Conservative Economics

[Said1]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

When you cut spending, what happens to those who depend on that spending, Toro? A society has an obligation to take of its most vulnerable members, but spending cuts traditionally affect those people first, precisely because they are the most vulnerable.

Good point. I am not against providing assistance to folks who are disabled and cannot work. However, paying taxes so able bodied persons can collect welfare is not good for the economy. The government in Canada needs to cut back on needless social programs so the average citizen will wind up paying less taxes. Not to mention cutting back on excessive govenrment waste. Also, providing corporations with tax incentives helps the economy as well.

For example, what social programs would you suggest the government cut, aside from general welfare or industry subsidies?

 

[Nascar_James]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

When you cut spending, what happens to those who depend on that spending, Toro? A society has an obligation to take of its most vulnerable members, but spending cuts traditionally affect those people first, precisely because they are the most vulnerable.

Good point. I am not against providing assistance to folks who are disabled and cannot work. However, paying taxes so able bodied persons can collect welfare is not good for the economy. The government in Canada needs to cut back on needless social programs so the average citizen will wind up paying less taxes. Not to mention cutting back on excessive govenrment waste. Also, providing corporations with tax incentives helps the economy as well.

For example, what social programs would you suggest the government cut, aside from general welfare or industry subsidies?

An example: The city of Montreal is roughly the size of Phoenix (over 3 million pop.). The last time I checked, Montreal had 66 city councillors, Phoenix only 10. How do you explain the huge discrepancy for cities with almost the same population count?

 

[Reverend Blair]

The governments of Ontario and Canada are spending $125 million to lure Toyota.

That $125 million is creating jobs though, Toro. I would like to see caveats saying that if the jobs go away or the project gets downsized, that the money has to be repaid proportionately, but I don't have a problem with incentives that have a concrete goal.

Consider the situation with Buhler here a few years ago. They took the government's money, then decided to bust the union by moving to North Dakota. There was nothing that said they had to pay the money back, although they were found guilty of bargaining in bad faith.

Worse yet were some of the meat packing deals that the Filmon government signed. We paid millions for plants that never even came close to fulfilling their promises. We still export live hogs to the US (and whether the factory farms should be allowed is a whole other issue) instead of slaughtering them here, yet the meat is all destined for Asia.

I don't mind incentives, as long as they are reasonable, because they really are investments. What I don't like is when a company takes the money and runs, or comes back making threats and looking for more every few years.

 

[Reverend Blair]

The city of Montreal is roughly the size of Phoenix (over 3 million pop.). The last time I checked, Montreal had 66 city councillors, Phoenix only 10. How do you explain the huge discrepancy for cities with almost the same population count?

Montreal is a complicated, diverse, and interesting city. Phoenix is...well...Phoenix.

 

[Said1]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

An example: The city of Montreal is roughly the size of Phoenix (over 3 million pop.). The last time I checked, Montreal had 66 city councillors, Phoenix only 10. How do you explain the huge discrepancy for cities with almost the same population count?

City councillors are not paid by the federal government, they are paid by the city. Each councillor represents a ward within the city and at this point, I have no idea how many there are in Montreal.

 

[Nascar_James]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

An example: The city of Montreal is roughly the size of Phoenix (over 3 million pop.). The last time I checked, Montreal had 66 city councillors, Phoenix only 10. How do you explain the huge discrepancy for cities with almost the same population count?

City councillors are not paid by the federal government, they are paid by the city. Each councillor represents a ward within the city and at this point, I have no idea how many there are in Montreal.

Same thing, it all amounts to gov'nt waste.

 

[Said1]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

Same thing, it all amounts to gov'nt waste.

What's the same thing?

Is a City counsillors salary considered a social program?

Any more examples of social programs that need to be cut?

 

[Nascar_James]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

Same thing, it all amounts to gov'nt waste.

What's the same thing?

Is a City counsillors salary considered a social program?

Any more examples of social programs that need to be cut?

Well, one example of a big waste of government spenging is big unions, particularly in Quebec. They are a no good waste of taxpayers money.

 

[Said1]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

Same thing, it all amounts to gov'nt waste.

What's the same thing?

Is a City counsillors salary considered a social program?

Any more examples of social programs that need to be cut?

Well, one example of a big waste of government spenging is big unions, particularly in Quebec. They are a no good waste of taxpayers money.

Is provincial spending on unions considered a social program? And why are they giving money to unions, I really have no idea.

Quebec spends their money a lot differently than the rest of Canada, at all levels. It's reflected in their taxes.

 

[I think not]

There is nothing wrong with having social programs to help people with education, unemployment etc...

You just need to control costs.

 

[Said1]

There is nothing wrong with having social programs to help people with education, unemployment etc...

You just need to control costs.

Some ARE good and some could be scrapped altogether, many have been done away with over the last few years by provincial governments. Those that are still around have had serious budget cuts, like the organization where I'm employed.

 

[Toro]

RE: Conservative Economic

Education is probably this single best thing government can fund.

 

[Said1]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

Education is probably this single best thing government can fund.

While I'm inclind to agree, sadly, it's one of the firt things attacked when cut backs are handed out.

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Conservative Economic

That's the way conservative economics work, Said.

 

[Said1]

Re: RE: Conservative Economic

That's the way conservative economics work, Said.

All administrations have cut back on education, at all levels of government (in some manner).

 

[Reverend Blair]

RE: Conservative Economic

Conservatives cut first and they cut deepest. That's been the trend for at least a quarter of a century. They also favour task-specific education...making worker bees instead of thinkers. They cut the most at the lowest economic levels, which traps generation after generation in poverty.