Liberals and NDP fanning the flames

[cybercoma]

Evidently, kengs has nothing to support the things he or she claims. Could someone maybe shoot me a heads up in the future so I don't waste my time trying to understand the views of an ideologue without substance.

[White Doors]

Evidently, kengs has nothing to support the things he or she claims. Could someone maybe shoot me a heads up in the future so I don't waste my time trying to understand the views of an ideologue without substance.

I hold these truths to be self-evident

[independent]

Regarding Layton's economic plan to get us through....

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...olitics/?query=

Quite frankly only Harper seems to understand what is needed here. Calm.

What the country needs is confidence in the government. If the people start to panic we are in trouble. Harper proposes too do nothing which is contrary to what most economist seem too me saying. You need a government that at least appears like it is taking care of the problem.

[M.Dancer]

What the country needs is confidence in the government. If the people start to panic we are in trouble. Harper proposes too do nothing which is contrary to what most economist seem too me saying. You need a government that at least appears like it is taking care of the problem.

HArper has said quite a bit.

Reduce taxes on Diesel fuel.

No carbon tax

Tax credits for first time home buyers

Reducing the small Busines tax rate

75 million venture cap fund

Raise the threshold of foriegn investment to attaract more business here.

That and more will do far more than the panic that Layton and Dion are selling.

[blueblood]

HArper has said quite a bit.

Reduce taxes on Diesel fuel.

No carbon tax

Tax credits for first time home buyers

Reducing the small Busines tax rate

75 million venture cap fund

Raise the threshold of foriegn investment to attaract more business here.

That and more will do far more than the panic that Layton and Dion are selling.

You forgot the TFSA's... that is big in itself

[independent]

HArper has said quite a bit.

Reduce taxes on Diesel fuel.

No carbon tax

Tax credits for first time home buyers

Reducing the small Busines tax rate

75 million venture cap fund

Raise the threshold of foriegn investment to attaract more business here.

That and more will do far more than the panic that Layton and Dion are selling.

Read the paper. Economist are not buying it. The voters do not like Harper pretending there is know problem. Maybe if he stated the obvious that what goes on in the states will have an impact on out economy and the measures he put in place will help us weather the storm. But just pretending the problem is not there makes him lose all his credibility.

Edited October 8, 2008 by independent

[cybercoma]

Read the paper. Economist are not buying it. The voters do not like Harper pretending there is know problem. Maybe if he stated the obvious that what goes on in the states will have an impact on out economy and the measures he put in place will help us weather the storm. But just pretending the problem is not there makes him lose all his credibility.

The article by Andrew Coyne, posted earlier, completely contradicts what you're saying.

[Smallc]

Read the paper. Economist are not buying it. The voters do not like Harper pretending there is know problem. Maybe if he stated the obvious that what goes on in the states will have an impact on out economy and the measures he put in place will help us weather the storm. But just pretending the problem is not there makes him lose all his credibility.

He doesn't seem to be doing that anymore though. He has been admitting the problem.

Edited October 8, 2008 by Smallc

[M.Dancer]

Read the paper. Economist are not buying it. The voters do not like Harper pretending there is know problem. Maybe if he stated the obvious that what goes on in the states will have an impact on out economy and the measures he put in place will help us weather the storm. But just pretending the problem is not there makes him lose all his credibility.

Not buying what? Tax relief?

[Vancouver King]

Changing the subject is now the latest strategy of neo cons. Just as McCain desperately needs to move discussion off the imploding American economy to save his failing presidential bid, Harper apologists now accuse Liberals of creating the unfolding financial chaos here.

They should be treated for what they are: the vocal death throes of dinosaurs.

Edited October 8, 2008 by Vancouver King

[capricorn]

Arr.

You know, Dancer, some people think links can be dangerous. Best not to click on them. Who knows what lurks behind.

[M.Dancer]

You know, Dancer, some people think links can be dangerous. Best not to click on them. Who knows what lurks behind.

Is that why Topaz doesn't use them?

Anyway, it's true, liberal and socialist economists don't like Harper's plan. They been wrong before so they're not worried about being wrong again. Not like deficits have ever slowed the Canadian economy....much...often...

[Bryan]

Political spin is one thing, but the bold faced lies by the Liberals and NDP are getting out of hand. How is it that you can say things in a political campaign that would otherwise get you charged with slander?

[Jobu]

Changing the subject is now the latest strategy of neo cons. Just as McCain desperately needs to move discussion off the imploding American economy to save his failing presidential bid, Harper apologists now accuse Liberals of creating the unfolding financial chaos here.

They should be treated for what they are: the vocal death throes of dinosaurs.

Since when is there unfolding financial chaos here?

The only chaos is on the stock markets. The same markets that are up about 50% from early 2000.

What next? The government should go around to casinos making sure no one loses money?

The government has virtually no control over the stock market in the short-term. The control it does have, taxes, are being used effectively. Dion and Layton's policies would drive the markets significantly lower and companies out of Canada.

Why is that so hard for people to understand?

Dion's crocodile tears are nice, but facts are the facts. Anyone who's heavily invested in stocks over the age of 60 made their own bed. I'm not sure why I am supposed to feel sorry for them or expect the government to deal with it.

If banks were failing, that would be one thing. It ain't happening, folks.

[eyeball]

You're wasting your breath. Read the OP. It specifically refers to "the economic state of the country" not "the world".

There's nothing the government can do about the market in a global economy. That's the stock answer we usually got whenever the Liberals and NDP were fanning the flames of fear about the price of domestic gasoline. Now however it seems the government can easily manage the impact of a very uncertain global economy and market as long as its a Conservative one. If this sounds too good to be true...

Harper says he will adamantly refuse to go into deficit and just as adamantly refuse to raise taxes. This only leaves the option of cutting spending if things go bad, but he won't say where. All he says is trust me, I have a plan.

I think what we really need at the tiller is a flexible hand. Harper's so-called steady hand looks more paralyzed than anything.

[Vancouver King]

Since when is there unfolding financial chaos here?

The only chaos is on the stock markets. The same markets that are up about 50% from early 2000.

What next? The government should go around to casinos making sure no one loses money?

The government has virtually no control over the stock market in the short-term. The control it does have, taxes, are being used effectively. Dion and Layton's policies would drive the markets significantly lower and companies out of Canada.

Why is that so hard for people to understand?

Dion's crocodile tears are nice, but facts are the facts. Anyone who's heavily invested in stocks over the age of 60 made their own bed. I'm not sure why I am supposed to feel sorry for them or expect the government to deal with it.

If banks were failing, that would be one thing. It ain't happening, folks.

You simply don't get it. This country is 6 months away from a depression-type downturn and you not only want to muzzle that type of talk, you seriously believe that Harper has the character, temperament and record to deal with the victims of the coming downturn.

Harper's Republican pals have now destroyed a generation's worth of wealth production while triggering a global recession/depression - did you really think Canada would be exempt?

[eyeball]

Harper's Republican pals have now destroyed a generation's worth of wealth production while triggering a global recession/depression - did you really think Canada would be exempt?

Or that Harper's Conservatives don't believe in the same sort of lassez faire prescriptions that set the stage for the disaster unfolding in the US?

[capricorn]

And the financial stability of those banks and the financial system in Canada started when?

In taking credit for the stability in the banking system, Chretien agrees with Harper that Canada is more prepared than other countries to withstand an economic downturn.

"While everybody's in turmoil, Canada is not in turmoil," Mr. Chrétien explained in a brief interview.

---

"It was a crazy race they were in," Mr. Chrétien said of the U.S. banks, which were expanding frantically in the belief that bigger was better.

"Our guys were not in that race because they claimed they were too regulated."

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/Business

This endorsement by Chretien must put Dion on the spot. Just another example of the (dis)united Liberal Party.

[Jobu]

You simply don't get it. This country is 6 months away from a depression-type downturn and you not only want to muzzle that type of talk, you seriously believe that Harper has the character, temperament and record to deal with the victims of the coming downturn.

Harper's Republican pals have now destroyed a generation's worth of wealth production while triggering a global recession/depression - did you really think Canada would be exempt?

You sound like Layton and Dion, you know, wishing a recession on us. Making up a platform on the go in response to day-to-day changes in the market isn't exactly the tempermant I consider virtuous in helping deal with economic matters.

Also, which of Harper's policies have contributed to declining wealth and global recession? Please, I am all ears.

Finally, perhaps this will calm your nerves and get you back to reality:

GDP Growth:

Country.....2008.....2009

Canada.....0.7.....1.2

USA.....1.6.....0.1

France.....0.8.....0.2

Germany.....1.8.....0.0

UK.....1.0.....-0.1

Japan.....0.7.....0.5

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/2008/10/08/imf.html

[fellowtraveller]

You simply don't get it. This country is 6 months away from a depression-type downturn and you not only want to muzzle that type of talk, you seriously believe that Harper has the character, temperament and record to deal with the victims of the coming downturn.

Harper's Republican pals have now destroyed a generation's worth of wealth production while triggering a global recession/depression - did you really think Canada would be exempt?

You demolish your argument when you even hint that Dion or Layton would be more suitable to lead during tough economic times.. Laytons training is as a political science student, Dions as a public admin professor, and Harper as an economist.

FFS, Dion cannot get his own Party or own leadership debts resolved.

His only option would be to massively increase taxes (at a time they could be least afforded) so he can go back to the Liberal Fairytale days of a 'surplus'.

[capricorn]

Here's how John Manley, a former high ranking Liberal, views the Canadian economic situation.

Fortunately our system responded very well. The market for asset-backed commercial paper froze in August of last year. However, our government and financial institutions found a solution and have restored some liquidity to this paper without undue dislocation. Our banks have not been immune from the effects of the crisis, but all of them have come through so far with strong balance sheets. The Bank of Canada responded by providing increased liquidity. This is the Bank's independent decision, but as minister, I would have been fully in favour.

The economy, of course, is still vulnerable to economic slowdown in the U.S. and elsewhere. Not much can be done to prevent that. If it's really severe, expect government revenues to fall and the demand for spending to grow.

I think we have quite good rules in Canada and that is one reason that the Canadian institutions have continued to be strong. Also, I don't expect to hear anyone asking for large bank mergers again in Canada any time soon.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto.../WBSilverPowers

So many Liberals, so many opinions.

[Smallc]

So many Liberals, so many opinions.

Is that supposed to be a negative?

[jdobbin]

In taking credit for the stability in the banking system, Chretien agrees with Harper that Canada is more prepared than other countries to withstand an economic downturn.

This endorsement by Chretien must put Dion on the spot. Just another example of the (dis)united Liberal Party.

Where have Manley and Chretien endorsed Harper? Seems they are endorsing sound Liberal economic practices.

Now, if we can just have a Liberal government back in place to cut Harper's runaway spending.

Seems to me that the desperation driving the Tories to get that majority will be all for nothing. People still don't trust Harper to be empathetic to their suffering if we have some tough times ahead.

It isn't just what is happening in Canada. It is what is happening around the world. Our trade partners are suffering and we could be sideswiped despite our better regulated system. Harper has made the wrong tax cuts, spent wildly, is secretive and operates a one man show in Ottawa. He tried to play the politics is war scenario and used scare tactics that he accused others of using in other elections. People are scared and probably thinking that tax credits are less important than tax cuts.

Edited October 8, 2008 by jdobbin

[Argus]

TSX is down what, 30%? Economy is shedding quality manufacturing jobs. Yet for Harper it's not to worry, business as usual. He thinks that just giving the fat cats in the oil and banking more tax cuts, to make their profits even higher (and bonuses skyrocket) in itself somehow will keep economy afloat. We already saw that same approach somewhere... Isn't it exactly that's causing this crisis?

Actually... no. This crisis has just about, well, nothing at all to do with that. But thanks for playing. Tell you what, you go somewhere and read a book, or at least a newspaper, and when you can come back and pretend you have at least a clue as to what you're talking about, people won't have to snicker when they read your posts.

[Argus]

Probably not anywhere near as much as you think. I especially have a hard time believing the Liberals and NDP are affecting stock markets all around the world to panic. I haven't seen any news headlines screaming, "Canadian election causing market crash" or "Blame Canada". Have you?

I"m not suggesting they're affecting stock markets elsewhere. I'm suggesting that their speeches and their last minute commercials are all designed to frighten and panic Canadians into thinking the economic situation is far worse than it is in order to capitalize on that fear. Now how much is that also causing Canadians to panic and sell their stocks? I don't know but it's certainly adding to the environment of fear.