These guys must be learning from Mulroney

TenPenny

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What I find funny is, the economy went to hell, and governments dumped money into bailing out this and that, car companies, etc etc, and massive economic stimulus plans, and now people seem suddenly surprised we're running a deficit?

Were you asleep for the last year? Even the most partisan can't claim to be surprised. Of course we're running a freakin deficit.

It's not due to sound or un sound fiscal policies on the part of the government, it's due to massive stimulus / lifeline spending, which was wholeheartedly agreed to by the Liberals and Conservatives.
 

AnnaG

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One Con minister said one time, "We're convicted if we do, and convicted if we don't. Might as well go ahead on it" or something along those lines. Opposing parties simply object because they are stupid enough to think that is their job, regardless of which one grabs the reins.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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What I find funny is, the economy went to hell, and governments dumped money into bailing out this and that, car companies, etc etc, and massive economic stimulus plans, and now people seem suddenly surprised we're running a deficit?

Were you asleep for the last year? Even the most partisan can't claim to be surprised. Of course we're running a freakin deficit.

It's not due to sound or un sound fiscal policies on the part of the government, it's due to massive stimulus / lifeline spending, which was wholeheartedly agreed to by the Liberals and Conservatives.

The surprise is not that we are running a deficit, it is the size of the deficit. This government has been in the red for the last six months at least. Cutting the GST and corporate taxes put the government in a deficit almost immediately. Bailing out incompetent American car companies who have to offer huge cash rebates in order to sell their junk is not how most people expected their hard earned tax money to be used........Read wasted.
I don't care what the liberals or the NDP are doing. It is the Conservatives who are responsible for our massive debt. and it is the Conservatives who are going to add another $50 or $60 billion to it by the end of the year.
 

barney

Electoral Member
Aug 1, 2007
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1984-85, Prime Minister Mulroney's first full year in power, the annual federal deficit stood at $3 7.1 billion. It looks like Harper is going to beat that.. Do they still think that cutting the GST and corporate taxes was a good idea? Ask the people who are unemployed.

Although the recessionary effects have certainly exasperated things, it's really the same kind of fiscal mismanagement and social irresponsibility that worked wonders in Ontario and did so much to place it in the category of a have-not province.

....and you also have to consider there is a minority government with all the opposition parties pushing for lots of spending.

I don't think his point was government spending, but rather corporate tax cuts (i.e. less spending, so why the deficit?).

Is it just me, or do the first three posts in this thread, look like they were written by a left wing nutter?

It's just you.

Basically, politics is crap. As soon as one leans toward such-and-such party, objectivity leaves the building.

Objectivity without some kind of moral base doesn't mean much. Depending on your ideology, an objective or empirical approach will yield different results.

For example, if you believe some people are naturally worth more than others, then giving them a tax-cut makes perfect logical sense, as they will doubtlessly make better use of the funds than the clueless masses. ;)

Otherwise, objectivity is just voting for a party that will yield the best results. If you're of the collectivist mentality, you will vote based on what is good for the population as a whole, you being a beneficiary. If you're an individualist, you will vote for what is good for you alone, the population benefits from your success.

What I find funny is, the economy went to hell, and governments dumped money into bailing out this and that, car companies, etc etc, and massive economic stimulus plans, and now people seem suddenly surprised we're running a deficit?

Were you asleep for the last year? Even the most partisan can't claim to be surprised. Of course we're running a freakin deficit.

It's not due to sound or un sound fiscal policies on the part of the government, it's due to massive stimulus / lifeline spending, which was wholeheartedly agreed to by the Liberals and Conservatives.

Of course something had to be done; it's what was done that is at issue. The criticism of the government is that it was fiscally irresponsible by financing dead-end investments instead of generating a real restructuring plan to meet the changing market. The result has been a massive deficit that will be very difficult to pay back due to these erroneous policies.
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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Objectivity without some kind of moral base doesn't mean much. Depending on your ideology, an objective or empirical approach will yield different results.
Unfortunately, each party thinks it is the only one that has its collar on the moral dog and go to immoral (and/or unethical, stupid, etc.) lengths to prove it. So they are too busy proving each of their points to do sensible, objective things.

Otherwise, objectivity is just voting for a party that will yield the best results. If you're of the collectivist mentality, you will vote based on what is good for the population as a whole, you being a beneficiary. If you're an individualist, you will vote for what is good for you alone, the population benefits from your success.
The truly objective would find a balance between collective interests and individual interests because the intent of governing should be of benefit to the individuals of the collective population.



Of course something had to be done; it's what was done that is at issue. The criticism of the government is that it was fiscally irresponsible by financing dead-end investments instead of generating a real restructuring plan to meet the changing market. The result has been a massive deficit that will be very difficult to pay back due to these erroneous policies.
Yes. And the other side of the coin is that we have people that come up with nifty plans like $2.5 billion registries that do not fill the promises they were said to be doing, saying that they have a better plan. And another party saying neither of the others has a clue and its the only sensible one of the lot. :D Meanwhile in this game, the individuals of the collective population watching along the sidelines, lose.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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Along with Turdeau's Hypogrits and any other gov't that added to the debt.

Anna it is obvious you hate the Liberals. Do you also hate the Mulroney Conservatives for building that huge debt or do you think it was a good idea for them to pile $450 billion on to our debt. Chretien was not my favourite but he did give us about ten years of balanced budgets and even paid down some of the debt.

Btw, the gun registry boondoggle was not two and a half billion. It was not even one and a half billion. It was a disgusting shame but don't make it bigger than it was.
 

Avro

Time Out
Feb 12, 2007
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Typical left wing hackery and hyperbole...

A deficit created because the left threatened to topple to Gov't if they didn't spend spend spend...

Is it just me, or do the first three posts in this thread, look like they were written by a left wing nutter?

So the opposition is to blame?

Wow, you cons sure do stick together.

I suppose they would have surpluses and a chicken in every pot if they had a majority then.:roll::roll::roll:

I suppose the surpluses the Liberals had should be credited to the Reform party then.

How about anything good that has ever happened in the history of man is because of conservatives.

Just when you think you have heard it all.:lol:
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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Bailing out incompetent American car companies who have to offer huge cash rebates in order to sell their junk is not how most people expected their hard earned tax money to be used........Read wasted.
The Canadian automotive industry employs over 500,000 people. Don't you think it's worthwhile helping support the industry?
 

TenPenny

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Jun 9, 2004
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The criticism of the government is that it was fiscally irresponsible by financing dead-end investments instead of generating a real restructuring plan to meet the changing market. The result has been a massive deficit that will be very difficult to pay back due to these erroneous policies.

No it won't. We'll just wind up paying higher taxes.

Hell, if we can shovel money into the ****ing Olympics, we've got money to burn, so who cares?
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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The Canadian automotive industry employs over 500,000 people. Don't you think it's worthwhile helping support the industry?

Not without getting rid of the incompetent management that drove the industry into near bankruptcy. Or without a detailed recovery plan. GM is offering a five thousand dollar rebate on some models. Does that come out of profits? Toyota and Honda seem to be doing fine without government handouts. You would think the big three would have learned by now to build what people want.. Are there really a lot of people out there who want a Cadillac pick-up truck?
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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Anna it is obvious you hate the Liberals.
Actually I dislike politicians in general, but the crooked ones the most. Those parameters puts me in the position of disliking specific members of just about any party around.
Do you also hate the Mulroney Conservatives for building that huge debt or do you think it was a good idea for them to pile $450 billion on to our debt.
No, I don't hate them. I dislike them.
Chretien was not my favourite but he did give us about ten years of balanced budgets and even paid down some of the debt.
True, but Canadians paid an awfully high price for this economic benefit. I and others have stated those sacrifices quite a few times.

Btw, the gun registry boondoggle was not two and a half billion. It was not even one and a half billion. It was a disgusting shame but don't make it bigger than it was.
Notice the date of this article:

CBC News - Gun registry cost soars to $2 billion


$2 billion in 2004. Annual budget is $84 million per year reduced by $10 million from almost $100 million since 2004. You add it up.
Besides, we all know the registry is incredibly overbudget so this is irrelevant to my point.
 

AnnaG

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Jul 5, 2009
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Not without getting rid of the incompetent management that drove the industry into near bankruptcy. Or without a detailed recovery plan. GM is offering a five thousand dollar rebate on some models. Does that come out of profits? Toyota and Honda seem to be doing fine without government handouts. You would think the big three would have learned by now to build what people want.. Are there really a lot of people out there who want a Cadillac pick-up truck?
Right on, Juan.
 

#juan

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Aug 30, 2005
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The Canadian automotive industry employs over 500,000 people. Don't you think it's worthwhile helping support the industry?

Not without getting rid of the incompetent management that drove the industry into near bankruptcy. Or without a detailed recovery plan. GM is offering a five thousand dollar rebate on some models. Does that come out of profits? Toyota and Honda seem to be doing fine without government handouts. You would think the big three would have learned by now to build what people want.. Are there really a lot of people out there who want a Cadillac pick-up truck?

Here is just one of the problems:

Take grass cutting. As defined by the current United Auto Worker contract negotiated with the "Big Five" (GM, Ford, Chrysler, and top parts makers Delphi and Visteon), an auto "production worker" is a job description that covers anything from mowing grass to cleaning the toilets. In the real world, these jobs would be outsourced to $8 an hour, no-benefit wage earners, but on Planet Big Five, these jobs get the same wages as any auto line-worker: an average $26 an hour ($60,000 a year) plus benefits that bring the company's total cost per worker to a staggering $65 an hour.
 

Avro

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Feb 12, 2007
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True, but Canadians paid an awfully high price for this economic benefit. I and others have stated those sacrifices quite a few times.

What price did we pay?

Jobs, low interest rates, growth, trade surplus....etc etc.

Taxes were not raised other than bracket creep,which was fixed and 1 cent for a liter of gas. The Libs also began to reduce taxes in their final years.

In a few short years the Tories have reversed what had been accomplished.

I'd take the Cretien years back any day of the week.
 

pgs

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Nov 29, 2008
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What price did we pay?

Jobs, low interest rates, growth, trade surplus....etc etc.

Taxes were not raised other than bracket creep,which was fixed and 1 cent for a liter of gas. The Libs also began to reduce taxes in their final years.

In a few short years the Tories have reversed what had been accomplished.

I'd take the Cretien years back any day of the week.
Complete with the bags of taxpayers cash I imagine.
 

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
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The surprise is not that we are running a deficit, it is the size of the deficit. This government has been in the red for the last six months at least. Cutting the GST and corporate taxes put the government in a deficit almost immediately. Bailing out incompetent American car companies who have to offer huge cash rebates in order to sell their junk is not how most people expected their hard earned tax money to be used........Read wasted.
And I wholeheartedly agree, but your focus on this being a Conservative issue, is pure hyperbole. All the opposition party's wanted it. In fact, the spending is likely far lighter then it would have been, had there been a Liberal Gov't.
I don't care what the liberals or the NDP are doing. It is the Conservatives who are responsible for our massive debt. and it is the Conservatives who are going to add another $50 or $60 billion to it by the end of the year.
That's right juan, keep the faith, turn a blind eye to the culpability of all the criminals.

So the opposition is to blame?
No, politicians are to blame, no matter the stripe. But I don't see any balance in the OP, nor any of the ensuing finger pointing posts and certainly not yours. Which really isn't as much a contributing post, as it was an excuse to erroneously call me a con, yet again.

Wow, you cons sure do stick together.
You still haven't obtained the cognitive skills to figure out that I'm not a con eh?
I suppose they would have surpluses and a chicken in every pot if they had a majority then.:roll::roll::roll:
Absolutely not. I suspect though, that the spending would have been far lower. Since they were balking at any great stimulus packages, until the opposition threatened to topple the Gov't over their much more fiscally prudent package. Seems pretty clear to me how the ball was bouncing, but then again, I don't view events with politically selective blinders on.

I suppose the surpluses the Liberals had should be credited to the Reform party then.
No, it should be credited to all the blue collar workers, whose taxes out pace the lower class and the higher classes ten fold.

How about anything good that has ever happened in the history of man is because of conservatives.
How about the fact that I fully believe the last true Prime Minister we had was Pearson? Again you highlight your lack of reasoning, with a juvenile attempt to pigeon hole my political stripe. Good luck with that, people with far greater mental acuity then you, have yet to figure it out.

Just when you think you have heard it all.:lol:
Quite true. Who knew you were this much of an asshat.

Not without getting rid of the incompetent management that drove the industry into near bankruptcy. Or without a detailed recovery plan. GM is offering a five thousand dollar rebate on some models. Does that come out of profits? Toyota and Honda seem to be doing fine without government handouts. You would think the big three would have learned by now to build what people want.. Are there really a lot of people out there who want a Cadillac pick-up truck?
Hear, hear, juan. Now will you be asking your favourite Liberal MP why he was willing to topple a Gov't that wasn't going to spend this amount on bailout packages?
 
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Niflmir

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Dec 18, 2006
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Fact of the matter is, the Bloc Quebecois were the only party to oppose these huge deficits but the Conservatives are the single party with the power to not do it. If they hadn't drafted a budget in the red, the accounts wouldn't be in the red. Then we would go to the elections with the Conservatives and Bloc saying balanced budgets and everyone saying, lets get out of this recession.
 

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
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Fact of the matter is, the Bloc Quebecois were the only party to oppose these huge deficits but the Conservatives are the single party with the power to not do it. If they hadn't drafted a budget in the red, the accounts wouldn't be in the red. Then we would go to the elections with the Conservatives and Bloc saying balanced budgets and everyone saying, lets get out of this recession.
A voice of reason.