Posts Tagged by recession
Letter to Ignatieff
| 9/29/2009 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Last week I was having lunch with a friend and briefly the subject of politics came up. I expressed some of my views on Ignatieff to which she responded that I should write him a letter about my views. My response was, I would but it would not likely get anywhere near him. I thought about that and decided that be damn if it gets anywhere near him, I’ll write my letter here on my blog. So here goes:
I joined the Liberal Party of Canada in July of this year. While I’ve spent a lifetime reading and thinking about politics and how our leaders (or lack), shapes my country, I’ve never before made the decision to commit myself to a political party.
I’ve always leaned towards liberalism, largely because I have a deep-seated belief that one of the great strengths of this country is our social safety net which provides a level of support for those at the lower socioeconomic levels of our society. That sense of social responsiblity balanced with fiscal responsibility has always come from the Liberal Party of Canada.
So, why did I join in July? After a few years of what appeared to me as utter chaos within the party due to their infighting and weak leadership, there appeared to be a leader with some integrity and vision. I still think you have the integrity, but to be frank, I’m having a lot of trouble with discerning your vision.
Where’s the vision?
You seem to be spending a lot of energy and air time reacting to Harper. Canadians know what Harper is, the problem is they don’t yet see a viable alternative to him. True there are aspects of Harper the Canadian people don’t fully realize or appreciate how wrong he is, but they still don’t see a viable alternative. Why do you think Canadians haven’t yet given him a majority government? (more…)
Ignatieff Hits the Ground Running?
| 5/7/2009 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics, economy |
Ignatieff was acclaimed as leader of the federal Liberals this past weekend and appears to have come out of the gate ready to run. During the convention along with moving the Liberals forward into a one vote, one member system, which most other parties use, he threw down a gauntlet to the Conservatives claiming he is willing to take the country to the polls if the government doesn’t change the IE program.
Every worker across this country contributes to IE while they are employed but only about 31% of those losing their jobs are able to collect. IE is meant to be bridge income while a person seeks a new job. In a recession like the one Canada is currently experiencing, jobs are increasingly scarce, the chances of a short gap between jobs becomes increasingly unlikely.
To qualify for IE workers have to have a minimum number of hours worked. This halts those who would rather draw ‘pogey’ than work from working briefly and then drawing IE. Currently the number of hours needed is varied across the country, there are some 54 different areas where the hours and even the amount of EI received varies. (more…)
Conservatives No Benefit to Canada
| 3/17/2009 | Posted by Patti under Canadian Politics |
Harper gave a speech to his party faithful last Thursday night. These days he’s not quite the fair haired boy that many in the party saw him as oh 3 years ago and it makes me wonder if some of those hearing that speech took note of what wasn’t being said. The Toronto Star published an excerpt from the speech today.
In the excerpt Harper appears to be arguing how Conservatives, in particular his
government, has been a benefit to Canada. That only with Conservatives can Canada move forward using conservative principles. He’s laid claim to the stable banking system in this country that he had nothing to do with. He does love to ride on the back of other people’s hard work doesn’t he, likely why he has never worked as the economist he lays claim to academically be.
He slammed the US for raising taxes instead of cutting them like the Conservatives have. What he conveniently forgot was that the US is cutting taxes for the lower income earners and doing so immediately, not when the next tax year rolls around. The US is raising taxes on the upper income levels who traditionally have enjoyed the greatest tax relief while retaining more of their income. Heaven forbid that those who have the most be expected to contribute more to economic recovery. (more…)
Ignatieff Slams MIA Prime Minister
| 2/10/2009 | Posted by Patti under General |
Ignatieff went after the Prime Minister’s absence from both the House and the public scene when it comes to the economy and the value of the economic stimulus contained in the budget. I watched Obama’s press conference last night and found it refreshing to see a politician speaking very frankly about the state of the economy and how he wanted to see it dealt with.
Yes, I know, he was trying to sell a stimulus package which is receiving largely partisan opposition. It was refreshing to hear that opposition being framed not just as partisan game playing but asking the questions and laying out guidelines for what he sees as necessary for the good of the people and the economy and where there is room for bipartisan cooperation and what wont gain traction with him.
The major difference between the leadership of the two countries is that in the US, the leaders recognized and faced the fact that the economy was sliding towards and over the edge while in Canada, the Opposition parties were sounding the alarm while the government was busy telling us that if a recession was going to happen, it would have already taken place. (more…)
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