The Hook

BC Liberals "analysis" is a Load of Garbage

The BC Liberals "analysis" is just bunk, like much BS that comes out of their camp.
When the NDP come to power, they could easily reduce the budget by cutting the many useless positions created to make this the most bloated bureaucracy in the history of BC. There is somewhere in the area of between 200 and 300 "Public Affairs Bureau" dishing out PABlum to the masses. There is no real figure on how many media spies and operatives they have, but you see them posting public comments on news sites. We, as taxpayers, are paying for these useless people. Cut them.

Then there are the layers and layers of absolutely useless and unnecessary senior bureaucrats, deputy ministers, assistant DM's and middle managers. When the NDP comes to power, they must prioritize cuts to these people who do nothing, produce nothing and contribute nothing to the public good. Send some them back to the frontlines to do some real work. If not, retire them out, get rid of them. That will free up public funds.

Once the NDP is in, they and their allies will know how much waste is being created by having these people on the books and the secret little pots of money, the mismanaged funds.

If, as is asserted, the NDP's platform is "built on faulty assumptions" then the BC Liberals budget is based on outright lies, total illusion and some of the worse economic forecasting money can buy. They aren't coming clean on how much money they've promised to Liberal insiders for P3's in the works and they don't even know how much Olympic security is going to cost, let alone can they put a real price tag on it.

Where our natural resources come in, why don't our leaders, who are such fans of the corporate model start acting like real corporate leaders and look out for the interests of stakeholders/shareholders. The US and world NEED BC's resources. Privatizing and selling off our assets and resources at bargain rates to US companies is causing harm to the public good. You show me a CEO who gives away the product and assets of the company and I'll show you someone whose ass is grass pretty damn quick.

It's put up, or shut up time in BC people. Vote for Anyone But Campbell's Liberals if you want BC to survive for future generations. Otherwise, get ready to explain to your kids, grandchildren and so on how you had a chance to change the course of history and their lives and chose greed, corruption and lies over their future. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that in the unemployment line and from their cardboard box on the street.

Axe the Tax Nixes NDP Hopes

The Axe the Tax campaign is one of the worst of several bad decisions made by Carole James since she became leader of the NDP.

If you're concerned about the environment, you don't oppose a program that goes, even minimally, toward addressing that concern.

Most environmentalists approve a carbon tax. So do voters.

Will the BC carbon tax, at the level presently set, cut carbon emissions? Of course not. But it's a step in the right direction and the tax had to start at a level that few could object to - except, of course. James & Co.

As the carbon tax increases and use of fossil fuels becomes more expensive, behaviour modification will occur.

Further, the carbon tax has been shown to be what it promised: revenue neutral and a small help to British Columbians who are among the poorest in the province.

Contrary to NDP hype, this low-income British Columbian and others of my acquaintance can attest to being better off with the cheques we have received.

This Just In....

....Cats don't much like Dogs....

(this is news and/or even blog-worthy?)

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cocean

"As the carbon tax increases and use of fossil fuels becomes more expensive, behaviour modification will occur. "

No, it won't. Which is the entire problem with the carbon tax. As the tax goes up people will be prevented from driving because they can't afford to. That is the lesson from last year's $1.50 a litre.

And in spite of gas hitting $1.50 a litre it didn't impinge on Campbell's push for more roads, more bridges, more sprawl, more growth.

There's about 17 cents a litre of other provincial gas taxes which have been going for quite some time and yet all I've seen are more cars and more sprawl.

The goal of the "carbon tax" is nothing more than to drive the poor off the roads and leave them to those that can afford gas.

If you think you're better off because you're paying 20 cents a litre in gas tax taxes now and soon to be 25 cents a litre then you need to check your sums.

The environment did not benefit from more expensive gas.

Thanks Frank.

For saying what should be obvious to any but the most desperate of environmentalists.

Which environmentalists are you talking about?

The ones who think a huge power project in Bute Inlet is green or those who think that a guy who supports offshore oil, fish farms and who refuses to enact species at risk legislation is green? I get all confused.

Liberals oppose NDP plan? WOW!

Capt. Obvious tells us that the BC Liberals disapprove the NDP plan. Well...is there anything the NDP has done that the Liberals support? Not likely.
This is their job though - they're arch-enemies of each other. To listen just to the BC Liberals, you'd think that it was the NDP in power and the liberals are running as the opposition.
But, try this for a change - look at the platform yourself and make up your own mind.
As for those who skewer the NDP over their opposition to the gas tax, consider that the tax the BC Liberals brought in is not a real Carbon Tax (which I would have supported).
The BC Liberal version taxes you at the fuel pump, but redistributes the cash as tax cuts based on income. This is not a carbon tax - its a reverse robin hood as most of this tax relief will find itself in the pocket of higher income earners.
A real carbon tax, its revenue would help subsidize ventures that helped shift us away from carbon intensive habits. It could be used to lower transit fares; subsidize no-emission cars (for example); subsidize fluorescent light bulbs...to name a few ideas.
Those who skewer the NDP over their opposition of what can only be called a revenue grab, really don't know what they're talking about. The BC Liberals just found a new way to subsidize their core voter support group by taxing you at the gas pump.

Gordo and the Gas Tax

cocean says, "The Axe the Tax campaign is one of the worst of several bad decisions made by Carole James since she became leader of the NDP.
If you're concerned about the environment, you don't oppose a program that goes, even minimally, toward addressing that concern."

The big problem with the "Gas Tax" is that there is no plan. There is no strategy in place to help reduce green house gases and to make our society more sustainable. Campbell introduced it to make him look as though he is "green." If he was truly green, he would not fly to California to have a picture with "Mr. Hummer." He would most likely ride an ass. And he certainly not fly to China in a private jet. They are one of the most fuel inefficient devices on the planet. But, as he thinks, who cares, its only politics and I'm doing it my way.

How much irrationality does political fashion justify?

If you're concerned about the environment, you don't oppose a program that goes, even minimally, toward addressing that concern.

Most environmentalists approve a carbon tax. So do voters.

Will the BC carbon tax, at the level presently set, cut carbon emissions? Of course not. But it's a step in the right direction ...

When you read something like this you have to ask yourself, how much irrationality does political fashion justify? Is there any non-squiter, any completely unfounded conclusion that's just too extreme, too ridiculous, that it just can't be a credible opinion once it's been packaged as a politically correct or progressive impulse, in this case in an environmental wrapper?

It's rather like listening to the extreme right wing rants from the American Rush Limbaugh crowd. For them, there's no trampling of ordinary common sense that's just too crazy to contemplate, as long as it's offered up as part of some imaginary security package.

Gateway

At least Carole and her team didn't suggest they would cancel the Gateway Project.

The NDP realize that that the twinned Port Man Bridge will reduce pollution by keeping the traffic moving and the vehicles not just idling.

cocean

Apparently your dislike of Carol James and the NDP is more than your dislike of corrupt Campbell and his merry gang of theives as your green vote this May will help him get in another four years. Then, there will be no BC left to fight over.

That's a promise they can happily break

Gateway is a project that should be cancelled - the hidden costs of 8 years of CEO larceny and sell-outs will make it entirely clear that the new government will have to cut back all forms of giveaways to Campbell's friends - which is all Gateway is about in any case.

Just wresting control of BC Hydro, straightening out BC Ferries and paying off Gordo's hidden credit card accounts (what do they amount to now - 55 billion at very least - will make the insanity of Gateway evident to every British Columbian.

Except of course the pusillanimous troglodytes who use American news management and propaganda programs to run the Public Affairs Bureau

Governments and parties

Governments and parties should be judged by their record, not by the promises they make during the silly season of electioneering.

In my 53 years as a BC voter, this present bunch has the most sordid record of long lines of lies, coverups, secret deals, selling public properties without permission, or even telling the owners what they have sold and for what, and general moral corruption sanctioned by fraudulent economic theories coming from our universities.

After another 4 years under them, there won't be anything left of BC not controlled from foreign owners and protected by the NAFTA, TILMA and WTO, set up for the purpose of extinguishing all forms of democratic decision making rights.

In short, goodbye democracy, welcome corporate dictatorship.

"Jobs, jobs, jobs"? Sure, lots minimum wage part time jobs, while our multinational corporate lords and masters increase prices and profits every quarter.

Ed Deak.