The Globe and Mail: Platform price tag leaves out some Tory promises
At this point, things are looking awfully grim for the Liberals. As much as it pains me to say this, it looks like Harper may be well on his way to victory. Now I know that's probably not news to anyone at this point, but it leads us to our next stage in the typical political bashing: wariness.
I've always been afraid of Stephen and his views. But, remember I said way back at the beginning of December that the winner would be the one most publicly pledging to spend money on social services. While the Liberals have clamored to play catch up to all the wild eyed promises the Tories have thrown down, its the Conservatives that have come across as the most genuine with their soon to be retractions on campaign pledges. The Liberals made the mistake of adopting at "Oh yeah? Well check this out" approach that put them behind the curve on announcements. Not a good position for the party in power.
Which leads me to this article, one of several floating around today with the same topic. Seems the economist the Tories hired (see incredibly uncomfortable photo on the link) to review their plan has some serious doubts about what they are saying. Seems some of the big promises (resolving the fiscal imbalance between provinces, wait times for healthcare) were NOT included in the original costing of the platform.
Not surprised. Let me be the first to say, if the Conservatives are elected, what their spending like a hawk. I don't want to go spreading false facts around, but I'd hate to see a government come into power and fulfill their campaign promises by gutting systems they feel are unnecessary or won't be missed, while hiding the true costs of what they are doing.
The Globe and Mail: Platform price tag leaves out some Tory promises
posted by The Nar @ 1:05 PM
1 Comments:
MISTER HARPER: THE MAN WHO COULD NOT COUNT:
Welcome to Mr. Harper, aspirant PM, the “20 Billion Dollar Man.” The thrust of his campaign was that he was a very careful policy wonk, not given to kissing babies or small talk, but a capable man, careful with details ...
Now, just one week before the election, he unveils a five year plan with a “missing” 20 billion dollar gap in it. His one economist who checked it for him, says “Oops! Left out a couple of things, but it balances if you don’t think about them”.
Some endorsement. Some check.
But so what? Harper tours Quebec offering them money for votes: lots of money. We will take it from the federal government and give it your provincial government, he says. Vote for us and we will shovel billions your way.
And Quebec voters warm up to this modern day Santa Clause in a blue suit. Heck, why not elect him as PM; just look at the goodies we will get.
Sorry, folks, but someone has to find the missing 20 billion dollars. Guess who that will be? Perhaps those lazy folk in the Maritimes (after all, Harper told the Americans back in 1997 that you folks living there had a false sense of entitlement and needed to move or do something)? Or those social programs which will have a priority second to the tax cuts designed to favour the very wealthy?
It is clear now that Harper is a follower of Bush. Harper’s economics – given his 20 billion dollar gap is just plain voodoo economics, to quote Bush Snr, and his tax cuts for the wealthy is just slavish copying of Bush Jnr.
Welcome to Bushland, Canada. A PM so smart he cannot add.
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