Quote:
Originally Posted by nik-
Can I want a party that doesn't spend like crazy but doesn't partner with people who dislike gay people, or does that make me selfish?
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The social conservatives really do ruin good governance in this province. Roughly 15-20% of the Alberta population seems to be socially conservative and operate at the furthest right of the spectrum. By default a party that does not have room for them in their tent and also has to get 40-50% of the vote to form government, almost always by process of elimination has to dip into 'the government has more of a role to play here' crowd for support which then results in the levels of spending that are higher than desired from a right of center viewpoint.
That's why Redford needed to bribe teachers and why a SoCon is the current UCP interim leader.
You want to cut the deficit and balance the books by cutting costs without jacking taxes too much = You have to deal with bigoted hicks being part of the governing party
Can't deal with bigoted hicks in your party = you have to deal with paying off the public sector and bribing left of center voters with more tax dollars.
It could work a different way if the Socially Conservative were able to be reasoned with into more libertarian positions, but when you're speaking about things that go against their bible it's not just them that have to live by it, you have to as well.