Quote:
Originally Posted by troutman
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I should probably qualify my statements. I typed out the words as a string of thought without thinking about the meaning already associated with the words themselves. I've fallen into this hole before, writing on the internet, as it is easy to just fire off a thought and carry on.
Instead of 'fiscally conservative' I would probably construct meaning around the words themselves as opposed to their usage. I should have said something along the lines of fiscally logical and a sense of fairness, working within the means provided by reasonable demands on income. Liberals with a capital 'L' tend to spend money that they don't have, and have a rather myopic view of the future. I would argue that our Conservatives in Alberta arn't conservative thinking in their fiscal agenda, in that they also spend money, and create revenue, without thought to the future. All platforms lack a sense of fairness as presented currently.
As for 'social liberal', it has always bothered me that Liberals cannot reconcile a strong economic policy with a social platform that can be paid for within their means. For example, dealing with a large commitment issue like welfare, when there is no financial basis for supporting it, always seems crazy, but they never fail to put actions like this front and centre in their agenda. This is most likely due to the media attention that these policies cause. It is more about election than governance. Liberal social policy, paid for within the budget using money that is present and sustainable would be the ideal. If that means putting $1M against an environmental fund instead of $4B into welfare reform, when only $1M is available, that is what should occur. I would rather support a sustainable liberal platform than a sustainable conservative platform, as the conservative platform has proven itself to be a waste of time and money.
So, in a short form, what I would like to see is a government that optimizes the available income from all sources, eases the burden on the poorest citizens, saves money, collects interest, and doesn't spend outside of their means. (Fiscally Conservative is taken as a description, so perhaps Uncorrupted Conservative)
Socially I would like to see programs that support infrastructure, education, culture and the arts and the environment as opposed to the past 4 decades of failed initiatives, corporate barbeques and general asskissing to anyone in a nice suit. I would like these programs paid for with money and not credit. I would like the Heritage Fund to be unavailable as a funding source. (Social Liberal being taken, lets name these policies Social Majority, in that it helps build a community for all voters.)
And so, I would like the Liberal Party to become Uncorrupted Conservative economically, and Social Majority socially. Please. I just want someone to vote for.