Dear Editor,
Years ago, a group of Interns from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) rushed into the office of Stephen Harper to announce that their Excel spreadsheets had come up with a way to win over 4 more voters in Kenora and 6 more in Swift Current. A $500 tax credit – as long as parents first paid the money towards the payment of their kids’ sports team registrations.
Economists said, “That’s the stupidest thing we’ve ever heard.” Stephen Harper said, “It’s time the Government did more to help working people in Canada. They deserve a break. Let’s do it.” The Interns said, “What about Seniors? They’ll be unhappy.” Stephen Harper said, “Most of them will vote for us anyway. They’re pooched.”
Conservatives all across Canada hailed the measure as a sincere, nigh unto genius, move to help out struggling voters.
Not one Conservative MP denounced it as a sleazy vote-buying gimmick.
Ahem…
The Liberal Government has introduced a “seasonal GST Rebate”. Very broad based – not just for parents paying for hockey or figure skating. This time the PMO Interns (different Interns) said, “What about non-working Seniors? They’ll be unhappy.” Justin Trudeau said, “Let them go to their working children’s homes and drink the cheaper booze there. That might make them happier. Really depends on which Seniors, doesn’t it? Otherwise? Well. They’re pooched.”
Make no mistake. The GST Rebate is one sleazy vote-buying gimmick. As much an obvious waste of money as Stephen Harper’s sleazy vote-buying gimmick was. And Economists have said, “That’s the second stupidest thing we’ve ever heard. But at least it’s very broad based. And stupid”.
However, I would like to ask your readers to hold back any vitriol until they’ve compared the other, and easily the most dishonest and sleaziest, vote-buying gimmick currently being offered to gullible voters in Canada.
“Axe the Tax”.
Somehow, there will actually be people here, and many more elsewhere, foolishly supporting the moronic idea that we should “Axe the Tax”, who will also weigh in and call this GST Rebate a sleazy election purchasing gimmick. Our own MP, Alex Ruff, will probably be one of them.
Let’s quickly compare the sleaziest choices currently on offer in Canada.
The GST Rebate sure is a gimmick. But killing the Carbon Tax is both a gimmick, and a monumentally stupid way to buy your vote. “Axe the Tax” is infinitely worse than Stephen Harper’s bad idea. You won’t find an Economist who disagrees. Anywhere. It’s unanimous.
Make no mistake this time either. “Axe the Tax” guarantees more people will die – now, and in rapidly increasing numbers in the future. Big numbers. Far more human beings will die – unnecessarily – as a result of the current Conservative dishonest-to-its-very-core vote-buying gimmick.
The Liberal’s “GST Rebate” is idiotic. No argument. Make voters angry? Sure. It should.
But kill them? Or their kids? Their grandkids? Nope. Nobody dies from getting angry. Making Climate Change worse on purpose will surely kill more of everyone though. You can count on it. Unfortunately, we’re already seeing more deaths every year because of that. Really not a good idea to make it even worse.
I dislike both gimmicks. They’re both a blatant waste of time, effort, and money. But people should be sure to split their anger wisely.
The end result? I suppose that once again I’ll be looking for the best way to prevent the election of a Conservative. Make whatever choice makes that more likely to happen, as opposed to enthusiastically voting for one of the options on the ballot.
I just can’t get behind the idea of killing more people in the future, just to help Pierre Poilievre and Alex Ruff get elected now.
Everyone else needs to decide if they can get behind that reality for themselves.
If you’re looking for me, I’ll be at my kids. Drinking their less expensive beer.
Bruce Mason, Meaford
