mug-shot-Trump.jpg
Trump's mug shot. (Released by the Fulton County sheriff's office)

Listen Up! Do we let anger win? | Commentary

Well, I have to admit it. I got beaten up pretty badly last week for saying a few nice things about Ontario Premier Doug Ford. To a degree, I expected that. There are always two sides to every story and when you go against the grain of mass media coverage, when you express the minority view, you are bound to get a negative reaction. 

That’s okay, but what struck me was the vitriol that accompanied many of the comments, some a personal attack on the author, for daring to defend Ford, others that were so antagonistic they could not be posted. One good friend of mine wrote to me privately, “You certainly have a masochistic streak Mr. Mackenzie. I just read your blog on Ford and the deluge of attacks that you expected.” My friend is right. I did expect the pushback, but I didn’t expect the raw anger. 

Whatever happened to that old maxim that one can disagree without being disagreeable? Speaking frankly, I fear it is toast and that is not only a shame, but it is also worrisome because the world, certainly our part of it, is changing. Anger, in my view, is a weapon that transcends respectful dialogue, prohibits reasonable compromise, and promotes support for my way or the highway type of politics, regardless of the facts.  

It was spawned I believe, in the United States, where anger appears to have become the weapon of choice. Everything seems upside down.  The rule of law is mocked in favour of a cult-like approach to change. The truth doesn’t matter, facts don’t matter, morality doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that you get your way and damn the torpedoes. 

Last week Donald Trump was indicted for the fourth time. Some would think that would be enough to do him in, but the opposite appears to be true. His mug shot has become viral. Donald Trump didn’t want to avoid it, he coveted it. It was Trump at his marketing best, defiant, determined, and unrepentant. He has stoked more anger in his base, the cult he has created is stronger and he has raised millions upon millions of more dollars. He knew precisely what he was doing and what he wanted to accomplish.

In the interest of full disclosure, I should say here that I knew Donald Trump. My former firm and I worked with him for the best part of a year on a project that was dear to him. I have been at his headquarters in New York, and I have been on his plane. 

I saw both sides of Trump’s personality and generally got along with him. Mostly though, I saw his determination to win at all costs, sometimes having the opposite effect, and his ruthless reaction when things did not go his way. He was never wrong. It was never his fault. The Trump brand was sacrosanct. 

It is that brand and that determination that led Donald Trump to seek the Presidency of the United States and it is that brand that will ensure he will never give up no matter the cost. Stoking anger and discontent are his weapons of choice, and he knows how to use them. 

Donald Trump uses those weapons, along with his personal skill of manipulation and false information, to rally the discontented. He has effectively created a cult in the United States, anchored in anger and hate, that follows him blindly and unconditionally. He has done this so effectively, and aided by what many believe to be poor performance results by Joe Biden, that he may well be the next President of the United States. If that happens, it will prove that stoking anger works, but it is a chilling thought. 

John Kasich, a former State Governor and a former Republican presidential candidate, put his finger on the problem when he said, “Just because I have opposed Trump from the beginning and want justice and accountability for his actions, doesn’t mean I hate him. We need a revival to pull Americans out of their silo and quell the anger that is turning into hatred for those we disagree with.”

 Kasich may be correct about that, but any reading of current polls would suggest the odds are against him. Anger and hatred appear to be winning the day in the United States. 

Indeed, there are frightening signs that things could go in the opposite direction with airheads like Marjorie Taylor, Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin almost promoting insurrection. Palin, a former Governor and also a vice presidential nominee, recently pushed the idea of a Civil War by encouraging Trump supporters to, “get angry, rise up, and take our country back.”  

And so, the question must be asked, are anger and hatred also winning the day in Canada? I would say not yet. But is there a spillover of that creeping into our society from our neighbour to the south? To that, I would say yes. You see it at all three levels of government and yes, you see it in Muskoka. 

Sadly, in Canada these days, I note that the tone of our dialogue is sharper, the adamance in many of our positions is stronger and our ability to see and to listen to alternate points of view, to disagree without being disagreeable, is rapidly diminishing. 

I also note with interest that federal polling in Canada currently has the Conservatives ahead of the governing Liberals by ten points and I wonder why. I am sure that many will have an answer to that. Certainly, many Canadians believe that it is time for Justin Trudeau to exit the stage as Prime Minister. But I am not sure it is only that. An undercurrent of anger has been growing in this country for some time, during the Harper years, the Justin Trudeau years, and certainly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have taken one hit after another. They are tired and frustrated; a perfect formula for anger. 

In my view, all three political parties at the federal level, the Liberals, the Conservatives, and the New Democrats exacerbate this by promoting anger as a political tool. Too many Canadians are starving for hope and for a bright light at the end of the tunnel.  Why can’t we give them one?

The answer to me is not extremism on either the left or the right, but rather a middle ground, a place where for decades, both Liberals and Conservatives, albeit, with different points of view, have felt at home. A place where balance can be seen, progress made, and hope attained without anger or hatred. 

A fairy tale ending? Perhaps. But certainly, worth fighting for.

Hugh Mackenzie

Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.

Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.

In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.

Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.

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10 Comments

  1. Allen Markle says:

    Anger. Hatred. Rage. BANG!! A possible progression of emotions; cultured, coddled and fostered by a political predator, and to advance the brand of an egomaniac. The roots of another civil disturbance or worse south of our border?

    If you look up ’emotions’, there can be 4,7, 27 or more. Depends on who is making the list. I feel that some are advancing stages of the basics. We aren’t at the rage/Bang! progression yet (just looked out the window and all is peaceful), but we sure are giving some others a workout.

    Like surprise. When we get MPPs appointed to positions that they know little, or worse, nothing, about. Just points out that you need no training or expertise to be a politician. Just know how to ‘spin-it to win-it’. Well maybe that was a poor example and nobody is surprised.

    How about fear. The fear that niggles when a police force chooses to not investigate possible wrong-doing. They are the police. The “Serve and Protect” guys. But to get around having to investigate political hijinx, they declare “conflict of interest”. That’s scary! Curious? Also a surprise?

    How about sadness. For a premier who thought that developers were there to serve the premier and the province. They get greenbelt land freed up for development, and then turn around and sell it! For profit! Somewhat reminiscent of the farming out of seniors homes and healthcare? Sad and a bit disgusting.

    Disgust. An emotion that might be reached, when one sees that, even when obvious conflicts and ethical breaches are pointed out, the guilty parties find it easy, to just acknowledge the transgression and carry on. No thought of forgiveness or permission. That good old ‘party majority’ allows that, even when the people are outraged and ignored (though I think I remember it being said he was there for us) and law enforcement is conflicted.

    The above can foster anger, the very thing that we have to control to keep the peace and maintain our humanity. And “not let win”. The very emotion that seems to be insinuating its way into our society. A bit of fear and sadness overlapping here.

    But it brings me to JOY. The emotion I feel because I am a Canadian and the scourge of the south and lesser nations hasn’t become so entrenched here. Let’s try to keep it this way.

    Group hug? Yeah. But in todays atmosphere, too may emotions would be stirred up and conflicted. Better to just wish everyone a good day.

    Have a good day all.

  2. Anna-Lise Kear says:

    Mr. Mackenzie;
    I suggest that in your remark, “when you go against the grain of mass media coverage”, I understand your comment to mean that we as individuals do not think for ourselves.

    While it is wise for all of us to be mindful of what we digest and examine as information, your comment may imply the lack of willingness on the part of your readers to avoid seeking other well thought out and expressed opposing views. You are entitled to your opinion. However, the concern over the greenbelt betrayal has been a front and centre issue for a long time – and you have tested public reaction/response in your recent commentary, for provincial conservatives to consume as they wish. There is no surprise as to the anger expressed.

    No, I don’t think that justifies personal attacks. As individuals, we also perceive “personal attacks” in somewhat different ways, in my opinion.

  3. Nancy Long says:

    The middle ground is definitely worth fighting for. Please quit using the T word. Everytime it is uttered, I’m sure he makes more money. Let’s just call him Donald.

  4. John Whitty says:

    Dr D: It was clearly explained the inmate comment was about the picture not the deceased. Read it again.
    https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/beaver-creek-inmate-dies-while-in-custody/

    The first line of this comment is a quote from Hugh and how his statement clearly applies to District council and airport management. Read it again.

  5. Dr. Don Keedic says:

    One has to marvel how Mr. John Whitty regardless of the article in question (trump, dead inmates, price of tea in China…) always manages to get the grass runway (not his I was recently informed) in to any debate.

    Dr. D

  6. Thomas R Spivak says:

    Hugh, it was with great interest that I read your reply in the commentary on your support of Mr Ford.
    I’d like to point out that Mr Ford has expressed positive views on Mr Trump’s method of political control and that to some your dialogue might be taken as hero worship. Although I’m not sure where you firmly sit on these matters I encourage you to be careful where you decide lay your support, things that none of us truly know about could unfold in coming months and being on the wrong side of public opinions can be more damaging than being on the wrong side of the law.
    I’m a born here Canadian that grew up and took education in the USA and I think my ability to have perspective of American government, ideals, education, and social studies gives me a bit of insite on the mindset of the average American voter, heck I married a US citizen! Having said that,we need to concentrate our focus on Canadian issues and stop making comparison to the USA. Although I’m not sure why you went off on a tangent about American politics and used a derogatory term which anyone else would be censored for, you can be sure that your readers have noticed that we do not enjoy the same generosity when we express our views.
    Let’s be less like the Americans and more like the Canadians that I am proud to be.
    Let’s have a free press where you and I and everyone else can be told the truth, have the right to express the truth, all the while being respectful to others and their beliefs.
    Wouldn’t you agree?

  7. John Whitty says:

    “The truth doesn’t matter, facts don’t matter, morality doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that you get your way and damn the torpedoes.”
    That exactly describes the District and District staff.

    A number of ruses and a plethora of misinformation presented by staff was used to fool councillors into making a massive mistake.
    Dangerous misinformation was presented over and over by airport staff.
    There is a saying. Repeat a lie often enough…
    To be fair, not all councillors were fooled.
    Just the majority.

    It is documented that Transport Canada, the Transportation Safety Board, Environment Canada, Cessna (aircraft manufacturer), airline and local pilots have all thoroughly debunked the misinformation from airport staff.

    Why resort to fiction to fool gullible District councillors?
    1. Because it works. At least in Muskoka.
    2. Because the facts do not support closing a runway when there is plenty of room for development beside instead of on top of it.

    Those were the facts from a report council asked the latest consultant for and then totally ignored. Same facts as an earlier consultant concluded. Same facts an earlier enlightened council used to put a moratorium on development on top of a runway.

    Even when it was crystal clear in July last year that staff had misled council for years!! regarding an alternate runway that never was viable most of council still blindly rubber stamped whatever staff was pushing this year.
    Fish have longer memories.
    It never was viable because the neighbours won’t allow their trees to be cut down. Nothing to do with cost as staff presented. Due diligence was not done before presenting the alternate as an option to council.
    Incompetence.

    Facts have been presented to councillors multiple times by multiple competent people for multiple years!! in the form of delegations, emails, powerpoints and even in-flight videos.
    District response? Crickets.
    They prefer bunk from the unqualified and dangerously incompetent snake oil salesmen.
    The truth doesn’t matter, facts don’t matter.
    Are all District decisions based on bunk?
    All of the above is documented here.
    https://johnwhitty3.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/snake-oil-salesmen-selling-to-the-gullible/

  8. Greg Reuvekamp says:

    The polling data site 338 Canada has been showing that ten point lead has been holding now for a month. If it continues into the fall the Liberals desperation will begin to show. They should know by now their fortunes can’t be reversed with a Trudeau costume change or similar distraction. Their only way out is too push “culture war” wedge issues to try to scare their base and the NDP vote. Expect to see more vilification of rural constituents, westerners, anyone who isn’t in downtown Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa or Vancouver. If Trudeau wasn’t the arrogant, petty man that he is he would leave now for the overall good of the country. If trends continue then the Trudeau Liberals are facing an electoral defeat as bad as what Kathleen Wynne was given, and it will be very richly deserved.

  9. Erin Jones says:

    Hugh, I am in sympathy with your view that good governance comes from the centre. The ancient Greeks believed that virtue resulted from observing and enacting the Golden Mean. Aristotle explored the topic in great depth. All the great religions promoted the benefits of following the “middle way”. Christian philosopher, Thomas Aquinas said that it is “…evident that moral virtue observes the mean.”

    But, there is also a time for anger over injustice; it is sometimes necessary to spur us on to righting those injustices. Jesus Himself got angry over the hypocritical greed and decadence of the ruling class in Israel–and the resulting unjust rule.

    It is part of the American character to oppose perceived injustice. One can argue over that perception as being correct or incorrect, but it is difficult to condemn the impulse to seek redress for wrongs. It was the misrule of King George III (and the ruling class supporting him) that stirred anger in the American colonists that, in turn, caused them to throw off that governance. We can judge that action as intemperate–even reckless–but the determined will to protect the just rights of the governed, cannot be assailed.

    As for Donald Trump, he will answer to a Higher Authority one day–as we all must. One hopes that he is mindful of that in his old age. The rashness of youth often yields to the greater wisdom of temperance with advanced age. I am not particularly put off by his egotism–great men have always been egotistical. What I look for in one who would govern are the twin virtues of honesty and transparency. How one measures up to that standard is the litmus test for me, as the truth sets us free. To our peril, we tolerate much dishonesty from our leaders. Anger stirs as a result.

  10. Bill Beatty says:

    Your absolutely right Hugh about the hate that spews from the mouths of some haters . I will add that I , a life long conservative , disagree strongly with Premier Ford’s Minister Clarke not halting the inexcusable removal of the protection of The Greenbelt , He should resign now…..Other than this major faux pas , The Premier has been a relief from the previous regime !
    Hang in there Hugh .