Lately, we've noticed that an amazing transformation takes place when one is elected to Toronto City Council or nominated to serve on a committee - or for that matter becomes a school trustee.

The One thinks that we are, in effect, witness to a miracle, a veritable transfiguration that takes place - the Holiest of Holies as it were, where a mere lumpen mortal whose only skill might be an ability to convince people he or she should be elected becomes a sudden expert in Any Number of Things. For example, we have:

• Councillor Adam Vaughan - not only a conoisseur of fine cappucino, it seems, but suddenly - and inexplicably - transformed from a mere news reporter to an expert in off-leash park strategy, despite having had little, if any, involvement in the formative public meetings. Somehow, the esteemed councillor has not only developed a mystical intuition about the appropriate acreage for these parks, but a sense of divine right that entitles him to intervene in an established process. One that was, in fact, approved by a majority of his peers, after being developed through significant and lengthy community consultation that all - including Mr. Vaughan - had an opportunity to attend.
• Councillor John FIlion - yet another past journalist, who miraculously woke up one morning to discover that he now had the ability to design food carts - and lease them out - for a variety of the ethnically diverse foods we had been promised for 2008, but now won't see, so it seems, until next year. This $700,000 initiative is, of course, much better than simply developing standards that would allow vendors to develop unique, privately owned units that reflect the diversity of the city and promote pride of ownership. To quote one devotee of the Toronto Way:
  
  

  “What message do we want people that come to our city to get from street vendors? Right now, we have these ugly-looking carts and hot dogs,In order to make sure the carts are well-maintained, there’s a unified look, they meet health standards, the fact that the city owns them … I think is a good thing.”

  Hmmm...a "unified look"....sure sounds like a good way to reflect diversity to us here at the House of One.

And then, of course, we have signs of brilliance like Toronto Waterfront's ability to develop soccer fields near Cherry Beach, but somehow drop the ball on the associated parking lot, leaving the park inaccessibile to anyone or from another point of view, preserving it for future, and currently indeterminate, generations. Not to mention school trustee's awe-inspiring ability to develop spontaneous expertise in the art and craft of education.

All of which leads us to believe that for many, the One True Path to expertise lies not in experience, education or the willingnless to rely on those who have them, but instead that other "e" word - election!

All of which leads The One to believe it's time to develop some real skills by, like Paris Hilton, heading to the polls!