Quote:
Originally Posted by flamesfever
Should you be giving advise to Albertans, when you guys in Ontario voted in the NDP some time ago, and everyone, even the NDP were shocked. The NDP then proceeded to double Ontario's debt to a point where I believe it is now the largest debt for a non sovereign entity in the world.
Even though our electorate and politicians do stupid things at times, I don't believe we could ever be as foolish as those in Ontario.
|
That's a pretty naive view on things.
It was a similar situation to what is happening here in AB - nobody liked EITHER of the 2 main parties, they voted NDP without expecting them to win.
And yeah, it kicked them in the ass.
So then Mike Harris swept to power in his "Common Sense Revolution". Similar to when Ralph came in and made cuts, there were demonstrations by public sector workers, OPSEU (Ontario Public Sector Employees Union) had a long strike, but next election Harris won again. When he stepped down, the (fiscal) damage was well on its way to being repaired (although other issues cropped up as a result - see Walkerton). Many people still blame Harris for the damage caused by the cuts he instituted, but I believe the goal was worth the cost. The issue is what has happened since.
Ontario is in such trouble because of subsequent governments that have tried to spend their way into power.
I still think the Klein and Harris governments show that the general populace is willing to accept cuts to get the finances under control. People realize debts must be paid. But
everyone also has their own special interests that they would like to see enhanced, and it is when a government tries to pander to too many of these interests that the trouble occurs.
Don't think that Alberta has the finances it does today simply because of sound management. yes, that is needed; but all that black stuff that has been the lifeblood of the world for the last 60 years has sure give Alberta an advantage.