Many people perceive Canadians to be a bunch of socialists. To a degree it's true, but it certainly no absolute. Recently the left-leaning mayor of Toronto came to the conclusion that he was unelectable for another term, so he held a news conference to make the announcement.
He shed a few crocodile tears while trying to explain his actions over the last six years. Basically, he increased the budget from 6.7 to 8.7 Billion dollars (that's Billion with a Big B!), hired many new (unionized) staff, and allowed the city to deteriorate to new lows.
He thinks that he did a great job. I don't know anyone who thinks that he even did a good one. Here's how Kelly McParland of "The National Post" sums it up:
"One of the most frustrating things about dealing with left-wingers is their imperviousness to reality. You can talk yourself hoarse offering example after example on the ruination that results when governments habitually spend beyond their means, borrowing the difference; the left will ignore the evidence and insist on bigger budgets all round, letting someone else worry about the cost.
They see what they want to see, believe what they want to believe. They declare themselves “progressives,” consigning everyone else to the reactionary bin, “progress” meaning adherence to whatever their personal agenda dictates. Their faith in their own moral superiority is bulletproof. Logic need not apply. Because they’re progressives, see?
Thus Toronto Mayor David Miller could announce today he plans to step down at the next election, having achieved everything he set out to achieve."
...
"So he has completed his agenda and he can go. Whether he’s met voters’ expectations is another issue. He feels good about himself and Toronto is way better off than it used to be.
I love the left. They’re bulletproof."
So applicable to what's happening in Toronto right now as well as the USA!