Like Atrios, I've started getting hooked on reading the comment pages of my local newspaper.
I'm with Royson James on this one -- the idea that Miller is going to lose the next election over the feverishly imagined "War on the Car" or some variant thereof is a joke. Yes, the last census says that driving is the dominant form of transportation in Toronto. But a rather more important metric is how many people identify as car-dependent. And guess what? Drivers are in the minority in Toronto. Only Montrealers rely on their cars less.
I have my disagreements with Miller, but the thing that keeps me in his defense is the mendacity and obnoxiousness of his enemies. The "War on the Car" is really "A War in defense of the people who live here", and if Miller is making the lives of suburban commuters marginally more irritating so that those of us who live, work, and play here can have substantially more enjoyable, liveable communities, I have no problem with that.
UPDATE: Oooh, actual data!
I can't stand Miller, BUT unfortunatley he will get elected again. Look on a higher level at what he's doing. He's basically getting all the young votes with the bikers, and he's getting all the immigrant votes with the protests and going to all their events and all that. And since the immigrants and young people make up the majority of the city, he's got the vote and he knows it.Yes, it's a crying shame that Toronto happens to attract immigrants and young workers, and that elected leaders cater to the needs and desires of the majority. If only Toronto could be more like the older, more homogenous communities like Flint, MI or Youngstown, PA, we'd be set.
I'm with Royson James on this one -- the idea that Miller is going to lose the next election over the feverishly imagined "War on the Car" or some variant thereof is a joke. Yes, the last census says that driving is the dominant form of transportation in Toronto. But a rather more important metric is how many people identify as car-dependent. And guess what? Drivers are in the minority in Toronto. Only Montrealers rely on their cars less.
I have my disagreements with Miller, but the thing that keeps me in his defense is the mendacity and obnoxiousness of his enemies. The "War on the Car" is really "A War in defense of the people who live here", and if Miller is making the lives of suburban commuters marginally more irritating so that those of us who live, work, and play here can have substantially more enjoyable, liveable communities, I have no problem with that.
UPDATE: Oooh, actual data!
Of note on the issue of transportation, an overwhelming majority — 61 per cent versus 27 per cent — told Environics that they prefer transportation spending to go to public transit instead of roads .... Given recent rhetoric, those numbers have to be an encouraging sign to a city council moving forward on sustainable transportation issues.Clearly, Miller is doomed.
But the bottom line is this: After implementing a set of controversial tax measures earlier in this term of council and while weathering a global recession, the number of Torontonians satisfied with their municipal government is identical to Mayor David Miller’s 2006 election totals.
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