I just finished watching Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty on Power and Politics.
I am absolutely relieved to know that our Jim will be a one term wonder and that he will destroy any confidence Canadians who voted for him and his party had.
Our Princeton schooled elite lawyer is now all about the second coming of the "Common Sense Revolution" - you know the economic religion of Mike Harris promoted by then Minister of Finance of Ontario, the one and only (thankfully) Mr. Flaherty.
Ultra fiscal Conservative and disciple Flaherty and ultra social Conservative Reform disciple Stephen Harper. It will be a rough 4 years but then I believe it will end.
Flaherty is not a financial guru - he used the systems left by former Finance Ministers - and those who operated distinctly different in ideology than him. He inherited banking policy, EI funds, balanced books, and a system which was fundamentally different than the USA (crippled by its own fraudulent, corrupt, and unregulated system). Flaherty as was his boss Mike Harris - is a Reaganomics lovers.
Flaherty and his PC's in Ontario were replaced after people became sick of waiting for the rebirth of finance and he (Flaherty) successfully accomplished nothing memorable during his tenure - other than hardship for anyone other than financially wealthy families. Then Flaherty ran - unsuccessfully twice - for the leadership of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives. Why did Tories not elect this "genius" to be their leader? He was too conservative. He is absolutely at home with his new ultra-right-wing reform party.
Now as is typical of right wing conservative fanatics - Flaherty is hypocritical - and will do what is necessary in the moment. In a minority Harper government - he spent like a drunken labour socialist on steroids - with the exception of who actually benefited. Make no mistake social - human welfare will be replaced by corporate welfare. He will keep taxing ordinary Canadians to reduce taxes for the largest of the corporate world.
Today - on Power and Politics - with Evan Solomon - Flaherty tried to defend the elimination of election financing. As with other ultra-right-wing liars - the Minister kept looking toward the floor and not the camera (presumably to keep a straight face) as he tried to justify the elimination of fairness and equity in democracy.
Flaherty tried to explain to Solomon that the $2 dollar per vote system meant that somehow my money would not be going to a party I support. Hang on now Minister it is based on actual votes. It is a fair system that places us closer to a representative system rather than the "first past the post" system we suffer under.
Now Mr. Flaherty hear this from this taxpayer and voter - you have not removed the system of tax credits for political contributions wherein I know my money is going to support parties and candidates I do not support.
Mr. Flaherty talked about "passing the hat" and getting a contribution - he added write a cheque. Ditto Mr. Flaherty - when people give a political contribution - they will continue to get a tax credit. How about if you write a cheque for a political party - don't hold your hand out waiting for me to give you a partial refund of your contribution.
The Finance Minister was also very elitist when he suggested the writing of cheques - what of Canadians - the families he goes on and on about who pay tax - and at the end of the day do not have enough to put away for a pension? Flaherty is talking about more affluent Canadians who have funds to spare after the basic needs, tax, pension contributions, and financial contribution for their children's' education. These affluent Canadians will write the cheque because Mr. Flaherty will make sure the companies they head or run will get tax breaks - and they are likely to get the opportunity to pick up public assets at a cheap privatization price.
Flaherty is going to hack the public service and he will hack programs that are important to people in most need. Flaherty will continue the practice of Corporate welfare and you and I will pay for it.
Flaherty had no problem bailing out the auto giants - and will claim he did so to save a job. Jobs would have rebounded as new corporate entities filled the void of bankrupt companies who "did not live within their means".
Ontario put him in - and Ontario should have known better. But as is usually the case in this failed federation - the big decide and the smaller pay and suffer.
Flaherty will justify the G8 G20 fiasco about to be revealed - including a fake lake - however clean water and food for children - that will have to wait. That's just "common sense", as Mr. Flaherty sees it.
I wonder how easy it would be to get a face to face with the Minister if you are the CEO of Scotia Bank? Do you think you can get the same meeting to address your needs?
Mr. Flaherty you and your party have sucked off the public teat to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. You and your party have benefited more from our election financing than any other - and still the Conservatives wanted to break the rules/law when it suited the political needs.
Flaherty like Harper is a political fraud and a hypocrite.
Thank you Evan Solomon for a decent interview that was very revealing. The only question you missed was - when are they cutting all funds for the CBC?
When listening to the radio, watching television or reading the newspapers about events in this province, there seems to be a missing link. One that bridges all that information together and provides a way for people to contribute, express or lobby their concerns in their own time. After-all, this is our home and everyone cannot fit in Lukie's boat and paddle their way to Upper Canada, nor should we!
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2 comments:
I think your comments on Flaherty are spot on. For me the "tell" was the way he used phrasing which in and of itself sounded like "common sense." Yet putting it all in the context of this man's political history, and given his current political master, it could be seen as verbal smoke and mirrors, an attempt to divert critical attention.
I see you're from Newfoundland and Labrador. I've never been to your province, but every time I see the tourism adverts on tv, the more I think about it.
Thank you for your take and contribution. The tourism ads you see only scratch the surface - It is beautiful in Newfoundland and Labrador and the people even more so.
I encourage you to explore both Newfoundland and Labrador.
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