Quote:
Originally Posted by Slava
Well to me there is a difference. First, let me say that I do think that I'm socially progressive.
Fiscal conservatism is about reduced taxes, reduced government debts, smaller governments, less government interference and freer markets. Ideas like that.
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Except most of what you described aren't actually things Conservative Governments do.
Especially not in Alberta.
Lower taxes? Sure, sometimes, but the UCP haven't, at least not for you and me.
Reduced government debts? Not without massive injections of non-renewable resource income
Less Government interference? Debatable (let's not forget they just put the kaibosh on wind power for....reasons)
Free Markets? Also debatable.
But let's also not forget that lowering taxes, and reduced government debts are incompatible without also some major spending cuts. Something I would say most Conservative governments aren't very good at.
None of what you're describing are, in practice, things that can be claimed solely by one side of the political spectrum or the other. So saying "Fiscally Conservative" doens't mean anything.
"Fiscal Conservativism", is just a way of saying you wish you could have a list of things that are mutually exclusive:
1) Lower taxes
2) Lower Debt
3) No change to services
You might as well be saying "things are magically cheaper" fiscally.
To be fair, I think it's 100% fine to be in support of those things.
I don't think your stance is completely wrong or off the rails, I'm likely not that different.
My point is that I think "Fiscally Conservative" is a silly term, and it certainly isn't something people should use as a blanket term to describe, or justify voting for a Canadian "Conservative" party.