Topic Importance in 2015 Election

[eyeball]

I don't believe he is showing a preference as much as not discriminating against, like the NDP plan or the Liberal Plan (If undoing things while doing nothing is a plan)

I am sure Income splitting will be also very helpful to Immigrant families. Is that a bad thing as well?

I suspect it would be if it was likewise applied outside our principles of universality.

Personally I'd rather see the surplus used to pay down the debt or simply distributed equally amongst everyone than fight over the spoils. The whole thing smacks of electioneering opportunism - it's why I think Harper is funnelling it towards the type of families he has, more like it was just another piece of red meat for the base.

[TimG]

Personally I'd rather see the surplus used to pay down the debt or simply distributed equally amongst everyone than fight over the spoils.

Well I don't see you complaining about the NDP plan which is "red meat" for the NDP base. And I doubt you will be complaining much about the Liberals when they start handing out "red meat" to their base.

[Argus]

So just sit back and ignore it?

What do you want me to do, cry? Do you think for one second the Liberals or NDP will be the slightest bit different?

[cybercoma]

What do you want me to do, cry? Do you think for one second the Liberals or NDP will be the slightest bit different?

Yes. I want you to cry. Can you put the video up on YouTube?

[On Guard for Thee]

I sort of enjoyed how Hollande poked a finger at Harper over GW in his address to parliament. Damn, he gets caught in another broken promise and there was a lot of squirming going on in PnP today. 6 years of doing nothing about GW and with the backdrop of the latest IPCC report.

[eyeball]

Well I don't see you complaining about the NDP plan which is "red meat" for the NDP base. And I doubt you will be complaining much about the Liberals when they start handing out "red meat" to their base.

Please let it be noted herewith that I'm (also) officially complaining about the NDP or Liberals feeding red meat to their bases. Its a disgusting practice that's unbecoming to all, including the consumers.

Edited November 4, 2014 by eyeball

[TimG]

Please let it be noted herewith that I'm (also) officially complaining about the NDP or Liberals feeding red meat to their bases. Its a disgusting practice that's unbecoming to all, including the consumers.

Its called democracy.

[eyeball]

That's baloney - a bland pasty meat best washed down with kool-aid.

[Argus]

I sort of enjoyed how Hollande poked a finger at Harper over GW in his address to parliament. Damn, he gets caught in another broken promise and there was a lot of squirming going on in PnP today. 6 years of doing nothing about GW and with the backdrop of the latest IPCC report.

Harper has little to learn from Hollande on leadership or economics, tha's for sure. As for keeping promises, I don't think we'll see pictures of Harper hiding behind a bike helmet so he can cheat on his spouse anytime soon.

[TimG]

That's baloney - a bland pasty meat best washed down with kool-aid.

People have different priorities. That is a fact of life. In a democracy winning means coming up with a collection of policies that appeal to different subsets of the population.

These policies are what you call "red meat" and all parties need them to build the critical mass required to win. Complaining about policies which were not designed to appeal to you just shows you don't understand how democracy is supposed to work.

Edited November 4, 2014 by TimG

[overthere]

I sort of enjoyed how Hollande poked a finger at Harper over GW in his address to parliament. Damn, he gets caught in another broken promise and there was a lot of squirming going on in PnP today. 6 years of doing nothing about GW and with the backdrop of the latest IPCC report.

Have you ever wondered how France can manage to somehow get close to meeting GW targets, while at the same time driving their economy into a truly horrific abyss of debt?

It's easy! Close down factories, plenty of them and move the jobs to China or elsewhere.. Instant gains on the greenhouse gas front, instant increase on the debt as the jobless increase overnight. Economics is like ...magic.

[carepov]

Have you ever wondered how France can manage to somehow get close to meeting GW targets, while at the same time driving their economy into a truly horrific abyss of debt?

It's easy! Close down factories, plenty of them and move the jobs to China or elsewhere.. Instant gains on the greenhouse gas front, instant increase on the debt as the jobless increase overnight. Economics is like ...magic.

Don't forget France's nuclear power generation...

[PIK]

How can Harper learn anything from this french failure who drove his country into bankruptcy in the same year that Harper has managed to lead our country to a balanced budget? And the same guy that was ready to go ahead with the sale of Mistral class helicopter carriers to the Russians. And still might do it.

Edited November 5, 2014 by PIK

[eyeball]

People have different priorities. That is a fact of life. In a democracy winning means coming up with a collection of policies that appeal to different subsets of the population.

These policies are what you call "red meat" and all parties need them to build the critical mass required to win. Complaining about policies which were not designed to appeal to you just shows you don't understand how democracy is supposed to work.

Winners in our elections are supposed to represent the entire population within their constituencies not just subsets of it. Our democracy was never supposed to be dominated by the priorities of political parties that cater to those subsets.

You know what they say about abuse - if it feels like it's happening it probably is. Democracy is similar - if it feels phony it probably is. What is there to misunderstand?

Edited November 6, 2014 by eyeball

[jacee]

The IMF has recently said that the savings from 'labour deregulation' (ie, UNION BUSTING) have gone into CEO'S pockets.

I think we should make that an election issue: What are politicians' plans to correct the transfer of income and wealth to the wealthy,

and DO! THEIR! JOB! of ensuring that prosperity is shared by all of the people they work for?

Rich people don't pay taxes.

They hide their money offshore.

We pay the taxes.

We pay their salaries.

They work for US!

The Political Roots of Widening Inequality

The key to understanding the rise in inequality isnt technology or globalization. Its the power of the moneyed interests to shape the underlying rules of the market.

[T]he increasing concentration of political power in a corporate and financial elite ... has been able to influence the rules by which the economy runs.

...

Most fundamentally, the standard explanation for what has happened ignores power. As such, it lures the unsuspecting into thinking nothing can or should be done to alter what people are paid because the market has decreed it.

... changes in the organization of the market. These changes stem from a dramatic increase in the political power of large corporations and Wall Street to change the rules of the market in ways that have enhanced their profitability, while reducing the share of economic gains going to the majority of Americans.

...

Meanwhile, corporate executives and Wall Street managers and traders have done everything possible to prevent the wages of most workers from rising in tandem with productivity gains, in order that more of the gains go instead toward corporate profits.

HAPPY MAYDAY!!!

.

Edited April 30, 2015 by jacee

[jacee]

Here's a few election issues ... oh wait! It's only one issue!

BILL C-51 SUCKS!!!

/opponents-position-bill-c-51-as-election-issue

how-c-51-will-undermine-canadas-business-climate-an-open-letter-from-60-canadian-business-leaders

Bill C-51 Poses a Serious Threat to Free Expression in Canada

Bill C-51 Assumes Human Rights Can Be Trumped By National Security

-bill-c-51-perverts-rule-law

Small Businesses Across Canada Are Standing up Against Bill C-51

[Topaz]

It seems that more Canadians who do like the 5500 to 10,000 for the savings account, like increasing the CPP even more! Both, the Liberals and the NDP are for it and the Tories not so much. Since every Canadians has different financial needs, why not make it a CHOICE, one or the other?? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadians-support-increasing-cpp-benefits-poll-finds/article24234182/

[Keepitsimple]

It seems that more Canadians who do like the 5500 to 10,000 for the savings account, like increasing the CPP even more! Both, the Liberals and the NDP are for it and the Tories not so much. Since every Canadians has different financial needs, why not make it a CHOICE, one or the other?? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadians-support-increasing-cpp-benefits-poll-finds/article24234182/

Because the time is not right for raising the CPP - it results in increased payroll taxes on individuals and companies - but I'll hazard a guess that the tories would do exactly that before the end of their next mandate, should they be fortunate enough to retain power. Perhaps they could do it in conjunction with reducing EI premiums on both employee and employer, thus reducing the impact. Times are uncertain right now so I can understand a couple of yerars of adjusting to the post-recession landscape and lower oil prices.

[PIK]

Now trudeau wants to divide the country by pitting the rich against the rest.

[Topaz]

Where have you been....its always been that way. The difference between Harper and Justin, Justin is taxing his class and Harper gives pay raises to the same class.

[Hydraboss]

It seems that more Canadians who do like the 5500 to 10,000 for the savings account, like increasing the CPP even more! Both, the Liberals and the NDP are for it and the Tories not so much. Since every Canadians has different financial needs, why not make it a CHOICE, one or the other?? http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/canadians-support-increasing-cpp-benefits-poll-finds/article24234182/

The CPP scam is reliant upon an all-or-nothing approach. How would you suggest they increase payments to "some" (those who have not borne increased CPP tax) based only on increased contributions by "some"?

If you figure it out, please let me know. I'll opt out of CPP instantly in exchange for similarly increased TFSA limits.

[Hydraboss]

Where have you been....its always been that way. The difference between Harper and Justin, Justin is taxing his class and Harper gives pay raises to the same class.

Maybe, but Justin's income is 33% tax exempt so he won't be paying any increase himself. Nor will his peers.

MP base salary $167,400

Leader (other) $56,800

Total $224,200 X 66% = $147,972 TAXABLE

[jacee]

At the federal level, the NDP have been steadily gaining ground in Alberta for some time.

Another interesting finding is that the orange fever that has gripped Alberta predates the provincial election (and was nxot the product of some last-minute shift). At the federal level, the NDP have been steadily gaining ground in Alberta for some time. In February, the federal NDP were polling in the low-to-mid teens in Alberta. Since then, they have enjoyed a slow but steady rise and now stand at 27 points.

[Keepitsimple]

At the federal level, the NDP have been steadily gaining ground in Alberta for some time.

Another interesting finding is that the orange fever that has gripped Alberta predates the provincial election (and was nxot the product of some last-minute shift). At the federal level, the NDP have been steadily gaining ground in Alberta for some time. In February, the federal NDP were polling in the low-to-mid teens in Alberta. Since then, they have enjoyed a slow but steady rise and now stand at 27 points.

Good point. I think you'll find they will be gaining Nationally - at the expense of the Liberals....so be careful what you wish for. A healthy split between Liberals and NDP will lead to another majority for Harper.

[On Guard for Thee]

Or it could lead to another orange crush federally.