canada elect 2015
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- nb-1
@ETM Actually, most economists will tell you that "fiscal responsibility" includes going into debt during recessions, or when money is cheap to borrow. Regardless, I understand how most people think that a balanced budget makes sense. It is a simple way of thinking about the issue, and arguably a reasonable fiscal strategy for a province.
HOWEVER, fiscal responsibility also means managing the economy properly when times are good. The previous Alberta Conservative government did a good job of cutting back in the Ralph Klein years. But starting in 2007, after Klein left, it was the provincial government's responsibility to work to make the economy strong for future generations. They did next to nothing to diversify the economy, even though any economist (who wasn't tied to oil) suggested it. No government should rely on one source of revenue unless they have no other option. Now that Alberta has squandered those good years, they are back in a position where they have no other option.
I understand your argument, but it's not fair to say "we must cut back when times are tough" if you do not also demand that the economy is protected during good times, for future generations.
Sadly, people tend to only hold their governments accountable when times are tough. When the money is flowing in, no one is paying attention. And there really hasn't been a history of smart people making smart decisions in Alberta politics.
- Your points are valid. However, some cuts the Conservatives were to make were valid. Some should have been maintained.ETM
- Fiscal responsibility is spending well, not just spending or cutting. I didn't say don't spend, but simply to better ensure every dollar counts.ETM
- NDP are like the unpopular kid who suddenly got popular and with the sudden euphoria they don't know how to say no.ETM
- Debt/deficits are not the end of the world. You'd think nothing of getting a mortgage or a car, knowing you have years or decades to pay for it.i_monk
- Well the rules and requirements for us to pay something back, or lose it, are far more stringent than for the government, aren't they?ETM
- Not when you have the credit rating Canada has.i_monk
- futuremongolian-1
When a province enters into a deep recession like Alberta has, you don't cut spending. You boost it.
- Julesvm-1
fun times http://news.yahoo.com/canada-off…
- Don't worry, Stephen Harper says there is no recession. He claims the numbers show the economy is growing!nb
- ETM-1
Lets look at it this way, although not 100% aligned, the Federal NDP and provincial parties share the same overall philosophy.
Provincially, hasn't basically every win resulted in failure, rapid voter dissatisfaction and no re-election? BC, Nova Scotia, Ontario. Have they learned anything to do better in Alberta or with the whole country? I believe they are still doing alright in Quebec, but that it's own unique circumstance that isn't typically any bellwether for the nation politically (no I am not knocking Quebec in any way).
I think NDP is better as a strong opposition to act as a check and balance.
- You're forgetting Saskatchewan where they did a great job. Balanced budgets, royalty regime, etc.zarkonite
- It's not fair to exclude Québec because of it's "unique circumstance" while at the same time saying that Federal and Provincial governing is the same thing.nb
- I never said that at all. I never said it was the same. I said their was a shared overall philosophy.ETM
- masquerade-4
walk into a 7 11 pick a selection slip sheet for lotto 649 select ontario 49
in each box place the same 6 numbers ask the cashier to scan it 10 times if you get 4/6 you will win 5000$ and some will
http://www.lottolore.com/ontario…
- nb-1
OMG "Stephen Harper isn't perfect, but..." HAHAHAHA
This is so hilarious. It appears to be shot handheld (more realism!) but it's clearly lit with electric light. Why would the camera crew set up lights, but forget to use a simple tripod? Lulz.
- vaxorcist-1
Ask Jerry Bance about the Mug Shot!
- _niko-1
oh my god, these guys are AWESOME!!!!!
Just got their flyer in the mail, anybody not voting for them is a SHEEPLE!!!
lol
- These kind of argument(rothchild owns all the politician) is counter productive. It encourages people to do nothing and nothing will ever get done or change.pango
- lol. from the founder: "I created the party’s concept, working platform and logo."Gnash
- The Bank of Canada is federal, not privately owned like its American counterpart, so no, he doesn't print the money here.i_monk
- i_monk0
Harper took $2b from EI and $1.1b from VA to balance the budget and present a "surplus". Doesn't get us out of a recession or fix his shitty record of deficits and job loss, but hey, it gives Con voters something to post on Facebook.
- the EI surplus is old news (http://fw.to/IgqRc3... - what's VA?spot13
- In any case, an EI surplus means people are working, how else can you interpret an EI surplus?spot13
- We're in recession, EI shouldn't be pilfered to prop up the government.
VA = Veterans Affairs.i_monk - Harper closed something like 11 VA offices, so of course there's a "surplus" there.i_monk
- nb-2
A Surplus During A Recession Seems Like Bad Economic Planning
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/…
.... must be election season.
- spot13-1
May I suggest we hold off on the issue-based politics and compare the parties based on what's important, their websites? Try to be impartial:
http://www.ndp.ca/
http://www.liberal.ca/
http://www.greenparty.ca/
http://www.conservative.ca/- all shit - con's is especially bad... looks like sun newsJulesvm
- Out of the 4, I think the greens have the cleanest look and feel and best mobile experience. NDP seems to have more focus on support through email and donationsspot13
- Then Libs and Cons, but I agree with Julesvm that they are all shit - especially compared to their US counterparts (even Trump's is better than all 4 imo)spot13
- nb-1
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/…
Oh, now this is hilarious: Someone was defacing signs in Stephen Harper's riding (not hilarious) so one of the Harper staffers on the campaign put stickers on that said "24 Hour Surveillance". hahahaha
- Julesvm-1
anyone watch the debate?
- I didn't see it - I'm overseasJulesvm
- Same, and neither the Globe, CBC, BBC nor the Guardian have stated there was any clear winner.Continuity
- Couldn't find it, but we don't have cable.i_monk
- i_monk-1
http://www.macleans.ca/politics/…
I did 45 policy comparisons and ended up overwhelmingly Green. Too bad we don't have ranked ballot voting, or might actually consider voting that way.
- nb-1
Old Stock Canadians.
- nb-1
^ Uh, he later clarified this phrase by saying that he meant, "Canadians who have been the descendants of immigrants for one or more generations."
This is an actual quote from Stephen Harper. Yikes.
- Julesvm-1
- nb-1
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/n…
Did the UN really ask Canada to take in 9,000 refugees by Christmas?
TL;DR: No, Mulcair is making up facts.
It annoys me that so many of my friends are voting NDP no matter how shitty Mulcair is as a person/leader. Harper is worse, of course, but that doesn't make Mulcair good. The lesser of all electable evils, at this point, seems to be Justin Trudeau.