Quote:
Originally Posted by Rathji
I most likely will vote either WRP or PC. That doesn't change the fact that both parties are promising on things they cannot possibly deliver on.
For a vast majority of people, no party platform will align nicely with their personal beliefs. Some of those people don't vote, some vote strategically and some pick one or 2 important issues and tie their horse to the party that has the best chance of doing that.
I like the idea of the WRP balancing the budget, but I find it absurd that they claim they can raise the level of service as well. The fact that they are saying it, make me think that they consider voters to be idiots.
I really like contributing to the Heritage fund with surplus oil money, but dislike the fact that a chunk of that surplus will be thrown away as a 'bribe' to voters under the guise of economic stimulus or that we know better what to do with our money.
I like the PC plank of contributing to education, but at the same time I think the amount they are pledging is too high.
I like the Liberal idea of eliminating tuition, but I don't think it would be a good thing the way they have it implemented. You should get a very large percentage refunded after you graduate, possibly after working in the province for x years, but not charging anything at all will cause more problems than it solves.
I could go on, but it is more of the same.
edit: Actually, one more. Despite the questionable definitive language used here - Trying to end child poverty is a really good idea in terms of long term financial return for the province. For every dollar you spend in helping under privileged kids you get a much larger social return on investment, to a factor of 6x (or more) your initial investment
In the end, the final decision will probably hinge on which candidates I have met in person and the responses I get from them (or their campaigns) about illegally placed signs.
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Fantastic post, and I wish everyone though this way. There are pros and cons to everything, but people always get way too caught up in the pros they forget about the cons. Yes a $300 dividend cheque would be awesome, I could use $300, who couldn't? Strangely the richest man in the world and poorest man in the world will both take a dollar if you give it to them. But theres an opportunity cost to not investing that money in something more beneficial long term.
And I also have stated before the overall positive economic impact rebate cheques would have in Alberta would depend how much people invest and spend on 100% local companies.If someone buys a $300 gadget, almost nothing stays here, and all that money that should go to the Alberta economy evaporates.
I also think of the three handouts (Family Care Centers, Dividends, Education), that education would actually have the most positive economic impact. Its a pretty well established fact people with college educations earn more money, and thus pay more taxes so its more of an investment in a way than spending. If someone pays say $30,000 more in taxes in their life with a higher education than they would otherwise, its almost a profitable venture.