There's Only One Way To Go.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "You Can Fool Some Of The People":

It is disheartening to see serious people put together responsible platforms when running for public office, including a listing of their lifetime experiences in the work world, family life and community activity, and then, upon being elected, for many of the right reasons, they disintegrate before our very eyes, and the responsibility that they sought is abandoned, and we, the voters, are left scratching our heads and wondering if the entire process is not somehow corrupting.

Do decent people change so dramatically when they become elected officials, or were they never decent in the first place?

Is the concept of trust no longer valid? What will replace it?

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NO NO NO ...the process is not  corrupting.

Decent people do get elected to office without having an  idea of the requirements. Sometimes they don't do it again.

Most times, a  losing campaign  is sufficiently bruising not to be repeated.

You'd better believe the concept of trust is valid.

If you think it is threatened, it's time for you to step up to the plate.

All that has been achieved with blood sweat and tears cannot be abandoned so  easily.

"All that's needed for  evil to triumph is for good men  and women to do nothing"

Michael Ignatieff gave a presentation to students at Osgoode Law School at York University this week. A National Post story
reflecting  on Mr. Ignatieff's negative view of politics was forwarded. 

I had  already heard a different slant on the lecture. Alison thought it was an outstanding presentation  I think no small part of her appreciation came from having had the experience.My impression was Mr. Ignatieff  spoke of his experience in politics as a complete revelation. 

I think the Professor was recruited  from outside politics for the Liberal leadership because they thought he would repeat the  Trudeau mantra.  They were wrong .. so very wrong.

I think Trudeau had a focus. It wasn't about  a career in politics.

It was about bringing home the Constitution and enshrining into law a  Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

He was obsessed.

Being obsessed is  a quality of leadership.

The measure of The Honorable Pierre Trudeau's  success will be recorded in history.

Politics at its best is like white river rafting. Raging  torrents, jagged rocks, flimsy craft, disaster looming, catastrophe imminent and nothing but skill, intuition, confidence and the exhilaration of risk to justify the challenge.

The concept of being alive is never more keen.

Intuition is  natural. Skill is honed by experience. The willingness to risk is obsessive/compulsive.

Politics is not for everyone. .

Time was, when  Councils were  composed of incumbents.People would vote for experience every time.

A new members would mostly be elected to fill a vacant seat.

There was opportunity to learn and plenty of willing instructors. There was no manual of precedents and traditions.  No army of redundant civil servants creating their own employment from so-called expertise.

People allowed the neophyte  time to learn..

Nowadays, people without experience are catapulted into leadership roles, without  an understanding of the concept let alone recognise  the need .

The spotlight on the Mayor's chair is not enviable in the circumstances.  Expectations are high. People believed. Others just knew there was no option. There is no place to hide.

Things  need to improve.  




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