Faeza Khan 01/03/2012

Elements of Democracy Assignment

Article: Speaking the Truth To Power
The article was written as a Re: Manager fired for doing his job, Editorial Feb. 22.
The author voiced his opinions on the recent and controversial firing of TTC Chief General
Manager Gary Webster. The author claimed that Mayor Rob Ford paid TTC Officials to get rid
of Webster as he had spoken against almighty Fords wishes. As the author had so adequately
put it, So this is how Mayor Rob Ford plans to end the gravy train by making
outrageous payouts to top officials to get rid of people who speak truth to power?. The
author also believed that it would have been better if they worked out Websters contract, then to
unfairly fire him for actually doing what he was supposed to do. It was also said that the money
needed to pay the officials, fire Webster, and get a new replacement was a shocking abuse of
taxpayer dollars. Moreover, the authors opinion of the Mayor and Torontos political outtake
on things wasnt so great. He stated that if Ford sacks everyone who speaks up to him; then
Toronto is in for an expensive and somewhat autocratic decision-making; contrary to our
democratic government. Furthermore, it was believed that the city officials are corrupt and
would comply with any of Fords wishes for money. The authors insight on this was that if it
keeps happening, Toronto will lose billions of dollars on unsound projects. The author was
clearly against Rob Ford in his statement: Bring back the gravy train. We cant afford
Fords alternative. Additionally, the article had Gary Dales, Ester Levines, Anne Taits, Ed
Prestons and many others take on this controversial situation.

The Canadian government always portrays itself as a fairly good democratic government,
so it was very surprising to say to the least; when I heard of this situation. How this situation was
handled, opposed the elements of a good democratic society. For example, one of the key
elements of democracy is Human Dignity. It is said that citizens should protect and uphold the
dignity of all people; whereas in that situation no one tried to protect and uphold Gary Websters
dignity. He was ruthlessly fired for doing his job and was insulted and treated horribly, just
Faeza Khan 01/03/2012
because he went against the Mayor, for the common good of Torontonians. Why didnt we come
to his defense? Why didnt we protest? Why did the Officials accept the money? Why didnt our
Mayor believe in Human Dignity? Why did we choose an autocratic person to run our
democratic society? This questions all pop up in my head, when I think about Human Dignity in
our democratic society today. Another element closely related to Human Dignity was Respect.
It is said Citizens should respect the rights of others; whereas Mayor Ford, a citizen of Canada
didnt respect Websters right to speak his mind and fired the poor guy. One of the key elements
of a good democratic society was denied by our Mayor. Moreover, Rob Ford and the officials
also didnt care about the Common Good. It means that the citizens should work towards what
will make people safe and happy. Obviously, they dont care about the Common Good of
Toronto. If they did, they wouldnt have spent billions on a lost TTC cause and spent more than
necessary money on hiring new replacements. Our Mayor doesnt care about what will make us
secure and happy, like a TTC line through Ellington, he only cares about money. Furthermore,
Ford denied us Political Equality. Everyone has the same right to vote and run for office and to
speak on public issues; whereas Webster didnt get that right, neither did any of us. If we did
speak up and it was against the government, I feel like they would have found a way to shut us
up. I feel like Rob Ford is trying to be autocratic in our democratic society.

I honestly dont think that it is possible for a true democracy to exist, because if it did
than that democratic society would have been perfect and nothing is perfect in this World. All
humans are born with at least one flaw, and when we do try to reach for perfection; we make a
mistake or two, but its ok because we wouldnt be humans if we didnt make mistakes. In the
same way, a true democracy wouldnt exist because not all people in that democratic society will
agree to those elements. Some people will become power hungry and would deny all those
elements to try to keep power. Someone would always be in the way of becoming a true
democratic society; but that ok because it wouldnt be a democracy if that didnt happen. In my
opinion, as long as everyone in that society isnt perfect, a true democracy cant possibly exist.