Alberta, Taxes, and Socialism

[kelownabomberfan]

What terrifies you?

The thought of Justin Trudeau representing Canada on the world stage, and being the guy who has to stare down people like Putin. Yikes. Talk about a boy among men.

[kelownabomberfan]

[The Unknown Poster]

 

What terrifies you?

The thought of Justin Trudeau representing Canada on the world stage, and being the guy who has to stare down people like Putin. Yikes. Talk about a boy among men.

 

Oh I agree!  he is also a rich guy who seems to completely lack any understanding what it's like to be poor or have to work for your middle class income.  He'd be a laughing stock on the national stage.

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

[kelownabomberfan]

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

 

 

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck.  In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges.  Well none of that happened.  They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card.  According to the polls not too many are buying this.

 

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher.  I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care. 

[sweep the leg]

 

 

What terrifies you?

The thought of Justin Trudeau representing Canada on the world stage, and being the guy who has to stare down people like Putin. Yikes. Talk about a boy among men.

 

Oh I agree!  he is also a rich guy who seems to completely lack any understanding what it's like to be poor or have to work for your middle class income.  He'd be a laughing stock on the national stage.

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

 

Trudeau's already on the national stage, and rather than embarrassing himself, he's running neck and neck in the polls with Great Leader.

[Rich]

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper. he's pretty even keel. Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015?

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck. In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges. Well none of that happened. They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card. According to the polls not too many are buying this.

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher. I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care.

I for sure fall to the right line of centre politically but the having nothing to hide rational is IMO a poor and dangerous one.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, but I think an appropriate one.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

[kelownabomberfan]

 

Trudeau's already on the national stage, and rather than embarrassing himself, he's running neck and neck in the polls with Great Leader.

 

 

 

 

He was running way ahead in the polls, until he opened his mouth.  That ended that.

[kelownabomberfan]

 

I for sure fall to the right line of centre politically but the having nothing to hide rational is IMO a poor and dangerous one.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, but I think an appropriate one.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

 

 

OK Ben Franklin.  What is it that we are supposed to be so scared of?  I think part of the problem is that the fear-mongering I've seen has all come from people I wouldn't let mow my lawn, that's how little respect I have for their intellectual capacity. 

[17to85]

 

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper. he's pretty even keel. Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015?

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck. In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges. Well none of that happened. They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card. According to the polls not too many are buying this.

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher. I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care.

I for sure fall to the right line of centre politically but the having nothing to hide rational is IMO a poor and dangerous one.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, but I think an appropriate one.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

 

The problem is that the Liberals and Conservatives both support the spying bill, governments always want more power to spy. 

[17to85]

The only way people are going to be out of jobs in Alberta is if people start freaking out for no reason and make stupid knee jerk reactions.

Stupid knee jerk reactions like voting for the NDP? Rachel Notley??!?!??? *sour face*

[Noeller]

 

 

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper. he's pretty even keel. Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015?

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck. In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges. Well none of that happened. They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card. According to the polls not too many are buying this.

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher. I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care.

I for sure fall to the right line of centre politically but the having nothing to hide rational is IMO a poor and dangerous one.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, but I think an appropriate one.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

 

The problem is that the Liberals and Conservatives both support the spying bill, governments always want more power to spy. 

 

And even Mulcair said today he's more or less in favour of it. Apparently only the hippie Greens are agin' it...

[Fraser]

 

 

I for sure fall to the right line of centre politically but the having nothing to hide rational is IMO a poor and dangerous one.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, but I think an appropriate one.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

 

 

OK Ben Franklin.  What is it that we are supposed to be so scared of?  I think part of the problem is that the fear-mongering I've seen has all come from people I wouldn't let mow my lawn, that's how little respect I have for their intellectual capacity. 

 

 

much like the anti vaxxers are too far removed from what an actual measles outbreak looks like to appreciate it.

 

Here in Canada we are too far removed from the kind of place where the government can make people disapear in the middle of the night to appreaciate it. Freedom is important, checks and balances are important.

[kelownabomberfan]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyXyxLiDtHo

[sweep the leg]

 

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

 

 

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck.  In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges.  Well none of that happened.  They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card.  According to the polls not too many are buying this.

 

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher.  I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care. 

 

People went way too far demonizing Harper in his early days. It's happening again with Trudeau, only with different talking points. People are scared of what's new in politics.

 

A few things I dislike about Harper:

- the new security bill seems unconstitutional and overreaching for what a government should be able to keep secret

- very little debate has been allowed in the house

- He wanted to abolish the senate, but has since appointed more of them than any other pm in history

- has very little use for the collectively bargained agreements with the Public servants that the government signed

- the Supreme Court has had to slap him down several times, then had a little fit after his choice for judge was disallowed

- lowering the GST and income splitting are bad ideas imo.

- his views on pot

- mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes

- wearing a Canada jersey instead of a Jets jersey

[kelownabomberfan]

I think Trudeau has to grow up a bit more before people will trust him.  I don't see him winning this election, but definitely the next one.  He's just got to stay the course, and appeal to a wide base of voters.

[sweep the leg]

Whomever wins, I'd like to see a minority government. As a Federal employee, I'd also like to see Tony Clement lose his job. That goofy looking pos has called me overpaid way too many times. Maybe I'll fly out to his riding and drop a deuce in his fancy new gazebo that we all paid for...

[kelownabomberfan]

Whomever wins, I'd like to see a minority government. As a Federal employee, I'd also like to see Tony Clement lose his job. That goofy looking pos has called me overpaid way too many times. Maybe I'll fly out to his riding and drop a deuce in his fancy new gazebo that we all paid for...

 

I have yet to ever meet a happy provincial or Federal employee.  You guys always seem pissed off about something or other.  Not saying you don't have the right to be.  I just wish there was a way to fix this, other than of course, just throwing ever bigger gobs of cash your way.

[Jaxon]

 

Show me the stats. A stable economy isn't a bad thing.

 

 

http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/the-manitoba-miracle/

 

Quoting a 5 year old fluff piece from Macleans magazine....really?  Not exactly a strong argument.

 

Here are the facts, the Manitoba economy is stable because we live off of the transfer payments from our more prosperous neighbours:

 

Federal transfer payments per capita 2015-2016

 

Manitoba     2,651

Quebec       2,461

Ontario       1,482

Sask           1,310

Alberta        1,310

BC              1,310

 

 

 

http://www.fin.gc.ca/fedprov/mtp-eng.asp

[sweep the leg]

 

Whomever wins, I'd like to see a minority government. As a Federal employee, I'd also like to see Tony Clement lose his job. That goofy looking pos has called me overpaid way too many times. Maybe I'll fly out to his riding and drop a deuce in his fancy new gazebo that we all paid for...

 

I have yet to ever meet a happy provincial or Federal employee.  You guys always seem pissed off about something or other.  Not saying you don't have the right to be.  I just wish there was a way to fix this, other than of course, just throwing ever bigger gobs of cash your way.

 

I really like my job and think I'm paid fairly. What bothers me is how the recession was used as a reason to gut our benefits and tear up our contracts. Our sick leave is such an insignificant amount in the big picture, but it was a major point of emphasis in this year's budget because those overpaid, lazy feds don't need it. It's such populist nonsense to attack government workers.

 

There are some things I think the government has been right about though. Being paid a week's salary for every year you worked when you quit your job or retired was crazy. Severance shouldn't be for somebody voluntarily leaving a job and they were right to ditch it. I also think it's fair to expect us to pay for 50% of our pension plan.

 

Having said this, being a fed is a cakewalk compared to working for the province in Manitoba. Four people in my wife's building have left on stress leave. They work in a building that is around 29C everyday b/c they won't fix the ac, they're all crazy overworked b/c they aren't hiring anybody, and they've all been given way more to do. They don't get promotions for this though, b/c they can't afford to re-classify anybody.

[17to85]

 

 

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

 

 

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck.  In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges.  Well none of that happened.  They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card.  According to the polls not too many are buying this.

 

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher.  I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care. 

 

People went way too far demonizing Harper in his early days. It's happening again with Trudeau, only with different talking points. People are scared of what's new in politics.

 

A few things I dislike about Harper:

- the new security bill seems unconstitutional and overreaching for what a government should be able to keep secret

- very little debate has been allowed in the house

- He wanted to abolish the senate, but has since appointed more of them than any other pm in history

- has very little use for the collectively bargained agreements with the Public servants that the government signed

- the Supreme Court has had to slap him down several times, then had a little fit after his choice for judge was disallowed

- lowering the GST and income splitting are bad ideas imo.

- his views on pot

- mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes

- wearing a Canada jersey instead of a Jets jersey

 

Abolishing the senate was never a conservative goal, they wanted reform of the senate, specifically elected senators,and I do believe that Harper has appointed senators that provinces have actually elected so let's at least get the facts straight. 

 

income splitting isn't a bad idea either, it's a narrowly targeted tax break but I don't see an issue with that. Like the GST it's nice to see a government actually care about lowering the tax burden on the population. 

[The Unknown Poster]

 

 

 

What terrifies you?

The thought of Justin Trudeau representing Canada on the world stage, and being the guy who has to stare down people like Putin. Yikes. Talk about a boy among men.

 

Oh I agree!  he is also a rich guy who seems to completely lack any understanding what it's like to be poor or have to work for your middle class income.  He'd be a laughing stock on the national stage.

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

 

Trudeau's already on the national stage, and rather than embarrassing himself, he's running neck and neck in the polls with Great Leader.

 

Great Leader, eh? 

 

I have little doubt there are enough stupid people out there that will vote (for any party really) without knowing anything about the issues so the Liberals could win with three things: 1) the name Trudeau even though many people who remember his daddy dont do so fondly but he's since been retconned into a rock star  2) Justin being presented as the hip & cool leader (even though he didnt ride in on a jet ski)  3) the abundance of center and center-left media in this country and the baffling idea that the Cons have something to hide.

 

I generally believe Harper, should he run again, will decimate Justin in the debates but it will be more about how the media reports those debates.  Will it be the content or how hot Justin looked at the podium?

[The Unknown Poster]

 

 

I for sure fall to the right line of centre politically but the having nothing to hide rational is IMO a poor and dangerous one.

This is a quote from Benjamin Franklin, but I think an appropriate one.

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

 

 

OK Ben Franklin.  What is it that we are supposed to be so scared of?  I think part of the problem is that the fear-mongering I've seen has all come from people I wouldn't let mow my lawn, that's how little respect I have for their intellectual capacity. 

 

I generally agree with this.  Im sort of a social liberal and believe in constitutional law and freedoms.  But I stop short of assuming the government will always abuse it's power of detention, arrest etc just because the laws are more strict.  Detaining someone for seven days rather than three.  Okay, do we really believe that this will be used outside of its intended use?  And if so, believe me, CBC will be happy to make everyone aware of it. 

 

I think Harper is a thoughtful, intelligent person who means well.  That doesnt mean I always agree with him.  As I said before, the GST reduction...it was a vote getter, it worked and he followed-through.  it certainly doesnt hurt me that he reduced the GST so I dont really care.  I think the cons are pushing this bill through now because they truly believe in it, because there is always the chance they lose the next election and if they do, the fear of Canada's security under a liberal government.

 

Additionally, I know a lot of Aboriginal activists are up in arms, thinking this bill eliminates their right to protest.  It doesnt.  Violent, illegal protests?  Sure, but if you demand a right to stage a violent "protest", then you've lost all credibility anyway.

 

I dont like the "i have nothing to hide" position either.  If the cops came to my door and said they wanted to search my house, chances are I'd let them (unless I was concerned) but I wouldnt like it.  In fact, theres also a chance I'd say 'go get a warrant', even though I have nothing to hide.  The problem is the opposition doesnt really believe in terrorism.  Remember, Justin looks at it from the perspective of what did we do to make a terrorist want to act that way.  Although if he wins, he'll be a hit on his visits to Canadian Forces bases in the middle east, especially when he goes out into the desert to hug the misunderstood "protestors".

[17to85]

The bottom line is that whether or not you have anything to hide privacy should be protected by government rather than breached. When everyone in government is in favour of more invasion of that privacy though and people are so willingly giving up private information through the technology out there today how do you really stop it? I think it is going to take a decision from the courts to really put things in black and white. 

[The Unknown Poster]

 

 

 

I meant what terrifies the poster about Harper.  he's pretty even keel.  Its one thing to play the scary Harper card in 2004, but 2015? 

 

 

I think that the anti-Harper crew have to play any card they have in the deck.  In 2011 all I heard was that Harper was a Nazi who was going to make abortion and gay marriage illegal and stack the Supreme Court with right wing judges.  Well none of that happened.  They can't really say their guy is going to do a better job of managing the economy (well they can try, but no one is going to believe it) so all they have left is the fear card.  According to the polls not too many are buying this.

 

This new security bill is a bit of a head-scratcher.  I don't now why Harper is doing this right now, but I guess I have nothing to hide so I don't really care. 

 

People went way too far demonizing Harper in his early days. It's happening again with Trudeau, only with different talking points. People are scared of what's new in politics.

 

A few things I dislike about Harper:

- the new security bill seems unconstitutional and overreaching for what a government should be able to keep secret

- very little debate has been allowed in the house

- He wanted to abolish the senate, but has since appointed more of them than any other pm in history

- has very little use for the collectively bargained agreements with the Public servants that the government signed

- the Supreme Court has had to slap him down several times, then had a little fit after his choice for judge was disallowed

- lowering the GST and income splitting are bad ideas imo.

- his views on pot

- mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent crimes

- wearing a Canada jersey instead of a Jets jersey

 

I dont agree with most of those but I can see your point.  Honestly, none of those things are bad compared to what we see of Justin.

 

I wouldnt have lowered the GST.  I do think income splitting is a no-brainer.  Even if it's not in the best interests of generating tax dollars.  But I also want a complete overhaul of the taxation system, simplify it etc.  I want to see lower income taxes.  I'd prefer sales tax and user fees.  let me keep more of the money I earn and let me decide how much tax I will pay by how much I buy.

 

I've come around on the pot issue.  But wasnt it under Harper that the laws were relaxes?  Its sort of an ideological thing about pot as a drug.  Honestly, I dont want a nation of pot heads.  But I also dont want to deny access to pot for medical reasons.  if my loved one needed it, I dont want to jump through hoops.  I want to call up Jimmy from down the block and get some weed.

 

Wish he had abolished the senate.  But dont blame him for making appointments.  All governments did so.  Not sure why he hasnt gone ahead and booted it though.

 

Unions have a warped view of their own importance in a modern world.  Im unionzed.  I make really good money.  But my union leadership are unintelligent, paranoid, angry, faaaaarrrr left wing nuts.  Ill tell you this, it should be illegal for a union to make political donations of MY dues with my okay.

[The Unknown Poster]

Oh and when I read about the negatives of the Security Bill, the criticism is really a lot of paranoia.  Is the government going to arrest people for staging legal anti-government protests and call them "terrorists?  Give me a break...

 

its really much ado about nothing to be honest.