January 2009

Help Me, I'm An Economist

I will admit that the first time I heard the "ask two, get three answers" joke it was economists being referred to. But what's with Stephen Harper, the great economist and strategist suddenly asking for help. From anyone who will listen. And if you're Michael Ignatieff and suggest that it's the government's job to come up with a budget and an opposition's job to critique it then you get slammed for not helping. Or if you're the NDP and actually show up for the meeting you're ignored. The Bloc, one expects, are not invited to the party. So basically we have "No thanks, I can do it myself" to "Please help me" to "If you didn't help me it's all your fault." Remember that kid in grade school?

The kid who never did anything and always blamed someone else. The kid you wonder about years later in the "man, I wondered what happened to him when the real world hit" sort of way. That's Stephen Harper this month. Wonder who he'll be next month. Suppose that will depend on whether or not he manages to come up with a budget that people can live with.

Stephen Harper Finally Sees The Train, Soundtrack by The Who

It seems as if Stephen Harper has finally realised what's going on. There are suggestions from the Conservative camp that there will be far fewer confidence votes in the next legislation and that some more controversial legislation won't be pushed forward. It would be nice if this was happening because Stephen Harper looked up the definition of "minority government", but it would seem not to be the case.

Stephen Harper has finally come to understand that he might not hold on to power if he pushes this Opposition. There's also the fact that someone in the Conservative camp has done the math and reached the conclusion that if they can hold power until January next year, that they will be able to appoint so many Senators that they control the Senate. Seems like the new boss is looking a lot like the old boss. Let's hope we won't get fooled again.

Happy New Year

Yes it's the new year and the hits just keep on coming. Jim Flaherty, the man presently responsible for the coutry's finances has just announced that there may be tax cuts in the upcoming budget. Maybe. Maybe not. What do you think?

This is what's known as a trial ballon and it has a long and proud history in Ottawa. Suggest something might happen and see how and who reacts. Adjust as needed. The problem is that we're in the middle of a global financial crisis that is having a very serious effect on Canada. During the election a couple of months ago the Cons made fun of Stephane Dion for saying he wanted to consult and formulate a plan in 30 days to get Canada thru this crisis. It took the Cons 30 days to decide they needed to consult, and having consulted still don't have a plan. They're floating trial balloons and are obviously only concerned with cobbling together a budget that gives everyone enough money to stop them from complaining and makes it difficult for the opposition parties to defeat.

One of the tax cuts that's been brought in is the tax free savings account. Up to $5,000 can be saved in a special account with no income tax paid on it. What a great way to encourage Canadians to save. Unfortunately what is needed at the present time is to encourage Canadians to continue to spend. Ooops.