Okay, that’s worse. 
Can’t or won’t? It’s been my experience that many Albertans don’t want higher taxes just to have certain services improved; or indeed, have certain services at all. The attitude seems to be, “if we’ve done without it so far, we don’t need it now.” Thus, taxes need not be raised.
I can see this attitude changing as more people from other provinces move to Alberta, and want the services they enjoyed in their old province; but I also think that’s a ways off.
Both, I suppose - and then complaining because the services aren’t being provided (for a yearly example, take snow removal). We want our snow removed promptly and completely, but we sure as hell don’t want to pay for it. I think there are a lot of Calgarians (I can’t speak for the attitudes in the rest of Alberta) with some kind of magical thinking going on when it comes to taxes and services.
No, that’s just about everyone.
This is Rob Ford’s “pro-subway” transit policy in a nutshell. “What? Actually take the responsibility to ask everyone to help pay for things? That’s nuts. The private sector will provide!” Well, when the private sector was asked to pay for the Scarborough Subway, they channelled Lumbergh from Office Space and said, “Yeaaah, about that paying for a subway thing… no.” So he actually consented to a property tax increase. This being the guy one of whose whose first acts in office was to repeal a tax increase and then complain about not having enough money.
Calling all Ottawa Dopers:
Since we all bailed on the Winterfest Dopefest, this is a must. God, winter was terrible. Let’s go smell some tulips, and drink some well-deserved beer.
What sayest thou?
“Magical thinking” about sums it up. We want our roads cleared of snow, and every winter, the news has stories about Calgarians who are snowed in, and cannot even leave their neighbourhoods in their cars. Even worse, we scream loudly about “How can this be?” and “Something must be done!” when fire trucks cannot get into residential area to fight fires in winter. But we forget (or refuse to believe) that taxes pay for snow removal; allowing both emergency services and residents to come and go. In fact, I’d suggest that snow removal is a particular problem, because it is something we don’t have to think about at all in summer.
If those damned stupid governments would allow the use of flamethrowers, especially by fire departments, fire trucks wouldn’t be blocked by snow and ice, and in Winnipeg, people wouldn’t be imprisoned in their own homes because of granite-hard plow windrows three meters high.
Flamethrowers would quickly thaw frozen pipes, too.
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When did they cut health care? Federal health transfers have gone up by six percent every year, regular as clockwork. How is that a cut?
Ha ha ha ha ha.
I guess it’s back to the ol’ drawing board.
Dear Mr. Mercer,
Who turned out to be correct?
This is what has always been wrong with main stream Canadian media.
ETA: The anti-conservative bullshit is wearing me thin.
I say that sounds fantastic!
Beginning of May works better for me than the end.
What specifically do you think is wrong with the media?
Holy catfish, Rob Anders lost his riding nomination vote. He’ll be sorely missed in the next parliament I’m sure.
It’s now time to compare political legacies with Mandela Rob, and your pathetic footnote still doesn’t match up.
Ah, you’ve caught me out in an error. I’m conflating the conservative cuts with the fact that the Canada Health Accord has expired with nothing to replace it. It would be unfair to blame Jim Flaherty for that, even though I didn’t hear him shouting ‘What are we going to do to replace the Canada Health Accord when it expires?’.
I don’t know what to say that’s not just going to piss you off more - there are other points of view, my friend.
To be fair, no member of cabinet of any political stripe is going to start bemoaning a government decision.
WooHoo! I cheered out loud when I read that! We’re finally going to get rid of that cancerous blight on the federal government of Canada!