

Regardless of whether or not I will run, there have been other choices in nearly every riding. It would be a simple matter to clean house on city council… people just don’t do it.

I would love to see all 24 replaced, but I’ll settle for a majority of them being replaced. People love to blame the mayor, but the mayor is only 1 vote. The problem is the rest of them and their teenage “we’re not going to do what you want and you can’t make us” attitudes.

All I’ve seen out of the rural folks is them wanting to go back to the day when the Ottawa taxpayers paid for everything and the rural poeple got it free just by being sort of close. Living rural isn’t nearly as attractive when you have to pay to bring services to you, rather than having the services pay to come to you. From my point of view, amalgamation seems to be working just fine – or at least as fine as city council ever worked… which I suppose means it’s not working, so you have me there.

]]> By: trashee http://trashysworld.ca/2009/05/21/things-i%e2%80%99m-wondering-about%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1090 trashee Thu, 21 May 2009 18:31:46 +0000 http://trashysworld.ca/?p=986#comment-1090 OK. So do we replace all 24 of them? And if yes, are you going to run and unseat Mr. Hume? Big problem is that amalgamation doesn't work in a City that has a large rural component. I know this because it was the subject of my Master's thesis. OK. So do we replace all 24 of them? And if yes, are you going to run and unseat Mr. Hume?
Big problem is that amalgamation doesn’t work in a City that has a large rural component. I know this because it was the subject of my Master’s thesis.

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://trashysworld.ca/2009/05/21/things-i%e2%80%99m-wondering-about%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1085 Evolving Squid Thu, 21 May 2009 17:56:29 +0000 http://trashysworld.ca/?p=986#comment-1085 re: O'brien The pro-status-quo, pro-incumbent-city-councillor media desperately want O'brien to be guilty... if he is found guilty, they can freely dump all their vitriol on him. If he's not found guilty, they may have to go and look at the real reason city council is not effective: the other 24 members, most of whom have sat in their city hall chairs for so long their arses have taken the same shape. This whole mayor thing is a diversion from the real problem: Our city government doesn't work and the people who are to blame are looking to deflect that blame onto someone other than themselves. Even if O'brien *IS* guilty, it doesn't change the fact that the rest of city council has been wholly ineffective and have spent the last 2 years going out of their way to undermine the mayor rather than effectively govern. That seems to be lost on the media who are more interested in ensuring nothing sticks to their little darlings. re: O’brien

The pro-status-quo, pro-incumbent-city-councillor media desperately want O’brien to be guilty… if he is found guilty, they can freely dump all their vitriol on him.

If he’s not found guilty, they may have to go and look at the real reason city council is not effective: the other 24 members, most of whom have sat in their city hall chairs for so long their arses have taken the same shape.

This whole mayor thing is a diversion from the real problem: Our city government doesn’t work and the people who are to blame are looking to deflect that blame onto someone other than themselves.

Even if O’brien *IS* guilty, it doesn’t change the fact that the rest of city council has been wholly ineffective and have spent the last 2 years going out of their way to undermine the mayor rather than effectively govern. That seems to be lost on the media who are more interested in ensuring nothing sticks to their little darlings.

]]> By: Evolving Squid http://trashysworld.ca/2009/05/21/things-i%e2%80%99m-wondering-about%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Evolving Squid Thu, 21 May 2009 17:50:21 +0000 http://trashysworld.ca/?p=986#comment-1083 re: attack ads Some segments of the population that might vote for Harper will not do so as long as he runs attack ads. re: attack ads

Some segments of the population that might vote for Harper will not do so as long as he runs attack ads.

]]>