Add politicians' robocalls to my 'Do Not Call' list

We're entering the 400-metre sprint portion of the half-marathon that is this year’s municipal elections. I say half-marathon, because my feeling is that too many Torontonians across the political spectrum aren’t feeling full civically, and haven’t fully bought into what longtime incumbents and lifetime politicians (who are phoning it in for re-election, because they can) are peddling.

I'm voting for change this time around (change is open to multiple interpretation here).

My politically astute allies are feeling half-baked, like Chappelle, totally spent from the bollocks emanating from some of the local neighbourhood political posturing.

The incumbents in my 'hood who are launching less aggressive campaigns, already feeling a sense of entitlement, thinking they might be getting their contracts handed back to them, are now doing the annual show-up-once-a-year-on-my-neighbourhood-doorstep thing. They're kissing babies, dusting off their lone kente cloth for the black community celebrations they must attend. For this one time every four years they become honorary African-Canadians, how thrilling!

In my ward there’s an interesting mix of seasoned politicos and newcomers taking a go at it (there are Rob Davis and Shimmy Posen signs and literature popping up everywhere!). Or as one of the parents at my son's school calls it "Shimmy versus St. Clair Streetcar budget overruns".

As far as incumbents go, is there a way to come off looking like they actually care about community local area residents without coming off so disingenuous and insincere?

Case in point: I haven’t gotten many calls as of late from a few of my good friends because they have been busy with work, child-rearing responsibilities and career switcheroo strategies. But my unsolicited political candidate homies have been lighting up my Bell phone like we go way back.

I’ve been getting calls from one of the leading mayoralty candidates at my house while I’m having dinner with my wife and kids, imploring the Bell-Higgins family to “stop Rob Ford”.

And he just lost my vote as a result (I don't like these actions that reek of desperation).

Another time while I was unearthing some vinyl records from my dusty crates - Gil Scott Heron, anyone?- the local area MPP left me a message wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving.

Say what?

Man, it’s strange to field these "audio equivalent of a rubberstamp" calls, when my wife hasn't received any returned calls from this same elected official's office about eco and electronic disposal fees on bills.

And while looking for info in relation to my fourth book (Fatherhood 4.0) being released next month, I got no response to my e-mail or phone call queries of many months ago.

Is this what politics has become?

The time spent recording these messages, might be better spent coming up with a way to actually return the phone calls and e-mail correspondences of their constituents. And are there any privacy measures in place for citizens of Toronto, when it comes to having all of these calls coming to my house? Is there some kind of collusion between telemarketers and politicians?

About Dalton Higgins

Comments

[Joe]

I called Rob Ford back in early summer. I didn't leave a message, but he did personally call me, saying that my number had shown up on his caller ID list, and he was following up as to what I was calling about. I don't live in Toronto, but if I did, Rob would get my vote!

[Dan]

Political campaign calls are exempt from the DO-NOT-CALL list. So you'll be the lucky recipient of many more calls before Oct 25th, then during the next Federal and Provincial elections...

[Skinny Dipper]

I sent a few polite emails to Denzil Minnan-Wong. I included my name and full address. I never did receive any replies from his office. I guess he won't be getting my vote.

[steve smith]

My impression is that Rob Ford has been campaigning now for the last 10 years. In between taking opportunities to jump up and down at council meeting to declaim about spending, and demanding that city council buy police helicopters that the police did not ask for at budget meetings he did not attend. What with his responsibilities running a business and returning phone calls and glad handing the public it's not a surprise that he is a no show at committee meetings where the actual work at city hall gets done.

[alexd]

The political candidates in my Leslieville neighborhood also only seem to show up at election time. I emailed Liz West to to find out what her policy is on cycling (general & media email addresses) and did get a phonecall back from her media person, however no political position was given. I asked to be emailed back with it and I guess she doesn't want to put anything in writing. Or perhaps she hasn't figured out what her cycling policy is yet. Sandra Bussin makes sure all her signs are positioned at intersections in the neighborhood, even though they are not supposed to do that - rule breaker that she is. Very few signs in Leslieville: the only mayoral candidate signs I see are for Ford.
Politicians, local, provincial, and federal, will tell you what you want to hear until elected. Then you will never hear from them again - until the next election rolls around of course.

alexd
tribe.ca

[Christo]

A couple weeks ago I left an email with all six candidates for councilor in my ward to ask a few questions and have not heard back from any of them. I will only vote for one who responds and if no one responds as I suspect I will only cast a ballot for mayor.

[George Sawision]

politicians aren't the enemy,they are YOUR representative.However there are the new "sham-wow" politicians who have found the new way to advertise their wares and the public is buying.The public loves the idea of a politician who returns a call yet accept that the same politicos incompetence.At least it allows a citizen to complain.This is a tradition in this country.
Would you pay a lawyer a great deal of money just to complain how bad they are?Well voting is free but costs a great deal of money.There are no bargains here and only quality politicians should be considered.