Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
I think that you under-estimate the American will to succeed here. While it sounds pie in the sky to eliminate dirty oil, you have to give them credit where it is due. The Americans are the most innovative and creative society on the planet. (Believe me, I'm a pure, unabashed Canadian nationalist but even in my short-sightedness I can come to the conclusion!). If Obama came out and said that this is what they were going to do and threw some money at it in terms of R&D, or even tax breaks and the will to succeed, its a definitely reachable goal.
I'm not suggesting that the Green Shift is infallible. I'm just interested in what the counter-policy is though. Rather than just say "The Green Shift won't work" I would like to see the alternative plan that will work. Instead of saying "We are in a better position to not screw things up fiscally" show me how that is going to be accomplished. Frankly, from a non-partisan viewpoint this last budget that was walking a razor-thin line of deficit doesn't instill that confidence in me!
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If you subscribe to some schools of thought... having a large surplus is a sign of poor fiscal management (see Ralph Klein). It means most likely that too much money was taken in, or just as likely, certain departments were underfunded (again, see Ralph Klein). To this school of thought, a balanced budget is the right kind of budget.
I want to see the counter-policy to the Green Shift too. I would expect a less aggressive policy approach based on efficiency, technological research, and a incentive/penalty system for all high output industries... not just the overstated oilpatch (not saying the shift targets the patch exclusively).
I definitely do not underestimate the power of American will to succeed. Far from it. I just don't see eliminating safe Alberta oil in a time of political and economic instability as something either party would want to do. Especially when considering the amount of environmental regulation Alberta already has compared to the majority of OPEC nations. What they are more likely to do is focus on renewable energy and efficiency, while canvassing the Oilsands/shale states/provinces/countries into practicing more environmentally sound and efficient methods, using that "dirty oil removal" idea as a threat to force it through.