All of us empowered Ford

Re How Ford turned the OPP into his police, Dec. 13

Finally, Martin Regg Cohn explains the existential threat to democratic rule in Ontario by identifying Premier Doug Ford for what he truly represents: a “miscreant”; something created wrongly, not by himself but the irresponsible society that empowered him electorally. In fact, Ford’s power to abuse was bestowed on him legally by a flawed FPTP political system that enabled him to govern with a phoney majority consisting of 23 per cent of the people of Ontario.

It’s now incumbent on the real numbers that constitute a majority to do their civic duty and respond to the personal misrule by Ford. Lest we forget the terms and conditions of our social contract, the reciprocal understanding between the ruler and subjects is dependent on our willingness to allow rulers to govern us with our permission. That’s why protest columns in the media are insufficient. Ford sees the media as his opposition, but they lack the numbers to stop his illiberal behaviour. A true opposition from people watching Ford’s ruthless personality and his notwithstanding inclinations deliberately destroying the idea of good government is necessary. Clearly our nominal democratic system is rigged to allow such personal tyranny. But we are free to protest, and we must; otherwise, we will be complicit in our selfdestruction, politically. He is not only to blame, we all are for allowing him to gain such extreme powers over us.

Tony D’Andrea, Toronto