Saturday, December 31, 2005

Fred at GayandRight is in agreement with John Moore (I believe it is the same John Moore who is a CFRB talk-show host) who writes in the National Post today:

A Red Tory has nothing to fear from the Conservatives except that it's clear they're as cravenly desperate for power and as intellectually bankrupt as the Liberals. Nothing makes this clearer than the promise to lower the GST. Economists appreciate why consumption taxes are superior to income taxes. But since there are probably about 10,000 economists and 30 million consumers in Canada, the promise to knock two points off the GST is a great cheap sell. Most galling is that the measure was proposed by Harper, who is an economist (. . .) Sadly, the Conservatives, unsure of their ability to attract centrists on merit, have become the political equivalent of strangers with candy.
It doesn't take an economist to determine that a simple income tax cut is not going to make much difference to the average Canadian who makes $32,000/year. It will make no difference at all to those who live at the poverty line. It won't help people who work part-time, or pensioners who are on a fixed-income. It won't help students. It won't help people who are living off a disability pension. It won't help many of us who are living paycheque to paycheque.

Think about your monthly bills -- hydro, natural gas (or heating oil), telephone, cell phone, cable tv, internet service, All of these are subject to GST. Most people, rich and poor, have to pay at least some if not all of these bills. A 5% GST would make a difference monthly. Not a huge difference if you're a Paul Martin or even a Jack Layton -- but in the course of a year -- a significant one to the vast majority of us who apparently don't matter in John Moore's world.

Conservatives historically have been seen as the party of the wealthy. This bid to make everyone's monthly bills just a tad less onerous is a welcome one. It includes even those of us who doesn't have money to save and invest.

While the NDP and Liberals claim that they are parties working for 'the people' -- their antagonism towards the only tax relief that will actually benefit all Canadians is perplexing. I have no problem with income tax cuts, and from what I understand, the Conservatives have never said the GST cut will be to the exclusion income tax cuts or any other kind of tax cut -- but why do these socialist parties who claim to represent people like me -- despise the only kind of tax cut that would benefit the people they claim to speak for -- a single parent, working two part-time jobs and struggling to make ends meet?

I also take exception to Moore's recollection of events last Spring:
My first inkling that the ground was shifting beneath our feet came last February with the tabling of Ralph Goodale's budget. Flush with money, Goodale announced a raft of radical new expenditures. My immediate reaction was, "This is hopelessly bloated." Stephen Harper's immediate reaction was, "This is a budget we can support."
Moore's blithe assertion that Harper supported the budget is just plain wrong. Harper held that this was not a budget on which he would choose to try to defeat the government. There is a vast difference between acceptance and support and Moore's failure to see the distinction detracts from the value of his arguments.

People like Moore seem to be looking for an excuse to vote Liberal -- as he calls them -- "the creeps we know" -- Unlike Moore, if I disagreed with the Conservatives significantly enough, on enough issues, I still wouldn't be marking the ballot for the party that has proved it will squander or steal public money.

It takes a fair amount of contorting to conclude that because the Conservatives have offered tax relief to poor people that they are "as cravenly desperate for power and as intellectually bankrupt as the Liberals". Moore's inability to think outside the conventional economist wisdom about consumption tax vs. income tax shows he is thinking in terms of theoretical realities -- income tax cuts might stimulate growth and investment -- but Harper's GST cut will affect real people every day.

At least Fred says Harper's tax policy would never tempt him to vote Liberal. People like Moore who would rather vote for the 'creeps' need to be honest with themselves. If they would vote Liberal because of Harper's tax policy, then they really aren't 'Red Tories' as they might to claim. They're Liberals, through and through. Short-sighted and too lazy to think.

canadianna

8 comments:

Lemon said...

Way to fling it back at J Moore - the ultimate do gooding liberal know it all.

Joan Tintor said...

Moore is engaging in sophistry, which he is good at.

And this is the first I've heard of him being a "Red Tory".

Anonymous said...

Liberals will do anything and say anything to retain power...their apologists are cut from the same cheap, smarmy cloth.

Anonymous said...

That's the genius of the GST cut - 3 weeks later and they are still discussing it.

Reminding people of a) the Liberals promised to get rid of it and did not and b) they are reminded that they pay GST on practically everything and that they will save some money daily!

Anonymous said...

you should think about doing something about that forehead growth....

Robert W. said...

Anna (?),

There was no place to e-mail you so I thought I'd just respond to your latest comment here.

I think it's hard for some to believe that a fiscal conservative like me would be initiating the Foundation that I am. But in fact, it PRECISELY fits in with my principles and dare I gather Ayn Rand's. For I'm CHOOSING to help these folks and everyone else is CHOOSING to donate equipment and/or their time and expertise.

This is quite a bit different than money being FORCIBLY taken from us through high taxes and, in most cases, squandered away in a bureaucracy.

What you might find most shocking are the political stripes of many of those who are refusing to help or demanding to be paid to volunteer. Most surprising indeed!

But, other than this little blurb, you won't see me going political with my blog or the forthcoming foundation. It's open to all who want to stand up and contribute. So far the outpouring of support has been nothing short of AMAZING!

http://pocketpollster.com/techdonation

Have a GREAT 2006!!! I know I'm going to! Robert W.

Nicol DuMoulin said...

I have very little time for John Moore. He is the embodiment of the smug, urban, self satisfied socialist. A failed actor by trade, now he portends to understand ever issue on the planet...sincerely.

I remember the Post did some stories a year ago about University and liberal bias. He wrote rebuttal poo-pooing it all.

I've seen him interviewed on some talk shows. He likes himself. A lot.

Have a Happy New Year.

Derek Richards said...

As a single father with one income I totally agree.
A cut in GST and the tax credits from Kung-fu, Hockey, as well as a raising of the basic exemption amount means more of my money in my pocket for all my hard work. These are things everyone can relate to and should want.

People still haven't heard though, I spend all day asking people why they don't like the Conservatives.

"They want to privatize everything"

What like your Doctors office is? So What? Like Petro Canada? Who Cares!

"They are for the Corporations"

Like ending corporate welfare for tax breaks? One is shady and the other is legitimate!

"Harper is an idiot"

How smart is Paul Martin? Don't even get me started.

It is an uphill battle because we need to convince about a million people that voted Liberal the last time. How do you talk to people that don't have integrity themselves.