Raise the Hammer

"The left" There's that term again. Meant as an insult I take it? But, what, exactly, does it mean?

If you disagree with Rob Ford's policies does that automatically make you from 'the left'?

Personally I'm not aware of being beholden to any particular ideology.

I used to be a fan of Margaret Thatcher's free market / anti-union philsophies but my opinions have modified over the years. I believe the government should take a role in managing our national infrastructure and social-health type services, which benefit us all - education, health, clean water, police, defense, transit, etc.

Whether that makes government 'big' or 'small' I don't know. However big it needs to be to provide all these services adequately is how big it should be.

Does that make me a leftie?

I also believe the government should explore private partnerships where the public good can be ensured so that my tax dollars can be made to stretch further.

Again - am I a leftie?

I believe we need to provide a safety net for folks who are out of work, having mental difficulties and the like.

Am I a leftie?

But I also believe this safety net should be more geared to preventing illnesses and that those who are suffering should be provided with the services they need to get them back on their feet and, if possible, into the workforce.

Am I a leftie?

I think our urban centers should have guranteed annual transit funding from our federal or provincial governments. A wide range of healthy transit options should be provided and funded by us taxpayers: bike lanes, dedicated transit corridors, toll based car lanes.

Does this make me a leftie?

I'm also cautious about the role of unions. While I understand the role they have played, and do play, in pushing forward progressive employment legislation, I'm also aware of the inefficiencies they can bring to organizations. My own personal experience of unions have not been productive at all. I question why we can't find another way to ensure that ALL employees have basic employment rights, one that doesn't bring with it the inherent inefficiencies that unions seem to encourage.

Does this make me a leftie?

Dismissing a comment or a commenter as a left or righty doesn't add anything to the discussion unless you can substantiate what it means. I would love for someone to tell me ;)

Cheers

Ben