Harper's pledge to bankrupt the government:
Far be it from an opportunistic politician like me (best finish 6 of 8) to argue against a tax cut, but shouldn't we be using surplus revenue to pay down the half trillion dollar debt?! but anyway, quoth Harper about the GST Cut of 1/107th:
"It will help seniors to pay their utility bills, students to meet the rent, low-income families to put more groceries on the table," he said, noting that a home buyer could save about $4,000 when purchasing a $200,000 home.
A cut of 1/107'th will save less than $2000 on such a purchase. And don't you think the seller will pocket some of the difference. Do you see prices falling in anticipation of such a move? Hell no. You know why. Because prices won't move. You will pay the same tomorrow what you paid today. The only difference: Businesses will pocket the money instead of our healthcare or university system. Aren't you glad you elected an honest media dodger like Harper?
In addition, the government enjoyed a record surplus of $9 Billion, which is what a 2 point cut in the GST will cost. Don't we want to pay down the debt? Don't we want to solve the shrill whine of imbalance between the media coverage given to and the actual financial needs of the provinces? Do we hate those evil Liberals enough to nix child care for a generation? How will we afford those things when the first real fiscal move of the Harper government is a structural giveaway of $4.5 Billion?
I'm just askin' is all.
posted by Sean Tisdall @ 4:37 AM
1 Comments:
Harper's move is ridiculous, but it is aimed at the voting pool in which he wants to tap: the middle class.
The middle class spends, spends, SPENDS! they'll save on their new expensive houses, and on their mini vans and SUVs.
As for the promise that a GST tax cut will save me money on my rent (as I am a student) - it won't! If my money doesn't go to the landlord it'll go to the University. Tuition goes up by 6 or 7% every year! Maybe if tuition only increased by 1% I'd break even. Or if there was a tuition freeze (can you hear the laughter?) we'd save somethign if the costs of books. The cost of living is my LAST concern.
The Alberta PCs ran an ad campaign last year that set out their fiscal plan: 1. Feed the family, 2. Pay the bills, 3. Save for the future.
I believe this is how a government, at any level, should work. Provide for your citizens, reduce the debt and set aside some money for when times are hard. It's that simple!
We have committed ourselves to Kyoto, to Africa, to our children; and yet this government is content with committing themselves to the here and the now.
The ploy will work cause people are stupid.
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