L'il Steve Harper has spent the past six or more years assuring Canadians at every opportunity that he really doesn't harbour any "secret agenda."
Then he goes all the way to Switzerland, drops his pants, and announces that he's got "major transformations" in store for his small folk at home.
An effective Opposition would be clubbing Harper over his tightly quaffed head on this like a Newfie on a Harp seal. So, where exactly are they?
We haven't had an effective opposition for six years. Now it's even worse.
ReplyDeleteIOW, we are fucked.
Sadly Fern I have to unreservedly agree with you. Even my Conservative friends in Ottawa admit the best thing Harper has going for him are the NDP and LPC.
ReplyDeleteMr. MOS...are you aware the word Newfie is derogatory and insulting?
ReplyDeleteI cannot say it enough, Mr. Harper is thumbing his nose at Canadians by announcing his policies for Canadians in a foreign country. People who are already retired in this country on OAS and GIS alone and there are many, are living below the poverty level now. Baby boomers about to retire are retiring with CPP and probably private retirement funds to see them through. For the majority they will not be worrying if they are going to end up on the street. The business of clawing back is a insult when a person is getting a small amount of CPP along with OAS and GIS. Any increase in CPP is taken away from OAS and GIS...leaving a person in the same position prior to any increase in either direction. Get an increase of 2.00$ in OAS and it will be lost on CPP. What a great way to get rid of those people already on OAS and GIS. Lower health care and also OAS and GIS and watch those people pass on. Heath Care, OAS, and GIS is NOT FREE. It has been paid for.
Anyong..it is called inequality.
ReplyDelete"Canuck" is also supposed to be perjorative Anyong but grownups learn to not let it get under their collars.
ReplyDeleteThat said, your other remarks are accurate and telling. These benefits have been paid for by working people their entire working lives. If Harper wants to cut a pension he could begin with grand parliamentary pensions. From what I've seen it's hard to understand what our MPs have done to deserve their pay much less their inflated pensions.
What a sad state of affairs. Harper's I am smarter than any other state leader performance at Davos was sickening. He denied revealing his intents to the electorate and announces them in his sanctimonious speech to his western partners.
ReplyDeleteThe opposition parties have behaved like lame ducks for the past 5-6 years. Their conciliatory, don't rock the boat, positions have not served any of us. In retrospect, Dion was probably the best of the bunch in that he actually tried to oppose Harper on a solid environmental agenda.
The media pundits and even some in the opposition are suggesting that we will have to put up with a second Harper majority. That is a non-starter position in my opinion and I will not support any politician that believes that to be a foregone conclusion. I want to support whomever has the courage and pragmatic approach to stopping this train wreck.
Don't you know, some in the NDP (I'm not looking at you Dawg) are telling us that they will put a stop to Harper's abuses any moment now....
ReplyDeleteIf the Canadian Government were to make companies including oil companies clean up their environmental messes instead of the Canadian Government paying for it or rather, the Canadian tax payer paying for it, it would be able to increase OAS not decrease it.
ReplyDeleteYes, I suppose of governments imposed a standard of corporate responsibility and accountability it could bolster government revenues. One of the drawbacks to globalized free trade is a sort of cowardice on the part of governments toward corporations. It creates an unhealthy transfer of powers that the public entrusts to their elected representatives that then get transferred to the corporate sector.
ReplyDeleteThat was one of the great, long-forgotten benefits of rational tariff systems. The business sector demonized them as anti-competitive, making their political and social utility in advancing policies and deterring abuses of economic power. Maybe one of these days we'll become more open minded on trade control and tariffs.