By Arthur Weinreb
Monday, April 9, 2007
Politicians, especially those that have been in office for a long time after winning numerous re-elections, tend to become arrogant. Not all; but with politicians who remain long past their sell-by dates, arrogance appears to be the rule rather than the exception. When they reach this level of comfort with their office they tend to make decisions upon what is in their best interest without considering the effect that their decisions have on the voters who put them there. They grow aloof from their constituents and have neither the time nor inclination to consider how what they do impacts on the lives of those whom they kid themselves into believing that they are there to serve.
David Dingwall, former Liberal MP, cabinet minister and head of the Canadian Mint, is perhaps a classic example of this type of politician. After so many years as an elected official, followed by a stint feeding at the trough, Dingwall couldn't understand why the unwashed masses were upset at the small change that he was expensing at their cost. All the dingbat could do was utter his now famous line at a parliamentary committee hearing -- "I'm entitled to my entitlements". This kind of thinking shows a complete and utter contempt for the hardworking taxpayers of the country.
David Dingwall should be unbeatable when it comes to the "Marie Antoinette 'let them eat cake' Award, but that fact hasn't stopped others from trying. Perhaps an even more contemptuous incident took place recently by some esteemed members of Toronto City Council.
Council is working on its operating budget that will be just short of $8 billion. The city mothers are famous for whining about how the federal and provincial governments don't hand them enough money while at the same time they take absolutely no responsibility in controlling their own spending. Despite Mayor David Miller's promise to hold property tax increases to the rate of inflation (which no Torontonian with an IQ in at least double digits actually believed), property owners in Canada's largest city are to be hit with a 3.8 per cent increase next year; almost double that of the rate of inflation.
Rookie councillor Paul Ainslie proposed that the councillors eliminate the $20,000 a year that is appropriated from the city's taxpayers so that the councillors and their staffs can enjoy free coffee. The rookie also suggested that instead of councillors being supplied with free pens and other office supplies, they be forced to buy them out of their annual $53,100 office budgets. Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, proving once and for all that he can use 4-syllable words, described Ainslie's proposal as "stupid, idiotic and dumb".
Mammoliti's reasoning for his kindergarten-style remarks is that the poor councillors are being picked on when it comes to budgeting and cuts should apply to everyone, not just the elected politicians.
Boo hoo hoo!
Giorgio Mammoliti's criticism of Paul Ainslie's proposed spending reductions is a classic example of the arrogance that some politicians develop when they have stayed way too long in office. Mammoliti showed a complete and utter contempt of how the voters feel and a complete lack of understanding regarding those people that he represents. Torontonians, from welfare recipients to minimum wage employees to perk-laden executives who make six figure salaries line up at Starbucks or Second Cup or Tim's to pay for their own cup of coffee. And they resent the fact that councillors feel it is a right bestowed upon them that other people pay to keep them awake during their silly meetings.
Residents of the city are not, to use one of Giorgio's favourite words, "dumb". We all know that in a multi-billion dollar budget, chopping off $20,000 here and $30,000 there is not going to have a significant impact on either the budget or the lives of Torontonians. Even newbie Ainslie who was quoted as saying, "It's only small items, but I think we should be leading by example" realizes this. Politicians like Mammoliti have no interest "leading by example" because they are not leaders; they're simply there to defend their turf, even to the point of fighting for their free coffee and cookies.
It is absolutely disgusting the way Coun. Mammoliti fought so hard to shoot down the thought that he might be deprived of his God-given taxpayer funded cups of coffee. He sits in his tower completely oblivious to the way that ordinary taxpayers think. He doesn't care about people -- only about himself.
Giorgio is the poster boy for why time limits are a good idea. His reaction to losing his free hit of caffeine is a classic illustration of political arrogance. When politicians can no longer relate to the people who put them there, it's time for them to go.
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