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The Toronto Star is reporting that the government is not providing the traditional free coffee to journalists who are in budget lock-down. By not giving coffee to the selected journalists who will be getting a preview of this years federal budget the government is saving $4 000, and it makes me sick to my stomach.
It makes me sick because it is a sign of what the budget is going to be: nothing but symbolism and a complete lack of a viable plan. The federal budgetary game plan so far has been to cross your fingers and hope that revenue growth outpaces spending growth. This way they can avoid all the responsibility of making tough decisions. In the place of tough decisions we get gestures like no more coffee for journalists.
The Conservatives have moved us out of structural surpluses and has moved us into structural deficits. The Conservatives are ramping up debt and putting our economic future at risk. The Conservatives are increasing the size of government to a level that would make Pierre Trudeau blush. The Conservatives are doing exactly nothing but closing their eyes and praying that it all goes away.
Oh yes this government loves symbolism, but the problem is that we need more than that. We need real leadership and we need someone who can actually stomach the idea that he/she might lose the next election. We need someone who can take a risk on doing the right thing. We need someone other than Stephen Harper or Jim Flaherty.
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8 comments:
What a silly comment. No free coffee, ergo a lousy budget. Do you actually put thought into your columns?
I thought Ralph Goodale or Scott Brison wrote this. After the media's lies and half truths cheerleading for their coalition for months, they don't deserve taxpayers money for their coffee.
I don't take any lessons from Liberals either, with their past record of downloading onto the provinces, and taking money for workers from the EI fund to balance their books. A surplus is when you don't give the money to TAXPAYERS and put it in your own pocket re: sponsorship. The Harper Govt. arn't stealing from us. I'll take an honest Govt, with the best economy over thiefs and separtists anyday.
Seriously, Hugh, I know you have a real hot hate going for Harper and Co. And you are right that the coffee deal is a silly gimmick, but does that necessarily mean that the budget will be terrible? More significantly, if we find someone who is not afraid to lose an election like, say, Stockwell or Preston, will the winners of that election make you happier?
Anon 1,
I said it is a "sign" not "ergo" but all indications show that I am right. This budget is going to be nothing more than a "let's hope it all turns out alright" budget. If I am wrong I will say so, but I doubt that I am.
anon 2,
What in that diatribe addresses my point? Tough decisions have to be made and the Conservatives are just avoiding it. I will say that the Liberals are just as bad if not worse, but been better than the worse does not make you good.
Jonathan,
No it does not mean that the budget will be bad, but such gimmicks will be in the place of a good budget.
How about people like Mike Harris, Brian Mulroney or Wilfrid Laurier?
I like all three, and they all have the same percentage chance of winning. My main concern would be in allowing our idea of what a perfect budget or Prime Minister might be to cause us to reject the best budget or Prime Minister we are likely to get. You yourself address the problems with some of the other alternatives elsewhere. I don't like stimulus spending, and I don't like deficits, and I really don't like gimmicks. But if we reject this bunch, what will we get? Andrew Coyne suggests we need yet another party. I think it's time for Coyne to retire.
@Friesen: well we may just get a party with consistent mostly pro-freedom principles and a leader who is able to communicate them and is politically competent! Coyne doesn't need to retire but Harper sure does.
Cytotoxic
Jonathan,
I have always said that you should not make the good the enemy of the perfect, but you should never pretend that bad is good just because the alternative is worse.
Just wanted to say that your blog is awesome. I've been trying to find a blog with a moderate agenda and this is it. Don't listen to the Conservative fan club on commenting on here. Some people follow a certain political party blindly without considering what they truly believe in as an individual. The current "conservative party" has shown no ability to balance the budget. In terms of being fiscally conservative, the Chretien government was much more competent. This is a hardly an endorsement for the liberals who are obviously out to lunch on economics at the moment (see rejection of corporate tax cuts).
Anyway, big props. Solid blog. Ignore the sheep.
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