Democracy Gone Astray

Democracy, being a human construct, needs to be thought of as directionality rather than an object. As such, to understand it requires not so much a description of existing structures and/or other related phenomena but a declaration of intentionality.
This blog aims at creating labeled lists of published infringements of such intentionality, of points in time where democracy strays from its intended directionality. In addition to outright infringements, this blog also collects important contemporary information and/or discussions that impact our socio-political landscape.

All the posts here were published in the electronic media – main-stream as well as fringe, and maintain links to the original texts.

[NOTE: Due to changes I haven't caught on time in the blogging software, all of the 'Original Article' links were nullified between September 11, 2012 and December 11, 2012. My apologies.]

Friday, December 14, 2012

Renegade sign protesting fire cuts directs people to contact Mayor Ford

A show of civic displeasure over upcoming cuts to fire services popped up this week in front of a Toronto fire hall, in the form of a large sign placed on city property.

The sign read: “Fire truck A215 out of service permanently January 2013 contact Mayor Ford.” The sign was placed squarely on the grass in front of the fire hall at 5318 Lawrence Ave., near Lawrence Ave. and Port Union Rd., in Scarborough.

A concerned private citizen put it there unbeknownst to officials, said the station’s captain, Ron Wretham.

“It is attracting a lot of attention, and we are getting a lot of people off the street asking what the story is about that,” said Wretham. “It’s an asset to the cause. The sign is there on behalf of the residents, our local residents, and basically they all feel the same way.”

The station is one of five fire halls slated to lose a truck in the 2013 operating budget.

Meanwhile, city officials were wringing their hands over a sign being placed on city property unauthorized.

“We got a call in our office saying, ‘Why’s the sign there?’” said area councillor Ron Moeser. “We immediately contacted bylaw enforcement and made the chief aware of it. When I take my oath of office I’m sworn to uphold the bylaws of the city.”

John Warren, who has lived across from the fire station for nearly 50 years, volunteered his lawn for the cause, though he doesn’t know who paid for the sign.

“I just don’t think what’s going on is right,” Warren said. “As far as I’m concerned, it can stay there no matter how long it takes.”

Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Tim Alamenciak 

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