The most basic reason why Rob Ford must go

Rob Ford must go as Mayor of Toronto, and the most basic reason may not be what most people think.  It has nothing to do with the alleged #crackvideo or his lewd behaviour on national television.  It is much more basic than that.  It is the message he sends with his incessant #bullying.  The Ford Brother #bully machine has been in high gear since May when allegations arose in the Toronto Star that there was a video of Mayor Ford smoking crack.  The bullying however goes much further back than that, and most often #mayorFord denies it until he can't deny it any longer.

As early as 2006 it was clear that then City Councillor Rob Ford was a bully.  He was thrown out of a Toronto Maple Leafs game for being belligerent and bullying other fans, even so far as to call them communists.  This behaviour continued. with many other instances, including giving one driver "the finger" for indicating to him that he shouldn't be driving while on his cell phone.

It is now common knowledge that he bullied his staff, other councillors (especially those on his executive that didn't agree with him), and as late as last Friday attempted to bully Councillor Minnan-Wong on the floor of Council, who felt he had to appeal to the Speaker.

Back to last May when the Toronto Star first reported the existed of the #crackvideo.  The Ford brother #bully machine went on their weekly radio show and began verbally abusing the press.  This went on for months.  #mayorFord continued this abuse for months knowing full well that the existence of this video was truthful.  At this point I will give Councillor Doug Ford the benefit of the doubt because according to #robford he did not disclose the existence of the video to his brother.  This still does not really excuse the #bullying that the Ford brothers heaped upon the press.

Last week the underacted documents were released indicating that some of Mayor Ford's staff had cooperated with Police in the investigation of the Mayor's friend Alexandro Lisi.  #mayorFord immediately in his bullish attitude indicated that he was going to sue those staffers who cooperated with the Police.  Legal experts are of the opinion that this is just a #bully tactic because he can't win unless there was intended "malice" on the part those who gave statements.

Here is why this is important.  We have a national #bullying crisis.  Our kids are being bullied at school.  They are subject to #cyberbullying outside of school.  Many of our young people feel lost, hopeless and feel as if there is no way out but suicide.  #bullying is leading to the deaths of our children.  It is also leading to the criminalisation of others.

Professionals, like teachers and mental health experts are trying to do their best to stem this rising tide of #bullying.  The Prime Minister of Canada, @pmharper has even introduced new legislation that would make #cyberbullying illegal.

If  the government of Canada finds bullying such a sensitive issue, perhaps it is time that the city of Toronto did too.  Perhaps it is time to for the mayor to go based solely on his behaviour as a #bully,
The children of the city don't need to hear and see this vile public display.  The are constantly being told not to #bully, by their teachers and their parents.  Yet, here is a Mayor who does it every day and it's all over the news.  They hear their parents laughing about it sometimes (because let's face it, city hall at the moment is a circus), but it isn't really a joke.

As long as #mayorFord stays put, the more ridiculous it becomes and the more mixed messages our children get about what is right and wrong. The children of Toronto deserve better.