From Trump to Ford: authoritarianism wears many jerseys
Bob and I have talked many times. They are a fellow schoolteacher—dedicated, principled, and like so many workers, exhausted by years of neglect. They also told me, flat out:
“I voted for Doug Ford.”
And Bob isn’t alone. Across this province, construction workers, delivery drivers, early childhood educators, even some young, first-time voters—people who’ve been ignored for decades—lined up behind Ford Nation. Not because they’re extremists, but because they’re desperate. Because Ford said, “I’ll build things.” Because he sounded like he saw them.
But here’s the thing, Bob: the man played you.
Just look south of the border where Donald Trump and Elon Musk—two billionaires who’ve been looting the public purse like raccoons in a food truck—are now clawing each other’s eyes out on the internet. Mary Trump (yes, his own niece) calls it what it is: a narcissistic cage match between two rich guys obsessed with power, praise, and government handouts.
Sound familiar?
Here in Ontario, Ford and his sidekicks in government are the Canadian knock-offs of that grotesque duo. Same cheap tricks. Same public theft.
– They flipped the Greenbelt to their friends.
– They gutted Ontario Place for developers.
– They gave themselves a 35% raise, then ghosted the Legislature for over 100 days.
– And all while telling you that you are the problem because you want decent schools, clean water, and a shot at owning a home.
Meanwhile, you and I—education workers and teachers making $45k to $62k—are budgeting like we’re in a zombie apocalypse just to afford groceries in Toronto.
Bob, my colleague and fellow human being, they’re not on your side. They never were. You voted for a man who said he’d build housing—then bulldozed your faith instead.
Trump and Musk are melting down on live TV, exposing their corruption for the world to see. We should take the hint. When narcissists fall out, the truth falls out with them.
Doug and his buddies are no different. They don’t hate “government”—they just hate when you have a say in it.
So here’s the call:
If you believe your kid deserves a music program…
If you think schools should have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the spring…
Then it’s time to stop buying the snake oil.
It’s time to organize.
It’s time to fight smarter.
It’s time to kick the corrupt out of Queen’s Park and build a government that works—for all of us.
And Bob? We’ve still got room for you at the table.
Nigel Barriffe
Dad
School Teacher
Singer Songwriter