Same-old “Same-old Sam” Editorial

The editorial folks at the Winnipeg Free Press are not content with Mayor Katz’s platform. Choice cuts from one of today’s opinion pieces include:

“There is no shortage of small ideas at City Hall.”

“It is not a healthy sign when the mayor can declare his candidacy with a ho-hum platform and a pledge to keep the cogs turning at City Hall. It is a symptom of a prevailing apathy and the ennui afflicting Winnipeg civic politics, which has become good at producing career politicians and safe seats.”

As someone who was initially cynical of Sam, I beg to differ. His tenure in office has turned me into a believer and, as my posts continue, somewhat of a Sammy apologist. Contrary to what the Freep pointy heads would have us believe, voter apathy is caused by “big idea” politicians who become so enamoured with strategic visions that they have lost sight of what is truly important to the average person. Most people couldn’t care less about Richard Florida’s “creative class” musings but they do notice when we have washboard roads and highways that are bested by donkey trails in Third World countries.

Government, by its nature, is an “unsexy” job. Our elected officials are at their best when we don’t even sense their presence - roads are paved, the garbage is collected, the Peter Whitmores of the world are off the street, etc. Invariably, government decides to “sex” up their role in our lives, aided and abetted by cheerleaders posing as editorialists. We are accordingly endowed with “Spirited Energy”, “creative classes” and “Canadian values.” In the wake of all of these “eyes-off-the-ball” initiatives invariably comes other great blessings such as “infrastructure deficits” and “brain drain.” To paraphrase Maslow, you can’t focus on the big things until the little ones are properly dealt with.

Rest assured that as long as we are getting the “Same-old Sam”, I will be casting my ballot the “Same-old Way...”