Size Obsession:

John Wesley Chisholm

May 24, 2024

We’ll call it The Bee because it’s going to sting a little.

With elections coming up municipally, federally, and provincially in Nova Scotia, The Bee will be a weekly journal devoted To News, Politics, Literature, Creativity, Agriculture, Woods, Waters, and Beauty in Nova Scotia.

We’ll write supporting progress, prosperity, and purpose through radical reforms in bureaucracy, intentional localism, and… let’s call it Right-sizeism - the rational pursuit of the right solutions to the mistakes we’ve spent a lot of money and a long time making in Nova Scotia.

To start things off on the right trail, one that is long and wide, here’s an article comparing Halifax government to a man obsessing over the size of his penis.

It started with amalgamation. A city of 60,000 claiming it’s a municipal metropolis of 400,000.

To get their needed nine inches they had to include 5,500 square kilometres of mostly woodland from Hubbards to Ecum Secum. By comparison, all of New York City including the five boroughs is only 1,200 square kilometres. What exactly are we trying to prove?

Halifax's frantic new trajectory - the mail-order penis pump plan of relentless expansion - underscores the irrational and harmful decisions that stem from deep-seated insecurities.

The city's growth-at-any-cost zoning changes, passed today, and unanimously approved by a council riddled with members not seeking re-election, have paved the way for thousands of new housing units. This decision, driven by a hasty grab for federal Housing Accelerator Fund money, overlooks the glaring reality: Halifax's growth is not just rapid—it's dangerously unmanageable.

The Insecurity: Fear of Insufficiency

Just as a man consumed by the belief that his penis is too small might go to extreme lengths to "correct" this perceived inadequacy, Halifax is driven by an obsessive fear of being too small, too insignificant. This fear propels the city to pursue growth at any cost, unhealthy immigration, foolish economic development schemes, the obsession with erecting ever taller buildings, and disregarding the potential negative consequences on its character and quality of life.

Overcompensation: The Drive for More

A man obsessed with his size might resort to dubious and dangerous measures—risky surgeries, unproven enhancement products, or unhealthy behaviors—to alleviate his insecurity. Similarly, Halifax's rush to grow translates into zoning changes that prioritize rapid expansion over thoughtful urban planning. The city crams in more housing units, permits higher buildings, and stretches its infrastructure to the breaking point, all in a bid to appear larger and more prosperous.

The Fallout: Strain and Dysfunction

The consequences of such overcompensation are often detrimental. For the man, these can include physical harm, financial ruin, and a continued sense of inadequacy. For Halifax, the relentless pursuit of growth strains public services inflates living costs, and erodes the very qualities that made the city appealing in the first place. The charm of a close-knit community, the tranquility of quiet streets, and the beauty of historic vistas are all sacrificed on the altar of expansion.

Ignoring the Real Issues

In both cases, the true problem lies not in the actual size but in the perception and the obsessive focus on growth. The man’s preoccupation distracts him from meaningful personal development, relationships, and self-acceptance. Likewise, Halifax's focus on sheer size diverts attention from deeper, systemic issues—such as the need for sustainable infrastructure, equitable social services, and preservation of cultural heritage.

The Path to Health and Balance

True well-being comes from accepting and optimizing what one has, rather than chasing an elusive ideal. For the man, this might mean focusing on overall health, confidence, and fulfilling relationships. For Halifax, it means fostering sustainable, inclusive growth that enhances the city’s unique qualities rather than undermining them.

The city should aim for a localist, rightsized, balanced development, prioritizing investments in public transport, utilities, healthcare, forests, and waters. It should seek to enhance the quality of life for all residents, ensuring that growth supports rather than strains the community.

Growth without prosperity is meaningless. Growth needs to pay its own way and support the community. Growth needs to be intentionally local, fractal, and diversely held by local owners. Growth needs to increase the beauty and commonwealth of a place.

Embracing Authentic Strength

Both the man and the city must learn to see beyond their insecurities. Halifax must recognize that its true strength lies not in the girth of its municipality, the height of newly erected buildings, or the thrust of its expansion, but in the richness of its culture, the well-being of its residents, and the sustainability of its growth. By embracing a more measured, thoughtful approach, Halifax can ensure it remains a vibrant, livable city—a place where growth is driven by genuine need and thoughtful planning, not by a misguided fear of inadequacy.

Over the coming weeks, The Bee will post articles on the upcoming Municipal elections: How our municipal government works, the job of The Mayor, Mistakes all local politicians make, Why Citizen is the most important job in government, The legacy of Amalgamation, How the police are like bureaucrats with guns, and The Bureaucracy at work.

Please share this new journal with folks who want to take a different look at government beyond the usual left/right everything and everyone is awful view and outside the bounds of the advertisement-driven and dying legacy media in Nova Scotia.

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