Mayor Of Cracktown

A few months ago the website Gawker launched a Kickstarter campaign trying to raise $25,000, which they said would go towards buying a video someone had offered to them which showed Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking crack. They managed to raise a majority of that money but before they reached their goal the people who had the video became worried for their safety and eventually became too scared to sell it. This allowed Ford to pronounce the entire thing a lie, with most people only too happy to move on along with him. However, this week the Toronto police confirmed that not only did the video exist they had it in their possession. Since he couldn't very well call the Chief of Police a liar, Ford eventually conceded that he had smoked crack before but tried to explain it away by saying he probably did it while in a drunken stupor. (If this was the best defense he could come up with he may need some new advisers). Now, I know plenty of people who have done stupid things after having a few too many beers but things never got that out of control. So, as disturbing as the crack allegations are the alcohol abuse is concerning as well. As you would expect many people are shaking their heads at Ford and saying Ford needs to get help for his vices before they kill him. But, what surprises me is that for all the people who want to condemn Ford's action I have yet to hear anyone say he should resign.

Now, I admit to only having a limited knowledge about Canadian politics, though I am fairly certain Toronto is as laid-back as the rest of the country which means they have a relaxed attitude towards drinking and recreational drugs like marijuana. Still, there comes a point when even the most liberal, do-what-you-like-as-long-as-it-doesn't-hurt-anyone hippy has to look at a situation and say enough is enough. If the DARE programs I sat through as a high schooler are to be believed you can get addicted to crack on the first hit, so I don't believe there is such a thing as casual crack user. If a person in any other profession admitted to smoking crack they would have been fired on the spot, not holding press conferences in which they somehow make the people asking the questions the villains. Seriously, Mayor is not a lifetime appointment, but I have yet to hear anyone demand Ford be removed from office. But what this entire saga really made me realize is that it must not be very hard to be a Mayor. Think about it - Toronto is a major city and if the guy running it has time get so blackout drunk he doesn't know if he smoked crack than can it really be as time consuming as we all thought? He's not even the first Mayor to be caught smoking crack as former DC Mayor Marion Barry holds that distinction. All I am saying is maybe my concerns from yesterday about David Ortiz eventually becoming Mayor of Boston are unfounded.