Martin and Harper: A stark choice

[August1991]

"I'm simply saying that Canadians have a choice and that choice with every passing day, with virtually every announcement by Mr. Harper, just demonstrates how stark that choice is," he told reporters.

"And we saw it today," said Mr. Martin. "Mr. Harper's version of child care is very different than the one we have signed with 10 provinces, very different than the one that is agreed to by the vast majority of those who are knowledgeable, very different from the ones that Canadian families require if in fact in the world in which we live they are going to be given the support by the state to help them."

G & M

If I were Harper, I would quickly respond to Martin by reminding everyone that the choice is stark - a tired, corrupt party and a party that has made accountability its key plank.

There is also the major point that the Liberals have always promised government intervention during election campaigns, and yet been less interventionist once in power.

And lastly, Liberal promises are almost meaningless at this point.

----

Instead, I will take Martin at face value and consider his point. Do Canadians really prefer to have governments spend their own money for them? Or in fact, do Canadians prefer to have governments spend other people's money for them?

The fact of the matter is that there are more poor people than rich people. In Canada, we compound the problem. It seems fairly obvious to me why most of the 32 seats in the Maritimes (population 2.3 million) will go Liberal and almost all of the 28 seats in Alberta (population 3 million) will go Conservative.

Margaret Thatcher famously said: "They have the usual socialist disease; they have run out of other people's money." IOW, this system will work as long as other people are willing to hand over the dough.

In fact, I am inclined to think the Liberal scheme will stop functioning soon for another reason. Many people in Quebec are tired at how the federal Liberals hand out the largesse.

[Biblio Bibuli]

The fact of the matter is that there are more poor people than rich people. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

EXACTLY!

Luckily none of the poor live in either Canada or the USA.

God bless us, everyone.

[apollo19]

I don't really think most Canadians want the government to spend their money instead of them, but no party has really stood up and said "there will be no government involvement where there is already a competitive industry" (e.g. the media). IMO, unless a party stands up and offers to drastically change the way things are done, like reopening the constitution, we will be stuck in this quagmire for a while.

What will happen when the PQ probably wins the next Quebec election? Boisclair has indicated a referendum will follow. I doubt Martin could campaign for Canada, and Harper couldn't either. Unless someone stands up and says they will honestly do that (open up the constitution), I don't think there will be any large changes. Just look at all the different ways people view government across this country: BC wants to help the disadvantaged, Alberta wants very little government, Ontario wants some government to helpout the people less "well off", and I guess Quebec wants a lot of govt. The Maritimes nicely fit Ontario's "helping" hand.

[tml12]

I don't really think most Canadians want the government to spend their money instead of them, but no party has really stood up and said "there will be no government involvement where there is already a competitive industry" (e.g. the media). IMO, unless a party stands up and offers to drastically change the way things are done, like reopening the constitution, we will be stuck in this quagmire for a while.

What will happen when the PQ probably wins the next Quebec election? Boisclair has indicated a referendum will follow. I doubt Martin could campaign for Canada, and Harper couldn't either. Unless someone stands up and says they will honestly do that (open up the constitution), I don't think there will be any large changes. Just look at all the different ways people view government across this country: BC wants to help the disadvantaged, Alberta wants very little government, Ontario wants some government to helpout the people less "well off", and I guess Quebec wants a lot of govt. The Maritimes nicely fit Ontario's "helping" hand.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Why could neither Martin nor Harper campaign for Canada?

[apollo19]

Why could neither Martin nor Harper campaign for Canada? 

Martin has turned into (or perhaps always was) a complete buffoon, and Harper doesn't exactly ring of nationalism. Layton is a non-player, so he isn't even worth mentioning.

[tml12]

Why could neither Martin nor Harper campaign for Canada?  

Martin has turned into (or perhaps always was) a complete buffoon, and Harper doesn't exactly ring of nationalism. Layton is a non-player, so he isn't even worth mentioning.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I dunno. Sure they are not francophones but I would at least hope people off this island of Montreal would listen to them. Otherwise it would be a shame.