[DerbyX]

Context is the key. It is acceptable to run deficits in bust times. There is simply far more to the equation.

Its not acceptable to claim a surplus when its wrong. Its not acceptable to attack the other guys for having a platform that you say will lead to deficit spending while promising yours won't only to turn around the next day and say you are going to run a defict.

We simply cannot ignore the political angle just because the cons are suddenly in control and don't want to be held accountable.

Hell, Harper spent his entire opposition years attacking the Liberals for running surpluses for fuck sakes. Now he expects everybody to ignore the fact he promised no deficits and simply shrug their shoulders?

No, it works both ways. Even if running a deficit is the right thing to do Harper deserves to take his lumps for it.

[StuntmanMike]

DerbyX DerbyX:

Context is the key. It is acceptable to run deficits in bust times. There is simply far more to the equation.

Its not acceptable to claim a surplus when its wrong. Its not acceptable to attack the other guys for having a platform that you say will lead to deficit spending while promising yours won't only to turn around the next day and say you are going to run a defict.

We simply cannot ignore the political angle just because the cons are suddenly in control and don't want to be held accountable.

Hell, Harper spent his entire opposition years attacking the Liberals for running surpluses for fuck sakes. Now he expects everybody to ignore the fact he promised no deficits and simply shrug their shoulders?

No, it works both ways. Even if running a deficit is the right thing to do Harper deserves to take his lumps for it.

That's a fair comment. Politics is what it is, and if the roles were reversed, the Conservatives would be savaging the Liberals for putting the country's books into the red.

On top of that, the Conservative cuts to the GST were poor economic policy and that is now highlighted by the impending recession/deficit.

[Zipperfish]

Fact is the federal right wing partys (Conservtives here, Republicans in the US)es try to presetn themselves as the fiscally responsible party, when in fact they shouldn't be allowed to run a peanut stand. It was Chrtien adn Martion ion Canada and Clinton in the US that finally brought government spending under control and started to run surpluses. As soon as Bush got in, he blew the wad and they're bleeding more red ink than they have since WWII, maybe longer. And as soon as Harper gets in, he blows through the surplus in record time.

[RUEZ]

Zipperfish Zipperfish:

And as soon as Harper gets in, he blows through the surplus in record time.

He didn't blow through it, he gave it back to the people that were paying it. Unfortunately the recent economic problems are going to bite him in the ass. If things were like they were in 2006 we wouldn't be having this conversation.

[StuntmanMike]

RUEZ RUEZ:

He didn't blow through it, he gave it back to the people that were paying it. Unfortunately the recent economic problems are going to bite him in the ass. If things were like they were in 2006 we wouldn't be having this conversation.

That's an excuse though. Things aren't like they were in 2006, and wishing they were won't make it so. We elect governments to govern in the present, not the past.

Harper's GST cut was idiotic economic policy, and it's handcuffed them now that we're into hard economic times.

[kenmore]

Wow another post election confession by the torys ... go figure !

[RUEZ]

StuntmanMike StuntmanMike:

RUEZ RUEZ:

He didn't blow through it, he gave it back to the people that were paying it. Unfortunately the recent economic problems are going to bite him in the ass. If things were like they were in 2006 we wouldn't be having this conversation.

That's an excuse though. Things aren't like they were in 2006, and wishing they were won't make it so. We elect governments to govern in the present, not the past.

Harper's GST cut was idiotic economic policy, and it's handcuffed them now that we're into hard economic times.

It's not an excuse, it's what's happened. If we were in 2006 still there would be no problem but we're not. His GST cut was not idiotic, however it may hurt us a little now due to unforseen circumstances.

[RUEZ]

kenmore kenmore:

Wow another post election confession by the torys ... go figure !

Jealous much?

[StuntmanMike]

$1:

Ruez:It's not an excuse, it's what's happened. If we were in 2006 still there would be no problem but we're not.

That's like saying if only the hole were bigger I'd be a better golfer.

$1:

His GST cut was not idiotic, however it may hurt us a little now due to unforseen circumstance.

So what was the benefit of the GST cut, beyond expedient political advantage in the 2005/06 election?

[DerbyX]

RUEZ RUEZ:

It's not an excuse, it's what's happened. If we were in 2006 still there would be no problem but we're not. His GST cut was not idiotic, however it may hurt us a little now due to unforseen circumstances.

The was not unforseen. Harpers an economist just like Martin was. He had a choice just like they did, to choose the better financial path or political one. He chose the political one because a GST cut despite generating less return then an income tax cut is seen by the public more favourably.

When you count all the lost revenue the GST generated by the 2 million+ visitors Canada gets per year its not hard to tell why he made a mistake and why hes now running a deficit.

[dino_bobba_renno]

Dear lord you guys, we're talking about one month here, not even a full quarter.

[DerbyX]

Except that they posted a defict back in march and april as well and thats exactly what was said then too.

In all seriousness, we are in deficit spending due in fact to a bandwidth sale that shouldn't count anymore then selling the family china as it were.

[mixedfarmer]

In June of 2006, Mr. Jim Flaherty permitted, for the first time in our history, a 40-year mortgage with zero down payment, just what caused the problems in the United States

[dino_bobba_renno]

DerbyX DerbyX:

Except that they posted a defict back in march and april as well and thats exactly what was said then too.

In all seriousness, we are in deficit spending due in fact to a bandwidth sale that shouldn't count anymore then selling the family china as it were.

I'll make you a bet, wait till the end of the year and if we don't don't have a surplus I'll go out side and hold on to my nuts and jump up and down yelling "their hot, their hot, their hot" for one minute and if we do then you have to do the same. Loser has to video and post the event.

[RUEZ]

mixedfarmer mixedfarmer:

In June of 2006, Mr. Jim Flaherty permitted, for the first time in our history, a 40-year mortgage with zero down payment, just what caused the problems in the United States

You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. What caused the problem in the U.S.A. is a sub prime mortgage. Explain to me how a 40 year mortgage with 0 down caused any problems? The problem really started when all the U.S. mortgages moved back to the standard bank rate after a couple of years, and everyone that could afford them at sub prime couldn't afford them at the standard rate.