Take me to superior court
The Walrus and the Carpenter is a famous poem of a couple of con
artists who tricked the oysters into leaving the sea to join in a
pleasant walk, a pleasant talk. (Not quite an AGM but close enough.)
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
At an AGM at an east-end condo, the meeting had started, the nomination
for the three directors closed and the scruitineers were counting the
ballots and they saw that a candidate beat one of the incumbents.
At that point, the property manager dropped 25 additional proxies on
the table and said add these. All the proxies favoured the incumbents.
The scruitineer protested this proxy rigging to the Chair, who happened
to be the corporation's lawyer. At the end of a long back and forth
argument, the lawyer ruled that the proxies were valid and if she
didn't like it, she could appeal his ruling in Superior Court.
I was shocked to hear that a lawyer would apparently engage in such blatant election fraud.
These owners are of modest means. They can't afford to engage in
expensive litigation by a lawyer who is suppose to represent the best
interests of the condo corporation.
Why does a lack of riches means that condo owners can be treated so
poorly by those who spout on about ethics at their phony condo
seminars and act so unethically towards the people who fill their
wallets.
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
—Lewis Carroll The Walrus and the Carpenter
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