Alberta Politics & Government Thread 3.0

[Muta]

They know exactly what they're doing with healthcare. Make it look bad so that the elevator pitch for privatization looks good. This is all part of the UCP's plan.

Worst provincial government in the history of Canada. And that's saying something.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by belsarius

And one of my only criticisms of Trevor Tombe is that he is part of the Calgary School of Public Policy which is basically an offshoot of the Frasier Institute. So while I do agree with him on a lot of his findings, much of his research/math is based on neoliberal (trickle-down) economic assumptions. In fact, in his twitter thread that disputed the NDP's numbers, he quoted FI research.

So yes, there will be disagreement on both sides of economists on how it might play out. But I disagree with any assertion that "we know" how it will play out. And I base that on 40 years of trickle-down economists saying "I know" and it never working out that way.

Trickle down suggests that the loss of revenue is made up by the trickledown affects and results in a better standard of living. So you get the UCP forecasting increases in revenues as a result of tax cuts. That has been in most circumstances proven false. The concept that increases in corporate taxes create an economic drag is also well founded.

I don’t believe you can find anyone who believes there is no drag.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Nobody should ever trust this UCP government again. What a miss.

LOL. Privatization has failed us, so we will look to the private sector to bail us out.

Alberta gets what it deserves for leaders, absolute morons elected by apparent absolute morons.

That is the correct answer, have 4 or 5 lab services competing to provide lowest cost best service. The UCP was too stupid to realize private monopolies are bad.

[Roughneck]

They weren’t too stupid. When it’s cronies that have the private monopoly, its a feature, not a bug. Public money flowing into the pockets of well connected entrepreneurs is what this province was built off of.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by Faust

Alberta Premier Smith suggests 'other arrangements' as lab services struggle to meet demand

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/pol...to-meet-demand

The NDP were morons not to jump on this. I'm sure the deplorables also need blood testing that doesn't take 8 hours.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by GGG

That is the correct answer, have 4 or 5 lab services competing to provide lowest cost best service. The UCP was too stupid to realize private monopolies are bad.

Exactly. It works just fine for medical imaging.

We need to stop getting so hung up on "private = bad".

If a bunch of private companies are in competition, and we as the users of the system get better service as a result, and control the public spending that funds it, that's great.

Where profit motive is at odds with patient outcomes, we should tread very carefully. For example, we pay doctors per visit, as does the US and Germany. Terrible place to introduce profit motive, with predictable results:

Spoiler!

[Faust]

Brian Mason @bmasonNDP2

cbc.ca/amp/1.6871304 Half of the UCP caucus is in Danielle Smith’s cabinet. Why? Cabinet members are subject to the cabinet solidarity rule and must support government decisions (and the premier). They also get a 50% pay rise. It’s all about control of the caucus. /2

https://twitter.com/bmasonndp2/statu...147079168?s=21

Brian Mason @bmasonNDP2

It’s reassuring to know she still has problem with dissatisfaction in her caucus. Hope for the future, faint as it may be.

https://twitter.com/bmasonndp2/statu...978621455?s=21


Brian Mason @bmasonNDP2

I first saw this when Alison Redford was on her political last legs. The cabinet just kept on expanding until it was the largest in Alberta history. You couldn’t swing a stick without hitting an associate minister! It was to to avail in the end, they dumped her unceremoniously.

https://twitter.com/bmasonndp2/statu...566903808?s=21

[Fuzz]

Come on, large cabinets are a requirement for fiscal accountability, cutting red tape and small government. Everyone knows that.

[DownInFlames]

She owns a restaurant but wears open-toed shoes?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1668058289601679361

[Fuzz]

I wish she would stay there.

[Stewie991]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

She owns a restaurant but wears open-toed shoes?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1668058289601679361

Cleaning up Alberta, while cleaning Dishes?

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Stewie991

Cleaning up Alberta, while cleaning Dishes?

Fun fact, when she was told she needed to assemble a cabinet she went straight to Ikea to get some practice pieces.

[AFireInside]

Originally Posted by GGG

That is the correct answer, have 4 or 5 lab services competing to provide lowest cost best service. The UCP was too stupid to realize private monopolies are bad.

No. The answer was to not get rid of government run labs. If you want to add some private options as well, fine.



Private options didn't work for MRI's in Saskatchewan either. These companies are about making profit, and will cut every corner to make that happen, which will lead to poor service most of the time. We see it time and time again, by all means add some private options, but don't get rid of the provincial run labs.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

No. The answer was to not get rid of government run labs. If you want to add some private options as well, fine.

Private options didn't work for MRI's in Saskatchewan either. These companies are about making profit, and will cut every corner to make that happen, which will lead to poor service most of the time. We see it time and time again, by all means add some private options, but don't get rid of the provincial run labs.

In my head I was including a government option as part of it as it puts a cap on price like sask telecom.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

She owns a restaurant but wears open-toed shoes?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1668058289601679361

It’s the Whistle Stop isn’t it?

[Faust]

Braid: Premier Smith won't sing the climate change tune, for good reason

https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/co...or-good-reason

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by DownInFlames

She owns a restaurant but wears open-toed shoes?

https://twitter.com/user/status/1668058289601679361

Too bad the person she had take the picture wasn’t helping so she could get back to the job we’re all paying her to do whether we like it or not sooner.

[iggy_oi]

Originally Posted by AFireInside

No. The answer was to not get rid of government run labs. If you want to add some private options as well, fine.



Private options didn't work for MRI's in Saskatchewan either. These companies are about making profit, and will cut every corner to make that happen, which will lead to poor service most of the time. We see it time and time again, by all means add some private options, but don't get rid of the provincial run labs.

The same thing is occurring in long term care homes across the province.

[Yoho]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1668626784567586817

[Major Major]

No jurisdiction? Just assemble his family on the driveway and disbar him on his front lawn.