And Again ...

The role of populist crusading victim has served Meed Ward well over the years.

It has allowed her to mask her rather shallow grasp of the duties of civic governance and stewardship behind a curtain of aggrieved indignation. I find it very difficult to give any credence to her movement demanding respect for politicians. It is the latest of her self-promoting clarion calls.

I have great respect for some politicians - Obama (both), Stephen Lewis, Lester Pearson, Bill Davis, Pierre Trudeau, Claudia Sheinbaum, Jimmy Carter - and absolutely none for others. Respect is something, as Philip notes, that is earned; benefit of the doubt is what is freely given until the doubt is removed, one way or another. It either morphs into respect through observed actions or curdles into distaste and disdain. Unfortunate familiarity with both Meed Ward's virtue signalling rhetoric and Gould's quest for a place on the very furthest left fringe of the political spectrum have bred in me the proverbial contempt. I find both of them tiresome and that is the kindest thing that I can say.