Quote:
Originally Posted by MarchHare
My apologies if I'm belaboring this point after both corporatejay and MMM already addressed it, but we expect our governments to make difficult and smart decisions that hopefully have a long-term benefit even if it's not the most popular thing to do. Our brains are wired to overly value short-term immediate benefit, so I have no doubt many people would choose a $300 personal cheque over a $1B deposit into the Heritage Fund (or another use of that money that doesn't provide an immediate reward), but that doesn't mean it's the best use of our province's funds.
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Sorry, I don't agree with your basic point about governments spending money responsibly, the historical record shows that private enterprise is better at it. I suggest you open the newspaper and refer to the current OG audit of the F-35 program among other things. The fact is that without close auditing and policing governments and government employees act as self interested private individuals even though they are supposed be operating for the "public good".
In the case of the $300, its really just a non-progressive tax rebate. Even a worst case scenario like buying a pack of cigarettes or booze you are putting more money back into the local economy that supports small businesses in the area. Any tax lowering or rebate is effectively a return of power and assets to the individual and unless you are in government or directly supported by it, its a good thing.
Fundamentally, there is no basis for the belief in responsible government spending and "them" knowing whats best for you. It is no more reasonable then believing in a religion or any other mass movement. Perhaps even less so.