Mayor Miller Wants One Cent . . . Now!

Many people are saying that the main hurdle here in actually obtaining this funding is proving our worthiness.

With so much inefficient spending in our city (and a council that can't agree on seating arrangements for press photos), how are we going to show Canada that we have the ability to use the money well?

This worthiness issue is a strange one. It argues that we should get our finances in order before we go asking for money. But when will our finances ever be "in order"? If we don't ask for the money, it will never be offered to us. I don't see why we can't work at our budget and ask for better funding at the same time. We may achieve neither, but it doesn't doesn't hurt to go for it now. The GST money would come from the feds and it is a potential election year. Now is the time.

Worthiness is not only about getting our finances in order. It's about showing that Toronto knows how to manage its own money. If people don't believe you know how to manage money - why would they give you any?

This one-cent is thing is really confusing. Is Miller asking for one cent for all the cities in Canada or only Toronto? Miller has position himself as speaking for all cities in Canada but is he?

This one-cent is not the Feds - its our money. The Feds are going to get rid of that one-cent now Miller wants it for Toronto council. Who do you think can manage the money better - you or the 45 clowns in council (who cannot even take a picture together)?

Well, if give it to me (by cutting GST by 1%), I doubt that I'll put it in a pot with my buddies to re-pave Bathurst.

The "house in order" arguement holds no water.

What does "house in order" mean?

Getting rid of corruption?
Creating a more accountable civil service?
Ensuring responsible tax increases?
Running the most efficient public transit system in Canada?
Being the most efficient social service provider of any Ontario municipality?
Winning national public service awards?
Recognized as an environmental leader among municipalities?

Funly enough, Toronto is all of those things.

And, yeah, there isn't quite the level of decency that is expected of our political representation at 100 Queen West but do you think it's limited to City Hall? Look at what our esteemed prime minister did last week.

The difference between City Hall and Parliament Hill is level of autonomy

My apologies, as I was typing my kitten walked over the keyboard and hit post before I was ready. So to continue that thought...

The autonomy factor is important in that every "opposition" councillor is trying to carve out their own niche and don't have the structure of a party (for better or worse) to reel them in. So although it isn't acceptable, the system does encourage idiotic publicity stunts like what the right-wing pulled on Photo Day.

I'll also point out that the City has always had a balanced budget and it's been that way as long as the municipality (and former municipalities) has existed since it's their job by law. That's more than I can say for the provincial government.

Bottom line: the leadership of our city has demonstrated that it is capable of managing the sixth largest government in the country and needs to be funded in a way that will serve the largest city in the country.

And for clarification: the GST money would go to every city in the country. That's why the mayors of Halifax, Victoria and several Ontario cities (including Mississaugua, Brampton, Sarnia, Hamilton and others) were standing at Miller's side at his speech yesterday.

I received my buttons and stickers ALREADY. Miller means business!

One cent is fine. But........

When I was very young, the Leafs had just won a Stanley Cup. We used to move the Bunny Ears to watch the games. Ted Roger's was charming all our neighbours to sign up for cable. But most important - EVERY FAMILY OR HOUSEHOLD HAD ONE CAR.

I have many nice friends, who live in Toronto, but Mayor Miller is a bully....
RENAMING THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

We need to change the Province of Ontario, to the Province of Toronto, you see….
Poor, old Muddy York…now Toronto…is in such dire, hopeless, over-burdened need,
So, dig deep into coffers and hand out our Federal Funds…do it with great, generous speed!
You know that TORONTO is the only place of importance, in all of Canada…it must succeed!
It matters not, if rural pockets are already empty and you can’t pay your own bills, folks agree,
Mayor Miller and his “gang of thugs” think outsiders grow dollar-bills, on each, deciduous tree!
Miller has two, greedy $$$$-sign eyes and a loud, arrogant voice, to abuse us with his demands,
And the rest of this busy city is in a “good for him mood”…they scream, praise and clap hands!
Forget about your own too-high bills! Toronto needs funds and they must come from all of you!
Mayor Miller is a born and bred bully and those who aren’t city dwellers know this to be true!
He demands what he wants and HE wants a lot...a transit system, to support over-population!
It is to be the absolute BEST, to compliment his powerful IMAGE, in a rich, Canadian Nation!
They have a huge city-wide spread…lots of companies and workers, to pay for his wild wishes,
But, NO! They will force non-city-dwellers, to pay for Toronto’s special “construction riches”!
Miller should move into Casa Loma…and wear an ermine-trimmed robe and jewelled crown!
He is convinced, that he is ROYAL and please, you must not laugh, weep, curse…or frown!
More funding for this city is supposed to impress the entire world internationally…oh, yes…all,
But, the frills and demands cause the rest of Canada, outside the city, to fail and to finally fall!
Does Miller care if the rest of the country crumbles and disintegrates?…No, it is our own fate,
Due to fools, like an ambitious Mayor, with voracious appetite, concerns come a little too late!
We are expected to just overlook the inefficient spending, in this cry-baby, Me Me Me Mayor's City,
And we are supposed to pretend not to notice, the big debate about seating for photos, you see!
Is this supposed to prove the amazing, immature abilities…or is it another Political Disease?
It is a Me Me Me trip, all the way to the glorious, new decorations for Toronto City Hall…
An expensive list, of non-necessities, which are meant to impress…a social, elite duty-call,
Using tax money, for Toronto…extracted from Federal funds, which belonged to others…ALL!
If our Prime Minister doesn’t OBEY Mighty Mayor Miller, in every, conceivable, $$$-way,
He will hold Canada’s Leader up for ransom…even threaten and then what will we say?
He has already dared to say, to Stephen Harper, “I will personally campaign against you!,
If I don’t get everything I want, right now!”…His own words must be absolutely true! (like a spoiled CHILD)
With high, over-blown degree of personal PRIDE, in “self”, and using a heavy-handed way,
Miller easily forgets that he is demanding what “outside of Toronto folks” did faithfully pay!
Toronto Real Estate prices are soaring and their taxes, by comparison, are left far behind!
If they lived where others live, to the east, this property increase would be a horrible sign,
Because in Northumberland County, the taxes on property, have severally, quickly escalated,
So…let the city people pay, just like the rest of us, for what over-financed homes have created!
Don’t point your silly fingers, at us…like all of the bullies, on the school playground! Not fair!
Don’t dare to threaten our over-burdened Prime Minister, proving you’re rude and don’t care,
About anyone else, except YOU and your big, important “Empire Building City Plans”!
Pry the funds, for your silly frills, from Torontonians, with their same, expensive demands!
Raise your own taxes, for those who own millions, in property, and have higher salaries,
Because your GREED and Me Me Ideas are definitely not going to Politically please,
The rest of this country…although some other royal mayors, with equal, deluxe tastes, too,
Are waiting to see the results, of the way you are bullying the Government…quite a few!
Canadians are over-taxed and need freedom, from more Toronto, expensive, new specialities,
Just because an arrogant, greedy, ME FIRST Mayor wants more than a sensible share, you see!
You have sufficient population, to sustain a decent level of respectable lifestyle and no way,
Should you be sending all of Toronto’s filthy garbage, to other places…to Michigan, U.S.A.!! (trucks pollute)
What nerve! What a fool! Not a good neighbour! You see nothing wrong with disgraces,
While decent humans, with “good neighbour policies” would find “other nearby spaces”,
And not expect to just point, at your neighbours, when your needs are too great and too many!
What did you do with the large sums you received? Did the “dire needs you stated” get any?
NO! You made huge plans, for a refurbished, elegant City Hall…another Empire Building Deal,
And you continue to chart an expensive, senseless course, even if no one else can ever feel,
Able to “foot the many billion dollar bill”…so don’t look at ME…or my Ontario friends,
Who are already suffering...as over-burdened taxpayers….who can’t face their own “ends”!
We have no frills! We are even worse off, than your mighty, monstrous, complaining megacity!
PAY FOR YOUR OWN BIGSHOT PLANS!…and don’t expect us to give dollars and pity!
The money you dare to demand, from Provincial and Federal coffers, is OUR MONEY!
From our humble, over-burdened locations, we don’t think your GREED is the least bit funny!
Try living in our rural areas, where we happily exist and have none of your foolish frills!
Try being isolated, in the winter, for weeks, due to no snow removal on our steep hills!
Try being more humble, respectful and grateful for being in a decent, fair, caring country,
Where we detest all arrogant, selfish bullies…just LIKE YOU…to a high, moral degree!
Your foolish, high-style, autonomy factor gives no credence to carving a personal niche,
Without any honest overseer, to reel you in, from putting others into the financial ditch!
By law, you are supposed to have a “balanced budget”, as in a purposeful, less greedy past!
Do not expect others to balance your books and provide you with more and more cash!
What happened to common sense? Good judgment? Stretch your budget and make it last!!
And if you can’t add, subtract, multiply and divide, find an economic, city-slick genius,
To put your ideas, in the right place....in the city and not delivered eagerly, to the rest of us!
Your “House in Order” argument is not our personal problem…it is a ridiculous JOKE!
All of your fancy demands will soon catch on fire and hopefully go up in dense SMOKE!
You haven’t a clue, as to how to use your extensive funds frugally, carefully and responsibly!
You hold your purse strings…plan many over-priced dreams….so…DON’T LOOK AT ME!
I already have enough trouble, on a small pension, trying to pay my own bills and to cope!
If you can’t face your own financial reality…just borrow, or purchase a strong piece of rope,
Swing upside-down, from the CN TOWER…all city dwellers can look at YOU and agree!
They’ll pay lots to see Mayors hang themselves, when they get too interested in Me Me Me Me!
Those forty-five clowns, in the city council, who can’t even have a photo, taken together,
Will never be able to properly manage serious matters, no matter the inclement “weather”!
Does your “house in order” mean getting rid of corruption, in all high, arrogant places?
Does it include sensitivity, to those who don’t live in your city…free from your disgraces?
Or must the rest of Ontario citizens pay for city dwellers, to run your transportation system,
And fix up your glorious, artsy waterfront? We don’t care about its ideal, beautified condition!
This Political Arrogance is divisive! Fix your own mistakes and take out your own garbage,too!
We are busy doing what we need to do, outside of the city…and paying our own way…you see,
And we don’t really care about your ROYAL DESIRES AND DRASTIC DEBTS, which happen to be,
Over the top!…It’s just bad management! The money you demand from all of us, won’t please!
There is an old, realistic saying, “If you can’t afford it, do not buy it!” It isn’t a possibility!
It won’t be the fault of other, outlying areas, or the fault of our Prime Minister…oh, no!
If you can’t control your spending and affairs…are without finances for plans…...tHEN...YOU NEED TO GO!
You sound like a spoiled BRAT, who whines and complains…and gives daily, loud threats,
If you don’t get exactly what you demand for yourself…like a pampered child, or a pet!
Get a grip!…Get off the Jet Set Party Wagon…and face Canadian reality and try to be,
More like the rest of us…over-taxed peasants…who know nothing in life is ever for FREE! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Ask not what non-city dwellers can do for you! Ask what you can do for unfortunate others!
You won’t be happy, until you understand and agree…ALL Canadians are your equal,struggling brothers!
Your threats to our Prime Minister are unforgivable…and law-abiding citizens would agree,
That perhaps you, as a role model, require a wake-up call…. a visit, from Canadian Mounties...
if you stick out your greedy hand…or open your loud, arrogant mouth with another, selfish threat,
Do not run for P,M.! You will cause most Canadians to vote against YOU! On this you can bet!
YOU know how to dish it out…BUT…can you take it?…No!…. Not likely…not yet!
Bullies are always cry-babies, when they demand and are unable to GET! So, weep for yourself, if you wish, but stay in your city...because we aren't interested in bullies, who require so much pity!

P.Banks 5251-DVD-D265-2007