Pondering Politics
The federal conservatives have finally screwed up the courage to introduce a non-confidence motion in the House of Commons. It is expected the vote on this motion will be held on November 28, 2005. It is also expected the liberal minority government will fall and we should prepare for an election expected in January.
There are two important facts the looming election will address. One is that the federal liberal government under Jean Chrétien entered into a sponsorship program that went terribly wrong. It became the scandal of the century and the details were evident in the Gomery report.
The second fact to consider is that our economy is booming and we haven’t had it this good for a long time. It is hard to imagine how any of us will be any better off under a conservative government lead by Stephan Harper.
Harper’s motion of non-confidence expresses a lack of confidence in the liberal minority government charging that they are corrupt and have a “culture of entitlement” that makes them unfit to govern. I am tired of hearing this catch phrase “culture of entitlement” and the slogan “Stand up for Canada” that the conservatives use almost every day. What the voters want to hear is what the Harper conservatives will offer that does not upset our strong economy and social programs that we all depend on every day.
Stephan Harper condemns the federal liberals for having a surplus and spending it on Canadians. What would he be saying if the liberal government had been running the country into debt? We all remember how the conservatives managed the economy in Saskatchewan. Harper calls it "vote buying." The fact is that every dollar a government spends is vote buying and it makes no difference what party is in power. Are we to expect that a conservative government will not spend any tax dollars they collect from Canadians?
The Harper conservatives have failed to make it clear what voters can expect from them if they were to form the next minority government. There is no clear indication that an election will deliver a majority government and no clear indication Canadians will be any better off under a conservative minority government.
Watch for an array of promises the conservatives will tempt you with at the next election to be paid for by your tax dollars. Yes, that’s right, vote buying! Be careful when you cast your vote at the next federal election. You assuredly will get what you ask for!
