This Blog will discuss politics, government, corruption, police, S.I.U., courts, education, min. of attorney general, min. of labour, v.o.i.c.e. and other current and past events of interest to concerned citizens. In the "About me" section to the right and down I have included the names of persons whom I have tremendous respect for. Their influence on me however has been primarily environmental (and personal) and this is therefore a disclaimer that all words posted on this Blog/Website are mine and I alone am responsible for them. I say this with the greatest respect and affection to my friends.

Monday, February 26, 2018

THOSE THAT WIN ELECTIONS AND OTHER LOTTERIES REAP THE SPOILS



So what is the difference between winning an election versus winning a lottery? Essentially the odds are just so much better to win an election than a lottery. Sometimes the odds are as good as fifty/fifty and other times you might have three opponents still giving you odds of one in four of winning the election. The other item of course is money. The big reason there aren't more people at the municipal levels running is because of money. It literally costs thousands of dollars to run for office and very few of us dealing with mortgages and children (when we were younger) can afford it. Therefore politics generally is a sport for the better off financially. At the provincial and federal level it is all about party affiliations. You need to be endorsed by a major established party and that usually is a result of a history of political activism either within the party itself or as a school trustee or on a municipal council. Occasionally very high profile candidates will be parachuted into ridings that are very important to the party.

Any idiot can win a lottery and believe me any idiot can and has won municipal elections as well as others. Here in Woolwich Township we abound with examples of ill educated representatives, stale thinking and behaviours that were tolerated in the 60s and 70s but certainly aren't anymore. This is due to the huge advantage that incumbents are given. Unfortunately voters seldom do their due diligence prior to depositing their vote. Here especially in Elmira it's all about family name. If you are a Martin, Bauman, Strauss, Hahn, Sittler, Shantz, Gingrich then you are half elected before the first vote drops. Mennonite and or German last names carry the day. Secondly the luck factor is greatly increased if you are a new candidate and their is some kind of scandal or crisis immediately before the election. Incumbents rely on their "record" which the vast majority know nothing about. If as in 2010 we have a major discharge from Chemtura (Uniroyal) immediately before the election then the voters remember the headlines and throw out the old council. If all is quiet then usually the incumbents win yet again.

Todd Cowan was elected as mayor with virtually zero elected experience but both his timing was right (2010-see above) plus he campaigned door to door and people remembered him for that at the polling stations. In hindsight Todd was absolutely not elected due to any attributes or talents. The same goes for others both on that council and other councils. Voting records, gaffes and even laziness are seldom causes for electoral defeat. It's all about smiling, obfuscating and superficial glad handing and socializing. Former Woolwich mayor Bill Strauss was never accused of being smooth or polished but he sure had a way with people and at public events. he gave a good impression.

This folks is why the best anyone can say about democracy is that it's better than any of the alternatives. Ouch. Talk about damned with faint praise.
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  1. Watch dogFebruary 27, 2018 at 7:24 AM

    Elmira councilors ,Woolwich,,Even the castle kilbrite are not trusted by farmers and resident's .They steal land saying under old laws they can steal land to make public trails going from the new subdivision in baden across a farmers field over to sand hills Rd. Saying they had plans to make a comuntiy trail link up to a trail on Sandhills witch doesn't exists and they couldn't even produce the plan for the future trail.Urs n Rita owners bought the land to continue farming and expand there farm not realizing castle kilbrite had interest in the land for a new subdivision aswell the subdivision ends at there farm land and they continually get bugged by city to sell there property so they can continue the subdivision.When URS said never it started a war and the theift of a trip of land or as the councils says under old laws they can seize land of public interest to make trails go through the middle of a farmers field .Truly it's done out of spite cause the land wished to be kept as farm land by the Olde farmer who passed away.His wishes were kept as URS And Rita bought his property witch a joins URS and Rita's property.Now I'm sure the old owners rolling over in his grave aswell as disgusted the way Castle Kilbrite stole a strip of farm land to make z trail as they say. But every in baden knows how mutch the city of baden wished to own it for the subdivision exspansion.Thats enough to make every hard working land owner nervous aswell as disgusted the way they stole or as they way city puts it under public interest in a walking trail and under old laws can seize anyone's property .5 years ago I had a tree fall on my truck while driving through st Agatha the home owner said he begged and bugged the city to take the hollowed tree by racoon down.But the city felt no danger to the public Now they deny the home owner and neighbour's never complain to kastle kilbrite.So yes there's alot of un trust by public and citizens and farm owners in these areas .Unless you're related to councilors you're not safe and neither is you're land.Everyone agrees with Allen Marshall it's time for change to get these no experienced councilors replaced with inteligent repasentatives who won't agree like puppets on matters.witch I'm sure is the main reason they don't want public at there meeting or even the knowledge of what's going on at the meetings .That's not how we run a country city or even small town with confidence. They hide behind closed doors do the public doesn't see how stupid they look at there soap box meetings.Totally disgusting unprofessional. We need repasentatives like Mr Allen Marshall who has the experience on matters and the coconuts to put his foot down on matters and not afraid to rock the boat.These small town council meetings Should be accountable to the public and should have experienced councilors who art afraid to open the doors to the public it's our matters our future and we have no input or knowledge of the matters before council.Im sure if there meetings were on TV .They public would be demanding a major over hall and fire alot of related councilors who agree like puppets and hire the ones that have actual experience.Or is the mayors worried they'll be replaced by coucilors with actual experience aswell as see there friends and relatives replaced too.

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