Canadian Federal Politics Thread v5

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Slava

Yeah he campaigned on killing it, and when he got in he said the books were worse than expected and they were keeping it. (That’s my recollection, anyway)

Opposed it and apologized for not getting rid of it.

https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/...cember-16-1996

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

The electorate has become so infantilized that we can’t even acknowledge that there are tradeoffs in public policy, let alone support politicians in making tough choices.

Demographic decline is real. Health care and pensions are already cannibalizing everything else in public budgets, and it will only get worse. Health care capacity is in a permanent code red status. And no government will take measures to address the unfolding crisis because it would involve pain for some part of the electorate who will howl.

A responsible Liberal government brings in the GST to assure reliable public revenue. A populist Conservative government rolls it back. A responsible Conservative government plans to increase the eligibility age for public pensions to account for the ever-longer lifespans? A populist Liberal government scraps it.

We will accept no pain. We’ve bought into the notion that we can solve any problem with someone else’s money. Or that problems are all the fault of bad government - especially the party we hate. Can’t possibly be that our entitlements exceed our willingness to pay.

So do we just continue to ignore the massive consolidation of wealth that leaves the rest of us fighting for an ever shrinking pile of scraps?

[indes]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So do we just continue to ignore the massive consolidation of wealth that leaves the rest of us fighting for an ever shrinking pile of scraps?

Definitely a rather large downside to the global economy. No way to actually get a significant amount of tax money out of rich people/corporations or they'll just move.

Same with offshoring. My company employs a bunch of people in India for pennies on the dollar to do menial tasks, and cut down on local, more expensive employees.

[BigThief]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

I regret missing Nixon when he came to the door. I wanted to ask him if he'll run municipal when he loses.

Or how was his Hawaiian vacation in 2020 when he and his UCP government were urging Albertans to stay home.

[Fuzz]

LOL, I got not one, but two Nixon flyers in my mailbox. The riding changed, and I am no longer in his riding. How TF do you not even know what communities to spend campaign dollars in? What a loser.

[Paulie Walnuts]

So 2 old dudes at the golf club during the day talking about their kids having a tough time is supposed to accomplish what ? Your daughter bought a house you gave her a gifted down payment. Seems normal to me.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Not to be *that guy* as I agree with the point of your post... but... the GST was introduced by Brian Mulroney's Progressice Conservative government, not the Liberals.

I believe Chrétien campaigned on Axe the Tax but once elected did not. I could be mistaken on eliminating or just reducing though.

Right you are. Good catch.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by indes

Definitely a rather large downside to the global economy. No way to actually get a significant amount of tax money out of rich people/corporations or they'll just move.

Same with offshoring. My company employs a bunch of people in India for pennies on the dollar to do menial tasks, and cut down on local, more expensive employees.

I don't know if I believe this viewpoint, I'm responding to explore it.

To respond to the bolded:

So? Let them leave.

If a billionaire who is leaching off the welfare of the government moves... so what? We as a nation don't lose any of the tax revenue they aren't paying. We no longer have to subsidize them living here. And they can't take their physical assets with them.

If Gaelin Weston leaves Canada what happens? Canadians still have to eat. The void will be filled. If they leave have the government collect and sell off their assets. Break up the oligopoly. Seems like it'd be better for everyone.

Again, I haven't thought it through. Will likely bat around the concept on the drive into work. But part of my monkey brain read that and thought "So what? Let them leave"

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

So do we just continue to ignore the massive consolidation of wealth that leaves the rest of us fighting for an ever shrinking pile of scraps?

But the average person today isn’t worse off than the average person in the 60s or 70s. They live in bigger houses, dine out more, and are more likely to fly outside the country for vacations. They have nicer appliances in their home, more cars per household, and spend much more on children’s activities and enrichment. The average person today would hate switching places with the average household in 1975.

A couple with a household earning of $220k who live in a 2,000 sq ft home and take trips to Barcelona and Costa Rica may tell themselves that they’re struggling. And they may blame billionaires for the sense of insecurity they feel. But that insecurity is a baked-in feature of our consumerist society, where people always want and expect more, and raise those expectations every step they take up the income ladder. The people I know who complain the most about taxes are 10 per centers for whom a house in springbank or vacation property in Invermere remains frustratingly out of reach.

The reality is the average Canadian receives much more in public services in their lifespan than they pay in taxes. Canadians are unwilling to pay the kinds of taxes that the people in the Nordics pay for their public programs because they simply don’t want to, not because they’re broke from billionaires (of which the Nordic countries have plenty) taking everything.

[Johnny Makarov]

On CTV yesterday Lisa Rait admitted that during door knocking for the Cons, people were saying they like the Conservative plan but hate the leader! So they cant' vote for the cons. hahahaha.

Crazy she would admit that before voting day. I guess some Cons are fed up with their miniTrump deplorable leader.

[Johnny Makarov]

hahahhaah in his presser PP just said right now that it's going to be so desperate for people they are going to have to forage for berries and we would need to hunt and fish for food!OMG!!!!

like who the flying eff believes this kyit??! hahahaha

also we have to leave our car keys on the front door so thieves can just steal your car without shooting or stabbing you!!!?? what!! hahhahahaha The lost Liberal decade did this to us!!

[Johnny Makarov]

Liberals are shutting out media sources. Blocking Facebook and instagram! This has really attacked our local independent media..... jesus! hahahahahah

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

But the average person today isn’t worse off than the average person in the 60s or 70s. They live in bigger houses, dine out more, and are more likely to fly outside the country for vacations. They have nicer appliances in their home, more cars per household, and spend much more on children’s activities and enrichment. The average person today would hate switching places with the average household in 1975.

A couple with a household earning of $220k who live in a 2,000 sq ft home and take trips to Barcelona and Costa Rica may tell themselves that they’re struggling. And they may blame billionaires for the sense of insecurity they feel. But that insecurity is a baked-in feature of our consumerist society, where people always want and expect more, and raise those expectations every step they take up the income ladder. The people I know who complain the most about taxes are 10 per centers for whom a house in springbank or vacation property in Invermere remains frustratingly out of reach.

The reality is the average Canadian receives much more in public services in their lifespan than they pay in taxes. Canadians are unwilling to pay the kinds of taxes that the people in the Nordics pay for their public programs because they simply don’t want to, not because they’re broke from billionaires (of which the Nordic countries have plenty) taking everything.

That's a whole lot of words to say "yes" to my question.



Also, maybe we should stop listening to these people and tax them more.

[Scroopy Noopers]

I’m out in Ontario and I’ve never seen more political lawn signs for an election in my town. It’s crazy.

The craziest part is, including rural areas I’ve driven through, today was the first time I’ve seen an orange sign. Just one.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

That's a whole lot of words to say "yes" to my question.



Also, maybe we should stop listening to these people and tax them more.

Sure. But the countries that provide the kind of public programs and services Canadian expect impose higher taxes on everyone, most notably 20-25 per cent sales tax. What do you think would happen to a Canadian politician who proposed raising the GST to 10 per cent? It wouldn’t just be wealthy Canadians who freaked out.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

But the average person today isn’t worse off than the average person in the 60s or 70s. They live in bigger houses, dine out more, and are more likely to fly outside the country for vacations. They have nicer appliances in their home, more cars per household, and spend much more on children’s activities and enrichment. The average person today would hate switching places with the average household in 1975.

A couple with a household earning of $220k who live in a 2,000 sq ft home and take trips to Barcelona and Costa Rica may tell themselves that they’re struggling. And they may blame billionaires for the sense of insecurity they feel. But that insecurity is a baked-in feature of our consumerist society, where people always want and expect more, and raise those expectations every step they take up the income ladder. The people I know who complain the most about taxes are 10 per centers for whom a house in springbank or vacation property in Invermere remains frustratingly out of reach.

The reality is the average Canadian receives much more in public services in their lifespan than they pay in taxes. Canadians are unwilling to pay the kinds of taxes that the people in the Nordics pay for their public programs because they simply don’t want to, not because they’re broke from billionaires (of which the Nordic countries have plenty) taking everything.

"Comparison is the thief of joy" - Theodore Roosevelt

/thread

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Scroopy Noopers

I’m out in Ontario and I’ve never seen more political lawn signs for an election in my town. It’s crazy.

The craziest part is, including rural areas I’ve driven through, today was the first time I’ve seen an orange sign. Just one.

The engagement rate is (inversely) a bit worrying in this race as i feel the Liberal voters are likely a bit "softer" in their support vs. many cons with 10 years of Twitter resentment.

Trump has remained suspiciously quiet on Canada, lately; which i assume he was advised to shut up during the election as it's not helping his ideological brethren.

[DFO]

Originally Posted by Johnny Makarov

On CTV yesterday Lisa Rait admitted that during door knocking for the Cons, people were saying they like the Conservative plan but hate the leader! So they cant' vote for the cons. hahahaha.

Crazy she would admit that before voting day. I guess some Cons are fed up with their miniTrump deplorable leader.

That’s why the last batch of Conservative ads don’t have PP in them. He’s turned into a liability.

[Amethyst]

But the old guy at the golf club, complaining that his daughter could only afford a house with a down payment from her parents is so appealing.... especially to everyone who doesn't have rich parents.

[Cappy]

On the flip side, the CPC's oppo pieces are getting ridiculous. Another reason why we should not take Natpo seriously:

https://nationalpost.com/news/politi...rney-bloomberg

If you don't want to click, Mark Carney was on Board with Brookfield since 2023; however, for the last 40 years, there have been sexual harassment complaints by women at Brookfield against other employees.

Ipso facto, Mark Carney has blood on his hands and ran a company with a toxic culture!

CPC logic:
- Trump is a businessman, he knows how things work
- Carney is a businessman, he is corrupt

- Carney was on the board of a billion dollar company that had sexual harassment claims against it. This guy is toxic!
- Trump said "grab them by the #####! Hilarious!

Fun fact. Kathryn Marshall, the lawyer in this oped went to UofC law. Big Conservative. Her husband is a well known conservative strategist and was Andrew Scheer's campaign manager.

Kathryn Marshall worked for Howard Leavitt, who regularly writes columns for Natpo, mostly legal columns, but does stray into politics. He represented Jordan Peterson in his university termination.

Natpo is an incestuous rag; which is becoming more and more desperate. I used to read Natpo regularly in university as i am a big fan of Andrew Coyne - he got out.