Recently we had this brief thread about traffic cones, drivers and cyclists. There was some commenting on moving cones to interfere with traffic, then Ian said “I’m sure you gentlemen would be outraged if somebody started moving cones into the bike paths.”
In response to Ian’s comment, someone called @CycleFunMtl on X first posted “Commenter makes his threat to boobytrap bike paths sound like “I’m just making a joke.” Joke is not funny at all.”
I told them it was clearly not a threat, just a counterpoint in a conversation. I thought it was over.
Today they are back with “I have a policy of zero tolerance for bullying, threats of harm or violence, or thuggish comments. Interesting that it appears you do not.”
I replied “Nobody has threatened any harm or violence on my blog. Please get a grip.”
Now they are citing the UN Declaration of Human Rights at me and more.
I guess there’s no way to convince this person that no threat was intended to anybody. It’s just odd to see someone going off like this – especially since this blog has generally been pro‑cycling since the beginning.
…Oh, now it’s parallels to domestic violence. Blocked!
carswell 09:37 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
Auger notes that the bill is so massive that Dubé didn’t even know the amendment was there and, after congratulating the opposition for bringing it to his attention (!), has announced it will be withdrawn. He also lauded the change as proof that our democracy works.
In addition to constituting further proof that, as far as the CAQ and other ethnonationalists are concerned, anglo rights are not sacrosanct, are there to be chipped away at, Dubé’s reform is a huge, unwieldy mess almost certain to add new layers of bureaucracy and make the current situation worse. Unless Legault loses big in the next election, I suspect Quebec will have a fully fledged two-tier healthcare system that’s great for the elite and not so great for everyone else before the decade is out.
steph 10:49 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
Better start sowing arm bands with capitol A’s to identify ourselves.
qatzelok 13:45 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
Most political parties use “scapegoats” to get their numbers up. It’s a sad reality in democratic societies where the voting population (the numbers) has only a superficial understanding of political strategies or big-picture economics.
Canadian children are born with a $100,000 government debt… because their parents and grandparents allowed this to happen (and continue to let happen) – perhaps Canadian adults of the last few generations were tricked (by their own deep state) into surrendering their offspring to debt slavery?
Kate 17:45 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
What are you wibbling about, qatzelok?
qatzelok 18:10 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
Kate, I am suggesting that scapegoating is a common tactic among political parties that use polling data to play the numbers game… rather than having an actual reason to be in politics (a platform, a social program, etc.)
Just before his latest victory, a journalist asked Legault why he was running again. It was an excellent question for many of our politicians.
JaneyB 18:37 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
Debt slavery? I and 37 million others co-own hospitals, highways, water and sewage systems, schools, universities, libraries, concert halls, public utilities, a vast web of social services, a zillion acres of wilderness, and an army with all the equipment. That’s a pretty great deal for 100k, especially since I and my descendants will kick it forward for future generations to (never) pay.
Kate 21:46 on 2023-12-04 Permalink
What she said!
qatzelok 09:27 on 2023-12-05 Permalink
That list that JaneyB provided… is of infrastructure that is being sold off all over the West… to pay for debts.
Tim 10:43 on 2023-12-05 Permalink
JaneyB, the debt that qatzelok is referring to is the debt that exists today. This is indeed a debt burden that is being left for future generations. We have not paid our share. Technically, a lot of things that you list are not truly owned because of the debt. Kind of like a home owner does not really own their home until their mortgage is paid off.
Governments have made the decision to collectively kick the mortgage responsibilities down the road to future generations. We are not leaving much of a legacy. qatzelok is also correct that infrastructure is being sold off (and lost forever) for shortsighted, one time cash grabs.
Kate 11:30 on 2023-12-05 Permalink
Tim, a home owner does not really own their home, ever. If they stop paying their property tax, it will stop belonging to them soon enough.
Property ownership is a legal fiction.
So, in a sense, is government debt. We can’t think of it the way we think about e.g. the balance on our credit card. We’ve been encouraged to think of it that way by conservative politicians but it’s more like JaneyB’s reply.
carswell 11:51 on 2023-12-05 Permalink
While JaneyB makes some good points, the kicking of the debt can to future generations does come at a cost: interest on all that debt. In 2022-2023, that cost was 7.3% of Quebec government revenues or, to put it another way, the combined Quebec and federal interest payments alone cost $2,110 per person. (Figures taken from a Fraser Institute report, gulp, but appear to be based on provincial and federal government data.)
Tim 15:22 on 2023-12-05 Permalink
Somebody who pays of their mortgage clearly owns their home. This does not mean that there are no future expenses. It is very true that the power of the state can be wielded to take possession of a home in cases where property taxes are not paid. That said, it would probably be an option of the last resort but even then the property owner would receive all the proceeds from the sale minus the taxes owed. There are also deferral programs to avoid this outcome. Here is one that was proposed for Montreal: https://montrealgazette.com/news/local-news/plante-administration-open-to-property-tax-deferral-for-low-income-seniors
I am not advocating for zero debt on the books for government. Sometimes it is advantageous. I do think it’s a mistake to think that the growing debt at all levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) is a nothing burger. At some point, measures will be needed to get the debt under control.