One of my pet theories is that almost any significant development in public affairs or major figure in public life has an analogue in at least one episode of The Simpsons. Indeed, one of the many downsides of the disappearance of our past monoculture is the loss of these recognizable points of reference when it comes to political discussions. It may even be that its absence contributes to contemporary political naivete. For it is often easier to see things plainly under the guise of comedic representation. All of this is a preface to announcing a recent epiphany: Ontario’s long-serving premier, Doug Ford, is the real-life version of the fictional town of Springfield’s long-serving mayor, Joseph Quimby. For those who don’t recall or have tragically missed out on the classic Simpsons era, Mayor Quimby—nicknamed “Diamond Joe”—was a Kennedyesque politician whose specific policy achievements were always somewhat vague, and whose evidence of personal corruption was hilariously blatant ... CL...
A discussion on political, economic and social issues in British Columbia, and Canada