GDT: The Alberta Election 2012 - The Morning After - PC Majority Government

[crazy_eoj]

It's sad that it appears the politics of fear really won the election for the PC's. But it is what it is.

My Predictions for the next 4 years:

- Several years of Alberta running a deficit continues followed by
- Alberta Sales Tax
- Health Care spending increases even more, to over half the budget, and yet outcomes get worse.
- Further rapid growth in public service and salaries

There's no way this government can deliver. What we are seeing is the repeat of the Don Getty era of the PC Party; fiscally running the province into the ground. The Wildrose will be the next Klein Era.

[Tinordi]

What's wrong again with a provincial sales tax?

[Byrns]

Whats wrong with any additional tax?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by crazy_eoj

It's sad that it appears the politics of fear really won the election for the PC's. But it is what it is.

My Predictions for the next 4 years:

- Several years of Alberta running a deficit continues followed by
- Alberta Sales Tax
- Health Care spending increases even more, to over half the budget, and yet outcomes get worse.
- Further rapid growth in public service and salaries

There's no way this government can deliver. What we are seeing is the repeat of the Don Getty era of the PC Party; fiscally running the province into the ground. The Wildrose will be the next Klein Era.

don't forget suck up to the young people by targeting people in Alberta who make more then $100,000 a year for a special prosperity tax.

they'll also build these community health centers but be unable to actually staff them so they'll sit empty.

She'll continue to buy off her new friends in the union by flop negotiating with them on wages and benefits.

In four years we'll be talking about the continued long wait times in hospitals and a lack of beds and in the next election, all of the parties will promise to increase healthcare spending by massive amounts and nothing will get done no matter who gets into power.

Allison will try to bury the pay reduction promises and no one will have to pay back the no meat committee dollars.

"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell, Animal Farm, Ch. 5

"No question now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
- George Orwell, Animal Farm, Ch. 10

[Tinordi]

The world according to Captain Crunch is a strange one indeed.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Byrns

Whats wrong with any additional tax?

There's alot wrong with over taxation. Answer my question though.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Some of the Wildrose supporters reactions after the election have kinda shown why they didn't win.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

What's wrong again with a provincial sales tax?

Aside from the fact that the only reason to introduce one at this point is because the government has massive overspending problems?

Optically, it is a terrible idea too. The GST was a major reason why Mulrooney was punted and the PCs were reduced to two seats (though not the only reason, nor the biggest).

Redford would have to introduce it early in her term (my bet: 2013 budget) and hope the anger blows over in time for 2016. And you can bet Wildrose would hammer Redford hard on it and make sure that in the minds of Albertans, this massive new tax was introduced because Redford couldn't control her spending. In the next election, they wouldn't need "Danidollars" to try for a populist spin. They would could promise instead to dump that tax.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

What's wrong again with a provincial sales tax?

If you are rich - nothing!

[Slava]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

Did you see them practically shove that caucasian fellow behind Kang during his interview with Global? I guess they didnt want to look like a one ethnic race vote being done for him?

I didn't see the interview, but was it James Maxim? (his campaign manager). If so, its far from anything devious going on there...

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Some of the Wildrose supporters reactions after the election have kinda shown why they didn't win.

And some of the Wildrose haters' reactions after the election have shown why they didn't deserve to win. Certainly my Facebook timeline filled up wtih some embarrassing commentary.

Honestly, when you are looking for true intolerance in the political arena, look left.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

There's zero chance Alberta ends up with a Provincial Sales Tax. It would be political suicide. GST reduced the Federal PCs to 2 seats.

[automaton 3]

The WRP made a critical error by not stepping harder on the "lake of fire" and "Caucasian" comments.

I think many Albertans were ready for "some" change and kicked around supporting WR but had their antennas up. Cue the comments above and what I thought was a far too tepid response from Smith. And that was all she wrote - voters (urban in particular) abandoned the WR en masse.

Now Redford has her mandate and we'll see what she does with it. We are already running a deficit and the PC election promises are unbudgeted. Something has to give there - either they abandon their promises, reduce in other areas, or government revenue (taxes) need to increase.

Will be an interesting 4 years.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by North East Goon

If you are rich - nothing!

Wouldn't rich people tend to buy more things that get taxed than poor people?

Of course, I am running on the assumption that any PST would mirror the GST in what it was was applied to. No idea if that would be the case for sure though.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

And some of the Wildrose haters' reactions after the election have shown why they didn't deserve to win. Certainly my Facebook timeline filled up wtih some embarrassing commentary.

Honestly, when you are looking for true intolerance in the political arena, look left.

Stupidity exists on both sides, we all know this. It would be just as silly if the WR won this lopsidedly and people were declaring that the Bible would become law, just as its stupid to see everyone already suggesting we're in for a 1984-esque regime.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Slava

I didn't see the interview, but was it James Maxim? (his campaign manager). If so, its far from anything devious going on there...

Come to think of it, he did look familiar. You are probably right, it just looked real uncomfortable.

[automaton 3]

A significant portion of traditional liberal voters appeared to vote PC this time. Will be interesting to see if they stick around, become PC members and donate. I suspect they don't.

The WR apparently had a fundraising advantage during the election, will be interesting to see if that continues.

The PC spent a whack of money at the end of the election (wonder how much that full page newspaper ad cost to run). Would be interesting to see how much $ each party actually spent.

Random musings.

[zuluking]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Some of the Wildrose supporters reactions after the election have kinda shown why they didn't win.

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Stupidity exists on both sides, we all know this. It would be just as silly if the WR won this lopsidedly and people were declaring that the Bible would become law, just as its stupid to see everyone already suggesting we're in for a 1984-esque regime.

So what was your point then?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

The world according to Captain Crunch is a strange one indeed.

When you hit my age, you'll probably be just as cynical and jaded about the system as I am.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by zuluking

So what was your point then?

My point is all election we heard about the PC fear mongering, and now here we are with a bunch of WR supporters (who spent most of the campaign saying they weren't fear mongering) fear mongering about what might happen during a Redford premiership. It's hypocritical. Just like it would be if PCers lost and said the DaniBucks bribery is what cost them, ignoring their own handout offers.