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1. Put yourself before a committee that asks tough questions. Give direct answers. Have them sit on higher ground (small platform??) so they appear to be the one you are serving (not vice versa). Answer directly and honestly.
2. Take responsibility and articulate how you will solve the problem. Keep it simple clear and direct.
3. Take your bragging sideshow to another discussion. We all want to hear your opinion about the government’s leadership…but not to soften the blow of missed results.
4. Send me a thank you card, for this great advice.
I have a better suggestion. Fire Flaherty.
Here’s a quick number for the idiot. Total 2011 Budget Expenditures: $276.6 billion, Total 2011 Budget Deficit: $29.6 billion. An across the board cut of 10.7% eliminates the deficit. Hey spend-thrift, find the cuts. No ‘bbbbuuutttts’, no nothing. Get it done yesterday.
The lying scum promised us…promised that we were going to eliminate the deficit on time and on target. Harper campaigned on it. Every conservative should be emailing their MP’s and raising some holy heck about the Debt Minister’s irresponsible failure to do his job.
People gave the PC’s the benefit of the doubt with the stimulus. G20 agreement, “Everyone else was doing it.”, minority gov’t. Well, none…none of those variables are in play now. The only reason to dump more debt into the economy is because these idiots believe it works.
Stop it. Stop it, stop it, stop it and FIRE HIS ASS if he refuses.
If you go ahead with this budget update crap you owe Kevin Page and every conservative that voted for you an apology because you villified Page and you lied to us.
Yukon summarized it and Gord Tulk amplified. They are both right. Simplistic slogans which is all I’m reading from most of you simply will not do and are utterly useless in a global credit crisis. You lot will be the first to snivel when your 10+ per cent cut eats into health care. Or let me guess, you want the cut made in the Canadian Forces.
So lay it out, Lance. It’s easy to call for a 10.7% cut. So where do you want it made? What don’t you want cut? Remember, bonehead, after your spectacular miscall on potash, no one should believe for a New York minute that there’s any real economic conservatism in you.
Dolt.
Gord Tulk at November 9, 2011 2:22 PM
Would like to point to this. Cut in pay.
Lev at November 9, 2011 12:56 PM
So lev you would cut the pay of all civil servants 25 to 30 percent – including the military and other security people immediately – regardless of any contracts signed? Really? What do you think would be the realistic consequences of such an act for PMSH and the CPC?
The CPC is in the process of making cuts in a sound and rational manner
Delusion is one thing, getting pissed off at others for not sharing/indulging in your delusion is another thing.
The CPC-apologist comments here can be summed up as “it’s different when my team does it”.
Inflation = 3.2%
GDP growth = about 1% (15 billion)
Annual debt interest = 31 billion
Deficit = 30 billion
Total Federal debt = about 600 billion
Total GDP = 1.5 trillion
You take GDP growth and inflation combined with low interest rates into account and there practically is no deficit.
Look no further than this to see how our governments waste money:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/City+clear+Occupy+Vancouver+tent+city+bogged+down+court/5682272/story.html
Don’t anyone tell me we cannot find 10% to cut.
Every cut that Harper has made has been met with vicious and improper resistance by the ability challenged activists. Need I name them? The Wheat board? Harper can only cut to the extent of his strength. Small bites are called for, that is what works.
I can appreciate the ire of the base. Perhaps it is time to consider a resurrection of the Reform Party, to keep up some pressure on the rush to appeasement CINO’s that are imbedded in the party.
Yes, the CPC is CINO but, give the devil his due. Flaherty doesn’t operate in a vacuum. He can no more alter the course of a stumbling international economy than he can make the sun stand still. If Canada gets through the next 3 years without an economic meltdown hte feds will have done a commendable job. A finance minister plays the cards he’s dealt, and Lance’s rant is beyond stupid.
Other things to consider……
The extended ‘economic action plan’ that caused much of the deficit, will come to a natural close. Instead of neverending soviet daycare, Harper chose to pave roads and dredge the Halifax harbour and build rec centres.
That’s done now….it’ll be expenses off the books next year. Watch the deficit drop naturally just due to expiration dates.
#2. When Obama is gone in 2012, the USA is going to roar back to life. Canada will chug along behind with an 80 cent dollar and a 5% GDP growth.
So libertarian, what would you do?
Words fail to adequately express my disappointment in this news. All I can say is:
http://tinyurl.com/6l6syxg
Lance…I think you need to grow up a little. Name calling and tantrums will solve nothing!. Recognize that Canada is a trading nation and as such relies on healthy trading partners for it’s own well being. It isn’t a one sided equation.
If we can get back to balance and or a small surplus in five to six years we will be in better shape than any other G20 country.
If it takes a year or so more than initially forecast because external conditions that we have very little ability to control are worsening so be it.
The thing we need to keep out eye on is the goal of a balanced budget. I think that your apparent “”Shoot the messenger” stance is shallow and does Jim Flaherty an injustice. At the very least he is telling it like he sees it out front and well in advance of the target date.
If The Conservative government can walk the fine line of bringing down the deficit while not dismantling the entire government and social structure with massive cuts Harper and Flaherty will be deserving of our well earned gratitude.
Gord Tulk at November 9, 2011 5:20 PM
Just wandering here if it is written too fast, there was a mention of 10%.
The consequences would be the governments to deal with.
You see, if the things end up as in Greece, nobody will have anything or if they just print the money, nobody will have anything to buy.
If you think it can’t happen…
they thought a war would not come, it did,
they or at least those of us from the Eastern Europe never believed that the communism would fall, it did,
they thought that the Americans would never vote for a socialist, they did.
It can happen just like you snap your fingers, just like that.
I was trying to explain the political realities of Canada to my socialist sister in the UK, who was wondering about an article by some Ms. Mallick which appeared in teh Guardian.
Crossing out my explanation that she’s a commie bitch, I explained that she has the typical reaction to a Conservative Federal majority of a lefty elitist.
I explained that although the natural ruling class has lost the Fed governmeent, they still control the bureaucracy, judiciary, schools and hospitals and the media outlets.
I do not say this to excuse Flaherty, but to encourage him to further efforts to slay the demon, the work isn’t finished.
Hey Jeff,
It’s hard to tell if you’re joking or are serious. In case you are serious, by your own account:
Annual debt interest = 31 billion
Deficit = 30 billion
Total Federal debt = about 600 billion
How does this add up to no deficit, who are you kidding? The money is owed to someone somewhere. Who do you think is going to pay for it?
To the next comment you had.
There was somebody on the Rutheford show on CHQR Calgary today, did not catch who it was. Funny thing, this guy actually talked about the fact, that after the stimulus of 2008/09, the actual spending did not decrease, they just went on with spending the same amounts of money and not calling it a stimulus.
Neat trick, heh?
I am on the Board of Directors for our riding Conservative Association and last night our MP, whom we worked hard here in Toronto for 3 elections to finally get him elected, spoke on his caucus meetings in Ottawa. He said Harper is a super focused leader, low key, listens well letting everyone have their say and always reminds his caucus at each meeting that they work for us Canadians, who can vote them out if they fail to meet the voters expectations so don’t get a swelled head.
Lance has criticised Harper from day 1 so I disregard his posts on this subject. Because we Conservatives are independent thinkers we seem to not look at the long view in politics. Think how long Harper and his associates have focused on the goal of a majority CPC government and finally have achieved their goal.
We are in the best financial shape of the g20 and whom would you want to lead us as IMHO the economics of the Western world is about to go down the toilet? Rae, McGuinty, or the NDP. Have a little patience.
I read the bitching and moaning from my fellow conservatives
That’s done now….it’ll be expenses off the books next year. Watch the deficit drop naturally just due to expiration dates.
#2. When Obama is gone in 2012, the USA is going to roar back to life. Canada will chug along behind with an 80 cent dollar and a 5% GDP growth.
No, they are not. America is much sicker than that. Obama is only responsible for some of their problems not even most of them. It’s the result of decades of bad policy, culminating in a massive entitlement crisis courtesy of retiring boomers. It won’t be like it was.
Harper can only cut to the extent of his strength. Small bites are called for, that is what works.
His strength is a majority. That’s as strong as it gets. Major reform has NEVER been in small bits. It’s always been big chunks. Always.
Well Tulk, I’d get rid of the regional development agencies-including the ones Harper made-, deregulation mail delivery, privatise Canada post and a raft of other crowns, disestablish the CRTC, industry canada, human resources, and others. Get rid of ethanol subsidies and all subsidies. End prohibition. And re-tender the shipbuilding contract to include international builders. All that for a start. It is not hard at all to balance this budget; too bad ‘conservatives’ would rather moan and whine about how powerless poor Harper is.
Lev: anything is possible, I agree but we are not there (Greece) yet. For the CPC to act like we were they would be out of power forthwith and we would be dealing with the NDP or lpc in power. Politics is the art if the possible and severe cuts to spending and wholesale changes to the entitlement programs are not.
Politics is the art if the possible and severe cuts to spending and wholesale changes to the entitlement programs are not.
Then there’s simply no point to the CPC. Could’ve should’ve just kept the ol’ LPC in power. In any even that is simply wrong. Gordon Campbell made big cuts in BC; got re-elected. Mike Harris made big(ish) cuts; got re-elected. This Canada = implacably left-wing meme is one propagaed by lefties and CPC partisan losers. That alone tells you it’s wrong.
@Dave: it’s quite simple. Your goal is to get TEAM BLUE in power. You don’t care about policy. My (and perhaps Lance’s) goal is to reduce the size and scope of government, regardless of the name of the party in power (at least for me). We’re the ones who can really see the long view.
The implied notion being expressed here in many of the comments is that if you criticize the Cons you are not a good Canadian conservative. It sounds awfully similar to the doctrine that the Liberals employed for the years they were in power. Worship us, and never criticize our leadership, or you are not a Liberal. That is exactly what happened – every Liberal I have ever met behaves like a pubescent teenager worshipping Justin Beiber.
We all know of course what happened to the Liberals. They became so blinded to their faults that even the Count could not save them.
So I take my hat off to those conservatives who are not ashamed to sometimes criticize the Cons. when justified. If you are into worshipping, why don’t you consider joining the NDP or the Liberals, as that is their speciality. Or why don’t you head south and join the legions of blind Obama supporters who will happily follow him right off a cliff.
The mistake that Lance makes is in blaming Flaherty …. got news for ya pal … it’s a team effort.
And yes … “the team” …. is taking the old road used by the LIberals to balance what they perceive as their political assets and liabilites.
The fact is that with a majority government the politcal game becomes even more a LONG game. This is how the left coopted the Liberal party and redefined the center of our political landscape.
I’d like to see the center move back to the right side of the field myself …. if it is going to happen …. this is how it will come to pass.
Our role in this can certainly be to keep the heat on the PCs when the tread into policies that appear to be pacifiers to the liberal set. And so … Lance and his outburst is a good thing … but it’s not the only ideological ….. there is still a damned good argument for making immediate cuts in wasteful government departments and programs.
And by the way Lance just because the timeline has been extended on paper does not mean the actual plan is to wait out the deadline.
LAR: We can do that shopping list you gave us and we save nothing more than a pile of beans. Nothing in your list is a big ticket item that will come close to cutting the 10+% Lance called for.
“Mike Harris made big(ish) cuts; got re-elected”
And in case you hadn’t noticed, the Tory brand has been poisoned ever since. Even with an utter dillhole like McGuinty going into an election with 80 per cent of voters wanting change he still squeaked out a win. All it took was the mere threat of labeling Hudak with Harris’s legacy to turn Hudak into a loser.
TJ, dead wrong. I have lots of beefs with the Harper administration. This issue isn’t one of them. So this sentence, “if you criticize the Cons you are not a good Canadian conservative” is rubbish.
As much as I don’t agree with the tac the Harper govt takes on various issues, I have to acknowledge that Harper is a winner and acheives his goals.
That being said, solid cuts – painful cuts – brutal cuts, both across the board and specific, are what is required – and the time to do them is when you will have 5 years before having to face the electorate again.
Liberals have proven time and time again that Canadians have very short memories.
Yes, the media would ensure that the public would be reminded often, but significant cuts – hard core right wing cuts – would generate significant economic growth in the 5 year time span between elections for a majority govt.
No matter what Harper does he is going to be painted by the media as the “most extreme far right PM ever”, so he and the Conservatives might as well at least act in the manner that the media paints them in.
I too operate a business and understand budgeting, so I have a bit of sympathy for budget revisions, but the idea that because the Government started a program or hired an individual at some point that we cannot unhire the individual or shut the program down just as quickly, is absurd.
Yes it would be impossible in a minority situation, but this is now majority territory and if bold moves are required, they should be and must be made.
Trying to govern without anyone feeling any pain simply results in ever more bloated budgets.
As a personal beef, after 25 years in gov’t my freinds wife will retire with a generous pension (after earning a damn fine living).
After 25 years of busting my own ass and risking my own capital to start and run a business,(which includes alot of years of earning little or no money) I will have to continue to work to finance my own pension (RRSP’s) to the level that would accomodate me the same way she will be pensioned, as well as continuing to pay significant taxes so she – and other government employees – can sit back and relax in her retirement at 50 – funded by people like me.
the CONservatives ain’t cutting because they want to play politics…end of story
hell, they could cut 20% and not hurt services, but they would have to step on some toes
Gord, do you realy think that any gov’t “department” is run efficiently???
just do an effecientcy study, applie changes so that you maintain service level and reduce costs(just curtail the power of unions)
@Maureen at November 9, 2011 10:24 AM
Quebec is guaranteed to always be a have-not, British Columbia keeps dallying with the socialists, and Ontario just re-elected a believer in more-government-is-the-solution-to-all-problems. The axis to consider is not ‘left to right’ but rather ‘statism to individualism’.
Even the administrations governing the ‘haves’, Alberta, Saskatchewan, & Newfoundland and Labrador, are increasing the size of the state.
The federal “conservatives” are also increasing the size of the state, and it is always done at the expense of the individuals that have to pay for it all. That must be reversed, that is to say, the state must be consistently shrunk in size, and the money it costs to grow the state left to individuals to use as they decide.
Mr. Flaherty (and his party) last had a job evaluation in May of this year, and they’ll have another in about 4 years. The current administration may not be “conservative” but they are less statist than the alternatives.
It took 40 years to build this Marxist monstrosity. It will take more than 6 years to kill it.
So far Gun registry going, CWB put in its place. Global warming now seen everyday how insane it was. Even by most conservative Politicians now.
I have a feeling the CBC is next, thats why all the build up against it. Harper is a fox not a bear.
PCs? PCs? We don’t got no stinking PCs!
Or is Flaherty now back at Queens Park?
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But take it down a notch, Lance.
Write a letter saying no mo’ money to the party unless they balance the budget.
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Then ask yourself:
WWJD – What Would Jack! Do?
If Paul Martin didn’t steal $50,000,000,000.00 from the EI fund , Flaherty could do it now and look like a genious .
Here are more ways the government could find the “revolutionary” 10% in cuts:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/11/09/canadas-only-elected-senator-also-the-most-expensive/
Oh well – what’s a little inconsistencency here and there.
I mean, at least they’re still on target for those property rights they promised us back in 2006.
Right?
the Tory brand has been poisoned ever since.
Nope that’s just a myth. Harris’s approval numbers at the end of his reign were typical of a premier in that stage. The reason McGuinty has been in power so long is because the PC keep putting the kind of moderate losers you approve of in charge.
Sorry Lance, not impressed. Others have already stated all my reasons.
LAR: “The reason McGuinty has been in power so long is because the PC keep putting the kind of moderate losers you approve of in charge.”
Wrong. The Liberals remain in power because they have the support of the public sector unions and the MSM locked up.
Okay fine it’s both.