Lie, cheat and steal

Yes it was a fun game. As a board game that is. But when it becomes the leitmotif for our governance, the mind reels.

 The hypocrisy this week was suffocating. And unbecoming of those people of character and intelligence who hold high office. Both the provincial and municipal governments this week insisted on insulting our intelligence as citizens and voters.

 Each defended more money grabs from all of us on the usual grounds of public security. Don’t they understand that nobody believes them anymore? Reasonable people may ask if governments have any moral authority to rule and tax left. It’s enough with authority turning us upside down until every cent falls out of our pockets.

 Quebec was first off the mark. Transport Minister Julie Boulet insisted that the fines collected from photo radar were not for the government’s purse but for our benefit. That the funds would go into more and better driver safety and education programs. Right!

 Photo radar was abolished in Ontario, Alberta and BC precisely because, as the governments of the day admitted, it was nothing more than a money grab. Even if it had not been, even if it had incrementally decreased road accidents, nothing justified the invasion of privacy. Nothing justified the number of times the radar posts were miscalibrated and innocent people got tickets and points. And frankly, the lower speed limits are dangerous. That’s why so many European countries have actually raised them.

 Montreal got into the act a day after Boulet. Executive committee chair Claude Dauphin, one of our most able public servants, looked distinctly uncomfortable as he announced increases in parking tickets. Some by triple the previous amount. The excuse this time was the necessity to keep reserved and express lanes free of cars.

 Well we’ve rarely seen them blocked. Perhaps if the city moved the bixi bike stands onto sidewalks and restored some parking spaces there would be no cause to worry about too much illegal parking. The car war the city of Montreal has launched is killing the downtown core that represents one-third of Quebec’s GDP. If this city ever suffers complete economic collapse it will be in large part due to these wrong-headed policies. And if anyone will be looking to point blame, it will rest right at the feet of the eco-theocrats and their enablers in municipal government.

 We the people are not without fault. At a time when our governments are lying to us and stealing our money, we remain apathetic and lethargic. Content to witness silliness like promises of no election posters on public property as appropriate replacements for purposeful public policies.

 If you say our alternatives are few you would be right. But that is no excuse for each and every one of us not engaging in the public debate in some fashion. Perhaps as a letter writer. Perhaps as an independent candidate. Perhaps as a rabble-rouser. Perhaps as a tax protester.

 This time of summer has been called the silly season. But this year’s silliness comes from being victims of officially sanctioned lies, theft and hypocrisy. We need to put a stop to it.