The Quebec election results were marred tonight by someone who shot two people (killing one) and setting a smoke bomb at the club where the leader of the PQ was speaking.
In the days and weeks ahead we will hear from many people talking about gun control, mental health and Anglo / French relations in Quebec. Let’s not forget someone died on a night when we should be celebrating the democratic process.
NASA and JPL’s latest Mars Probe Curiosity has just landed on Mars and I and many others all held our collective breath as the probe reported back that it had landed and everything was looking good. I’m always amazed to see a probe land within a very small target after travelling for millions of miles.
This is why science is cool.
As I write this it’s 3am and a line of severe thunderstorms with rain and a very intense lightshow has just moved through the area. As the storm started to build, the local London twitter community took to talking about the storm and what effects it was having in their neighbourhoods.
Based on some questions people have been asking me of late. I need to get this written out.
My beliefs in politicians (and of all people in general) is to be transparent, honest and acknowledge your mistakes. You will never get everyone in your riding or ward to agree with you 100% of the time, but people do value honesty and integrity.
I really get annoyed when politicians make a claim in a sound bite and then don’t follow up with details on it. The recent municipal elections involving a four year tax freeze is one example. Many people seem to make vague statements like finding inefficiencies and that no services will be cut. Post election we start hearing that no ‘core’ services will be cut.
When you run a campaign to get someone elected it should not be ‘at any cost’ As a voter and a citizen I’m insulted when a politician tries less then transparent means to get elected. Every other citizen should feel the same way in my humble opinion.
Glen Pearson blogged about The Myth of the Silent Majority and how many use that line to try and discourage engagement. Some people opposing some of these citizen groups have reasons to be concerned because it nullifies some of the tactics of fear and uncertainly that we have seen happening more and more in Canadian politics of all levels. It’s tactics I’ve seen in the last three elections and I’m insulted by it.
I realize that my vision of the city is not going to align 100% with other people but we have to give all citizens the true facts, without trying to mask things. In addition there is nothing wrong with coming out and admitting you were wrong. People can and will forgive if you do something wrong and try to make it right.
Question: Do you agree there needs to be more transparency in politics?
Tags: Engagement, politics
Politics, Rants | scadmin | 
July 24, 2012 10:35 pm | 
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