The next election is going to be a choice between two ideas and two parties. It is clear that both sides are not going to retreat on their stances. Although, who is right? Will lowering corporate taxes really create more jobs for Canadians? Or will lowering income taxes for families create more spending room?
Let us look at these two questions objectively. Harper’s corporate tax cut would lower the expenditures that all businesses have to pay to the government – this includes the really rich ones where the CEOs get regular bonuses. Ignatieff’s income tax cut would allow people, employed, unemployed, even bosses and CEOs to save more money because they won’t lose it all from the point that their pay checks are given. Either way, the richest will win the lottery; it is now a matter of choosing which plan would be beneficial for all. A 1% tax cut on a person whose income is $100,000 per year would mean a savings of $1000 annually. A 1% tax cut on a corporation that receives over $1 million in income would see a $10,000 savings on that income.
Both plans can fail at their objective: strengthen the economy. Just because a business saves $10,000 per million in earnings, doesn’t mean that new jobs will appear. Part of this money could go on renovations, reformatting, advertisements, raises, bonuses… the list goes on. A tax cut for the people could be used to pay down debts, buy new items, fix old items, balance budgets, pay for tuition fees, and accommodate the rising costs of food and other necessities of life.
Now that both methods have hit a dead end where neither can 100% guarantee a boost to the economy, we can point out that debt is the main reason why the recession happened. While both corporations and people are in debt, the most immune to the debt and the consequences that come with it are the companies and corporations who are mainly dependent on the free market.
In the end of the day, both these actions could ultimately have the same effect; it is now a personal choice. Do you want money to come back to your pocket? Or would you rather watch corporations who have the framework to deal with debt and economic slowdowns reap the benefits of a cut to the lowest corporate tax rate in the G7?
If you choose to give the CEOs a bit more breathing room to collect more bonuses, you would prefer the Conservatives. If you would prefer to get more for the dollar and have a little bit more breathing room financially – whether you would be a student, employee, layoff or parent – you would prefer the Liberals.
The next election will be a choice. Allow the Conservatives to strengthen the wealthy and strong or give the Liberals a chance to strengthen business by strengthening the framework of business – the worker, the consumer, the boss in person, the average Canadian family.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Stephen Harper’s 5 Years
Canada has gone a long way in its history and today it looks at the longest standing minority government in its history. Although, when looking at Harper’s legacy, we look at a blank slate filled with spiteful and an American Republican approach to politics. Stephen Harper will not attack his opponents with policy, he will attack their person. Unfortunately, this disgusting method of politics works and is the politics that the Tea Party fueled Republicans use all the time. Unfortunately, the Liberal Party is too gentle and civil to scoop down to Harper and the Conservative party of Canada’s level of campaigning.
But, personal attack ads work because Canadians just simply cannot get a grip around policy and the Conservatives are so narrow in their governing achievements that Canadians look at the Liberals and see a man who came to Canada after 35 years of exploring the world and all of a sudden, it is a bad thing. There is a growing apathy among voters and an overall drop in attention.
While the news will praise Harper because that’s what they seem to like to do these days, we must realize that he is governing a minority government. This means that if Harper proposed policy that was unpopular to the majority of the seats he needs to stay in power, he would be thrown out. While not doing much in the policy side of his mandate, he has granted himself a safe card because people are so indifferent about him that there doesn’t seem to be a reason to change or to get rid of him. If Stephen Harper were to form a majority government, we would see a different person. We would see a more spiteful person. We would not recognize the Canada we once knew as it would become the 51st state of the United States of America. Not that the United States is a bad country, but for a country whose views are generally socialistic, peaceful and full of care, the United States doesn’t accommodate these views very well.
The Conservative view is that of the general American view. Let us not forget that the Americans hate our healthcare, find that we are a weak welfare state and their right wing movement will stop at nothing to prevent Obama from bringing in a Universal Healthcare system and God forbid he tell them that he wants to help the families that are living on the streets. It is this opposition that we see in the United States toward Obama that our governing Conservatives represent. Happy 5 years to them, hopefully they don’t make us more of a laughing stock than we already are - our environmental profile is atrocious (worst than the US) and we lost our seat on the UN Security Council.
While our media likes to praise Harper for his 5 years of hiding, let us not forget that Harper and his Reform based party will not be so quiet or compromising in a majority government – they were barely compromising in their 5 years in power!
Hopefully no one forgot about Stephen Harper’s closed door speech that was leaked to the public. Give this man a majority government and he no longer risks losing if he shows his true views of our great country that we call Canada.
Harper will not let you see what he really thinks and he promised transparency 5 years ago… Can you trust a man who goes back on his word?
American Republican Party Ad: Attacked Rand Paul for the Idea that he didn’t believe in God…
But, personal attack ads work because Canadians just simply cannot get a grip around policy and the Conservatives are so narrow in their governing achievements that Canadians look at the Liberals and see a man who came to Canada after 35 years of exploring the world and all of a sudden, it is a bad thing. There is a growing apathy among voters and an overall drop in attention.
While the news will praise Harper because that’s what they seem to like to do these days, we must realize that he is governing a minority government. This means that if Harper proposed policy that was unpopular to the majority of the seats he needs to stay in power, he would be thrown out. While not doing much in the policy side of his mandate, he has granted himself a safe card because people are so indifferent about him that there doesn’t seem to be a reason to change or to get rid of him. If Stephen Harper were to form a majority government, we would see a different person. We would see a more spiteful person. We would not recognize the Canada we once knew as it would become the 51st state of the United States of America. Not that the United States is a bad country, but for a country whose views are generally socialistic, peaceful and full of care, the United States doesn’t accommodate these views very well.
The Conservative view is that of the general American view. Let us not forget that the Americans hate our healthcare, find that we are a weak welfare state and their right wing movement will stop at nothing to prevent Obama from bringing in a Universal Healthcare system and God forbid he tell them that he wants to help the families that are living on the streets. It is this opposition that we see in the United States toward Obama that our governing Conservatives represent. Happy 5 years to them, hopefully they don’t make us more of a laughing stock than we already are - our environmental profile is atrocious (worst than the US) and we lost our seat on the UN Security Council.
When You try to ask for help in the United States, this is what happens.
While our media likes to praise Harper for his 5 years of hiding, let us not forget that Harper and his Reform based party will not be so quiet or compromising in a majority government – they were barely compromising in their 5 years in power!
Hopefully no one forgot about Stephen Harper’s closed door speech that was leaked to the public. Give this man a majority government and he no longer risks losing if he shows his true views of our great country that we call Canada.
If Stephen Harper had a majority government…
Harper will not let you see what he really thinks and he promised transparency 5 years ago… Can you trust a man who goes back on his word?
Friday, January 21, 2011
Your Choice: An Open Canada or a Closed Canada
My friends, the next Canadian federal election will be a choice - a large one. We have the governing Conservatives who have time and time again showed their closed way of doing things along with harper’s one man show. And then we have the Liberal party who has tried time and time again to open up to Canadians and allow them to interact with them and their policies. One way to prove this point is to demonstrate the restrictions on both their media outlets. Shortly after the Conservatives launched their ads based on rhetoric, the Liberals responded with an attack to policy choices that the Conservatives can’t hide. Funny enough, the Liberal Party YouTube page will allow people to comment, but the Conservative page will not.
Another interesting comparison is how they handle people in person. Stephen Harper will have a convoy of guards with him at all times at his shoulders and even threaten to arrest and arrest journalists that don’t like his views – CBC was a victim of this. Michael Ignatieff, on the other hand, has made a tour of town halls where people could question him and meet him in person. I was at one of these town halls and it functioned by him entering the room and walking through the crowd, and going to his stage where he addressed the people. He did not have any visible security on him and when the town hall ended, he sat on the stage and welcomed people to come and talk to him in person. I met him myself, in person. Based on what I saw, he was a gentleman, a scholar. Can anyone other than Harper’s inner circle get that close to him and speak to him without security?
Free speech is not one of Harper’s strong suits as he strictly disciplines his ministers to follow script and conducts everything like the puppet master. On the other hand, Ignatieff allows his ministers to speak freely and even brings them to the crowd.
The next election will be a choice. With Stephen Harper’s closed caucus and visibly one man show, has he succeeded in keeping his promise on transparency? I don’t think so. Can we trust a man who goes back on his word?
One of the Liberal Party of Canada’s recent attack ads in response to earlier Conservative attack ads. Go to the video page and you will see that there are comments and ratings on the video… Below is a screenshot of the page on January 21, 2011.
One of the Conservative Party of Canada’s recent attack ads. Go to the video page and you will see that there are comments and ratings on the video… Below is a screenshot of the page on January 21, 2011.
Another interesting comparison is how they handle people in person. Stephen Harper will have a convoy of guards with him at all times at his shoulders and even threaten to arrest and arrest journalists that don’t like his views – CBC was a victim of this. Michael Ignatieff, on the other hand, has made a tour of town halls where people could question him and meet him in person. I was at one of these town halls and it functioned by him entering the room and walking through the crowd, and going to his stage where he addressed the people. He did not have any visible security on him and when the town hall ended, he sat on the stage and welcomed people to come and talk to him in person. I met him myself, in person. Based on what I saw, he was a gentleman, a scholar. Can anyone other than Harper’s inner circle get that close to him and speak to him without security?
Only a selected view can get to see Stephen Harper, let alone talk to him.
Free speech is not one of Harper’s strong suits as he strictly disciplines his ministers to follow script and conducts everything like the puppet master. On the other hand, Ignatieff allows his ministers to speak freely and even brings them to the crowd.
The next election will be a choice. With Stephen Harper’s closed caucus and visibly one man show, has he succeeded in keeping his promise on transparency? I don’t think so. Can we trust a man who goes back on his word?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Stephen Harper Has Contradicted Himself Again and Again and Now Again!
Well Stephen Harper cannot let go of the notion of a coalition government. In a recent set of attack ads, he pins Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff as an irresponsible leader who wants to raise taxes with the NDP and separate the nation with the Bloc Quebecois.
After watching this video, hopefully Stephen Harper will not look so trustworthy, for he isn’t in it for us, he’s in it for himself… Isn’t that what he said about Michael Ignatieff? Oh yeah…
Can we trust a man who goes back on his word?
One of 6 New Attack Ads released by Stephen Harper’s Conservative Party of Canada
"It's the kind of politics of personal destruction that Harper perfected.”
Michael IgnatieffIt is funny how this action is displayed on an action that Stephen Harper did himself in 2005 in an attempt to take power . Michael Ignatieff has responded stating that the ads are “rubbish” and that "it's the kind of politics of personal destruction that Harper perfected.” Of course, this isn’t the first time that Stephen Harper has attacked Ignatieff, last year, the fact that he spent parts of his life out of the country brought fire. Stephane Dion, the former Liberal leader, is no stranger to these attack ads. Do we not remember the whole fiasco of the pigeon leaving on his shoulder? That was just distasteful. It just goes to show that the people who are running the show have no integrity. Below is a video that can say more than a picture worth a thousand words, for those of us who think we know the real Stephen Harper, think again, he has contradicted himself many times on the issue of coalitions, and this is just one example.
One Example of How Stephen Harper has Contradicted Himself on an Issue He Fought Strongly For.
After watching this video, hopefully Stephen Harper will not look so trustworthy, for he isn’t in it for us, he’s in it for himself… Isn’t that what he said about Michael Ignatieff? Oh yeah…
Can we trust a man who goes back on his word?
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Canada Has Been Consumed by Greed
Ever go to the store and wonder if you are getting the value for your dollar? Today, you will learn that you aren’t only being gauged, but that you are also being gaged, and robbed of your precious earnings. In a recent impulse of curiosity – checking out Bing’s new shopping feature, I learned that we are paying as much as 81% more money for the exact same goods as our American counterparts… It’s not like I didn’t know that we paid more and wished that I had the means to bring my wallet down south, but 81% is a hefty difference. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and this one can pretty much sum up the picture that I saw - not a pretty sight.
Funny enough, the Canadian dollar sits today (January 15, 2011) at $1.01 US, pinning our dollar as more valuable. In this instance, our retailers should be cutting prices. However, in the past 5 years, our prices have increased by upwards of 9% – not to mention that American retailers haven’t been as greedy as ours.
It just goes to show that when you let a greedy, irresponsible government such as that of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives take power that we get worse off and we don’t get the value of our dollar… Michael Ignatieff has a point when he asks if we are better off after 5 years and uses the data from Statistics Canada to back himself up. Wait, didn’t Stephen Harper want to scrap that? Oh yeah… The yearly census… Who knew a piece of paper was that important? But the question now remains, will Michael Ignatieff be the right man to bring in the solutions? That is something to watch – especially with the keen attitude for a spring election on his part.
For now though, let us send a message to our greedy retail friends – not the poor cashiers, but their bosses. A clear message that states that we won’t be spending at their stores until they can compete with their American counterparts which can and offer deals that are at least 60% better than ours – in some cases, a difference of over $1000. Did Stephen Harper’s 2% cut to the GST fix that? Not at all.
Funny enough, the Canadian dollar sits today (January 15, 2011) at $1.01 US, pinning our dollar as more valuable. In this instance, our retailers should be cutting prices. However, in the past 5 years, our prices have increased by upwards of 9% – not to mention that American retailers haven’t been as greedy as ours.
“The year of 2010 alone had a price hike of 2%”
Statistics CanadaGreed is what caused the recession that we have to endure and clean up today. Along with the sudden realization that most of the money that we lent didn’t exist in the first place. With this combination of woes, people are closing their wallets and fearing the collector and in the end of the day, Canadian retailers wonder why they are losing business… To be frank, Canadians won’t be conned into bad deals - and those that read this article will soon learn that the painful trip to the border is all the while worth it.
It just goes to show that when you let a greedy, irresponsible government such as that of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives take power that we get worse off and we don’t get the value of our dollar… Michael Ignatieff has a point when he asks if we are better off after 5 years and uses the data from Statistics Canada to back himself up. Wait, didn’t Stephen Harper want to scrap that? Oh yeah… The yearly census… Who knew a piece of paper was that important? But the question now remains, will Michael Ignatieff be the right man to bring in the solutions? That is something to watch – especially with the keen attitude for a spring election on his part.
For now though, let us send a message to our greedy retail friends – not the poor cashiers, but their bosses. A clear message that states that we won’t be spending at their stores until they can compete with their American counterparts which can and offer deals that are at least 60% better than ours – in some cases, a difference of over $1000. Did Stephen Harper’s 2% cut to the GST fix that? Not at all.