Quote:
Originally Posted by killer_carlson
I entirely disagree that balanced budgets are a terrible idea.
You presuppose that the government won't have budgeted for capital projects in slow periods, or that the only option is government spending (and that p3. Projects are not an option).
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Balanced Budgets aren't a terrible idea...taking any ability of the Government to invest/stimulate the economy away is INSANE.
You need to have ALL the tools available to act in a way to attempt to balance out economic activity....ESPECIALLY in an economy as volatile as Alberta's (we are slaves to exports).
In an economic downturn it is the BEST time to catch up on infrastructure and build new capabilities to take advantage of when the economy recovers.
Of course, if you save for the next down turn in advance (Heritage Fund) you can still run a balanced budget...but I think legislating away a fiscal tool for the government is dumb, really dumb.