The ongoing saga of proposed cuts to all Toronto services is clearly the start of the new era of industrial scarcity and decline. I had expected service reductions to be a little longer in coming, and during times of much greater hardship, rather than it being due to a particular ideological bent that would cut or privatize services regardless, even in times of plenty.

Perhaps the bright side of Ford’s term is that the governing by Mayor Rob Ford and his brother Councillor Doug Ford may unite citizens to become more active, cherish and fight for what is worth saving rather than being complacent (see Taxpayers vs Citizens in the Toronto Star), and help do what is needed, such as encouraging urban agriculture while removing bylaws that impede it and other smart, local, more sustainable solutions.

Though any who expect improvement after booting Ford and his followers out at the end of the term may be very disappointed when they discover the wheels have been set in motion long ago and are part of an inescapable predicament rather than a problem to be solved.