[the dude]

re: transit fare increase because...fluctuating energy prices. not much of an issue with lrt, eh? they wouldn't know that, though.

also, it's all well and good to subsidize public transit for the elderly, the disabled and the poor but those people aren't going anywhere. they must take public transit and will continue to do so. it's the riders who have a choice who will bugger off with increased transit fares. i don't think there's any excuse to do this again so soon after the previous increase.

i've fled from this city out of frustration in the past only to discover that most cities are the same. perhaps hamilton isn't as progressive as some others but there's no perfect city out there. montreal's great, but the culture of corruption and general laziness at the city and provincial levels are monumental. when i moved to ottawa i was shocked at how backward and conservative it was. i guess i was naive. they spend most of their time at city hall bickering and as a result do nothing. they recently elected as mayor a local businessman with no experience in politics. he couldn't even name the mayor of gatineau. also nixed the lrt plan they'd been working on for years and promised to freeze property taxes to get elected. the oldest trick in the book. anyway, i'm rambling. that's all.