Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Budget

Flaherty's budget was unsurprising. Lots and lots of tax-cuts to middle-class and upper-class Canadians, money handed over to the provinces for anything they desire, ... all in all a budget that reflects the revenue-collecting powers of the Canadian state (following the miserly Paul Martin regime) with over-generalized spending typical of a minority government situation.

Case in point: The Conservatives' tax rebate for public transit users. If people actually send in their receipts they'll get money back. Would people abandon their cars for the existing public transit networks in return for some money back at tax time? Probably not. But say that a significant number of people do elect to use public transit; do the municipal governments that pay for the services get the resources to handle the extra ridership? No.

So, a few organized people get a tax rebate and feel good. The Harper government gets a thin excuse to call itself "green," the government gives money away and doesn't spend it on a necessary service.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

And you call me a moron? That's funny, considering all you do seems to be happily parroting the lines coming from Canada's left in response to the budget and the environment in particular. And what the hell is 'thwap' anyway, the sound of your head hitting every branch as you fall out of the stupid tree?

Keep on posting, this deluded nonsense is mildly entertaining

thwap said...

Why thank you "breath of fresh air."

I guess we got off on the wrong foot. What with you calling me a "gullible oaf" and all.

But I can see from your post here that you possess a clear, penetrating insight, and a bold, direct logic that gets right to the weak heart of your opponent's position.

...

...

Actually, you typed an empty string of assertions, devoid of facts and arguments.

If you have something substantial to say, I'd be interested to hear it.

I'm pretty sure that you don't.