(UPDATED) Peter Brown to the Rescue: Uniting BC’s Centre-Right, an Exercise in Futility
I have obtained a copy of a letter written to the BC Conservative Board of Directors, by financier, Canaccord Capital founder, long-time BC Liberal backer, advisor to two former premiers (Bennett and Campbell) and most recently resigned PavCoBoard Member, Peter M. Brown, OBC.
In the letter, Brown addresses the need to unite the right in this province and goes through a fairly lengthy recitation of all the economic ills present and possibly forthcoming, which should have us fearing of an NDP government in BC.
While I do not necessarily subscribe to all the possible disaster scenarios which may come, Brown writes with knowledge and purpose; his are not words to be ignored. As I have said many times in the last few months: If the NDP thinks they can simply waltz into government and enact radical, doctrinaire and counter-productive measures, which will tilt the political pendulum too far in the opposite direction from the extremity of the current government, then they will find themselves, quite simply, a four year intermission to the Phoenix-like rising from the ashes of yet another Socred/BC Liberal spawn.
Of this, they can be certain.
In Brown’s letter he asks the BC Conservatives to consider the fractious current political climate on the right, and challenges them to do something about it.
Although, I’m afraid that for all of Brown’s legendary eloquence, his was an exercise in futility. He did his bidding for the province that he clearly loves, but it’s all for naught. Every single prominent BC Conservative I spoke to–they would only do so anonymously, all praised Brown’s letter, however, pointed out, repeatedly, that it wasn’t just about the economy, but so much more. The BC Liberals are a corrupt organization. The illegal election of Christy Clark alone, demonstrates their inability to govern themselves. How can they possibly govern the province?
Mind, my response to that, is that Adrian Dix was also elected by the EXACT same method as Christy Clark: Cash bags, mass Indo sign ups and party regulators that looked the other way from a demonstrably corrupt process.
Notwithstanding the political sabre-rattling from both sides, here’s Peter Brown’s letter. Pay careful attention to the detail.
Notice any glaring omission? Any at all?
I have been in the investment business for over fifty years and founded Canaccord Financial, Canada’s largest independent investment dealer forty-four years ago. In addition, I serve on the Economic Advisory Council to the Federal Government, Chair the Fraser Institute am Vice Chair of the Investment Industry Association of Canada as well as sit on the Board of Governors for the Business Council of British Columbia. This variety of experiences gives me an exposure to the global, geopolitical and economic forces that are currently at play and they cause me to agree with the Governor of the Bank of England when he said in October, 2011 that “The world is facing the worst financial crisis since at least the 1930’s if not ever.” I believe it is generally true that there are more problems in more places with less leadership than anytime in my lifetime.
The purpose of this letter is to suggest that we are in a very troubled global economic condition that is more serious and likely to be longer in duration than the normal relatively short term post war recessions and that will, in my opinion, impact on global growth, investment and job creation for some time to come. It is a time that responsible British Columbians need to get past their partisan beliefs to hopefully ensure that our politics don’t add another level of uncertainty in an uncertain and economically dangerous world.
The media focus is rightly on the European Union which represents more than 25% of world GDP and 30% of consumption – about twice as large as China. Currently about half of the 17 European countries are in recession, the average unemployment rate is 11% and the GDP has fallen 0.4% from 2007 through 2012. Issues include sovereign debt crises, banking crises and a great deal of social instability, but Europe, while significant, is only part of the problem.
Developed world growth forecast for 2012 is 1.4% down from 3.2% in 2010 and the emerging economies will grow at a rate of 5.7% down from 7.5% in 2010. The US GDP is projected to grow less than 2% which will be the worst recovery of all post World War II recessions. The Canadian government has projected a 2.1% GDP growth which is weakening. Japan in the same 2007 – 2011 period suffered a decline in GDP of 3.5% aggravated by a natural disaster and now China is experiencing weaker growth as its manufacturing activity is slipping along with that of the U.S.
Many parts of the developed world have been on a borrowing binge to maintain unsustainable entitlements that now require the pain of deleveraging and austerity. This is accompanied with the unfortunate demographics of aging populations who tend to consume more government services as they live longer and, out of necessity, hold on to their jobs. The receding economies will cause relatively high unemployment over the intermediate term and unfair and unsustainable youth unemployment.
It would appear that a substantial issue going forward will be intergenerational fairness where we could pass to the next generation an economic opportunity that is substantially diminished from the one we inherited. I could develop the case that the next generation will have lower incomes, higher taxes, less services, higher rates of youth unemployment, significantly larger amounts of per capita government debt, higher cost of secondary education and lower pensions. The signs are there for the potential of higher levels of social unrest among the connected youth that rightly feel disadvantaged by their predecessors.
There are so many other problems in so many parts of the world, with the potential to generate other crises and a steady stream of negative news going forward – for example: the instability of the Middle East, several important elections in the developed world, including the unfortunate socialist electoral results in France, the behavior of the casinos on Wall Street that have lost sight of the purpose of capital markets and risk management and the potential expiry of the Bush tax cuts which could impact the US economy by over 30% of the GDP. There are already forty-eight million Americans now collecting food stamps while social security and healthcare programs are massively underfunded and therefore uncertain.
There is a current smugness amongst Canadians who have come to believe that our banks and economic management are somehow superior – but the truth is, while we may be the tallest of the pygmies, we are in the process of building our own debt and fiscal crises in spite of more responsible federal fiscal management.
• The truth is the federal debt will grow from $457 billion in 2007 to $671 billion by 2016 as federal debt, as a percentage of GDP, has risen from 29% to close to 35%.
• Provincial debt will rise from $319 billion in 2007 to approximately $600 billion in 2016 with Ontario’s provincial debt, in the same period, increasing by over $150 billion as it doubles from $156 billion to $310 billion. Tragically Ontario’s financial condition impacts on the rest of Canada as it represents 46% of the Canadian economy.
• Program spending is up 60% in a decade from $130 billion and will reach $268 billion by 2016.
And that is not all . . . in the current year the combined federal and provincial deficits will be $41 billion which is shared equally between them but the provinces are faced with a greater problem as healthcare costs on average are going through 50% of the provincial budgets with the baby boomers not yet at their peak healthcare spending. In addition, our personal debt levels average at 150% of annual income, higher than both the U.S. and U.K., with B.C. being the highest in Canada.
Clearly Canada’s fiscal regime is unsustainable and needs to be addressed particularly at the provincial level which will require diligent fiscal management. Scott Baker of Stanford University recently commented on the U.S. economy. “Current levels of economic policy uncertainty are at extremely elevated levels compared to recent history.” “We find that an increase in economic policy uncertainty… foreshadows a decline in economic growth and employment.”
The American economy is receding as the rules are unclear and investors are facing too many uncertainties such as future tax policy, the cost of Obamacare, the impact of deficits and entitlements and unfunded programs and liabilities with many states and municipalities near bankruptcy. These uncertainties are compounding the unstable economic conditions with the result that the American economy is again drifting towards recession following an extremely weak recovery in spite of their unprecedented massive stimulus and many other governments in the developed world as well as China.
In B.C. investment decisions are starting to be deferred for fear that the change to a left of centre government would create similar uncertainties in respect to a very similar list of issues that is proving to be so detrimental to the U.S. economy. If the NDP were elected it would most likely be a two term government and the investors remember all too well the lost decade of the 90’s when our province was ranked 9th in Canada for economic growth. We all know that there is a direct link between investment and employment, particularly employment for our youth and we also need to consider the fact that all or part of the $35 billion of capital projects that are in various stages of planning in Northern B.C. could well be jeopardized.
It is clear to me that in this uncertain world and with these economic conditions, we all ought to put petty partisan issues behind us to ensure we elect a stable free enterprise government. It is not the time for B.C. to take the risk of another failed experiment with the left by letting them back into power by way of a split of the centre right vote.
It should be obvious that it is very important to keep the free enterprise forces in B.C. aligned under one political umbrella going into the next election as political fragmentation, in my view, will serve to aggravate the negative business community and investor reaction to a possible NDP win in 2013. Fragmentation of the centre-right will cause many people in the business world to attach a higher likelihood to the prospect that the NDP can last for more than a single term. It is critical that those on the centre-right remain committed, coherent and robust and that those who contribute to fragmentation of the centre right vote come to realize that they are an unintended political ally of the left. In the world we live in today fragmentation on the right could be a disastrous scenario for our province and its economic opportunities.
The studies of the Fraser Institute show there is a measurable, positive correlation between free market approaches to public policy and certain outcomes that are economically and socially desirable. We owe the next generation the opportunities and jobs that can only be developed in a free enterprise environment.
Did you miss it?
Where is Brown’s spirited defence of the current Premier, Christy Clark, as the natural leader of a centre-right party or movement? It’s not there. Know why? Because Peter Brown is one of the most intelligent people you could ever be privileged to meet–trust me on this–to say nothing of his incredibly generous, and sometimes, random acts of kindness, and he must know very well of the Premier’s significant limitations. He has to, otherwise, it’d been there.
He very well put the argument to the BC Conservative hierarchy that a divided front is a losing one, but embracing John Cummins as potential premier, cannot be any more preposterous than allowing a serial prevaricating, vicious dimwit like Clark, any opportunity to sail through to a four year term. She’s made a total mess of the last year, almost entirely because of her own inability to either tell the truth to the public or remain consistent on major issues.
Can you imagine five more years of Christy Clark as premier? And that’s precisely the problem: Even her own people can’t stomach such a proposition, surely fraught with viral bafflegab and uncontainable miasma.
Well, Brown probably can’t imagine it either, but, give him credit, he gave it the college try, if you will. Not like Jim Shepard’s incomprehensible drivel about Christy’s alleged abilities.
You can’t sell mythology.
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I’ll be back Wednesday with a BC Rail bomblet, maybe two.
Stay tuned!
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UPDATED:
I am absolutely appalled by the behavior of many of my NDP supporting readers. If you think that attacking Peter Brown–and anyone else who is wealthy, is the way this country or province was built, then you need your heads examined, or please feel free to move to Cuba, Venezuela or Russia, if you really feel socialism or left wing policies are what’s needed here.
It’s stunning to see the bigotry and discrimination. For shame.
If we have learned anything from the ten years of failed BC Liberal government, is that combined with the previously failed ten years of NDP government, we need a BALANCE!
The extremes have failed us.
And some of you, have learned nothing.
For shame! Is this how the needy at CLBC will be cared for? By causing suffering elsewhere in our society? Is this the civilized reform that your BCNDP will bring forth?
That’s insanity.
Think about what you want this province to be.
We need a balance. We don’t need viciousness and miasma. Twenty years of extremes.
Truly, some of you have learned nothing.
If you post offensive comments about Brown or me (as some of you have) I will not only delete your comment, I’ll track you and put your IP on a banned list.
I banned several right wing commenters because of abusive comments, I will do the same to the left since you’re rhetorical methods are apparently no different.
Truly shameful.
Alex, this time it was out of your character to jump so harshly on your opponents who support left-wing NDPers. Please, remember that this kleptocracy brought this leftist extremism about through its own criminal and antisocial behaviour. The minority governments before Harper won majority were probably among the best Canada has ever had. I would also refer you to the political scene of Germany that has not had a majority government since WW2 and, in spite of losing two world wars, is still a powerhouse of Europe. Social justice is necessary to preserve human dignity. I’m not talking about redistribution of wealth but about a fair system of taxation and withdrawing corporate welfare by government of all levels. You know all too well how much money Chretien’s Liberals pumped into Bombardier, a publicly-traded company actually held privately by the Bombardier family that owns more than 50% of its share float. This is just the tip of a single iceberg. IMHO, a two-party system where one party wields unbridled power for the whole term is seriously flawed and what both Canada and BC need are a few minority governments.
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No, it’s not out of character to dump on anyone who writes like an ass. I did that with right wing extremists on other posts, and I’m doing it now with left wingers, who hate the wealthy.
I don’t hate the rich. I don’t pity the poor–I want to help them. But that isn’t going to happen while there are people who ache to kill (perhaps literally) the drivers of the economy and those who create employment for all sorts of people.
Right…when I get the memo, I’ll burn it.
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Maybe what BC really needs is some Hope and Change…
OUCH!!!! I just bit my tongue while I was firmly placing it in my cheek.
NDP will be the next Government because the sheople will vote them in.
As a person very closely involved in the Transportation Industry the Liberal Government with some help have made great strides with our highways. They have done more for transportation than the NDP ever did.
Unfortunately that is not enough.
In this age of entitlement people will vote for the party that offers them the greatest amount of stuff.
The NDP is that Party. The Liberals with CC at the helm could offer them ie: the sheople any thing but she is so hated they still won’t vote Liberal.
IMHO I think the next election is the Conservatives to loose.
10-4
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This comment was almost funny : In the Yahoo Politics news blogs, it’s the Liberal & NDP supporters calling the Conservative supporters “Sheeple” It was cute ONCE.
Now it’s kind of like swearing, & to me it is the sign of a lazy mind. Why bother to use descriptive language when you can use sheeple?
JK
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Yes, but those were getaway routes that the BCLibs built.
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Alex, the subject matter in your Update is very disheartening.
The old “Politics Of Envy” as I choose to call it rears it’s ugly head.
The age old mantra is “if you have 5 cents more than I, you must be a crook”.
A reasonable person would say that you have more than me because you CHOSE to, and I DIDN’T.
The imbalance of wealth says as much about me, as it does about you.
Can’t we just put on our big boy/girl pants and get along to get along?
Cheers.
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Holy smokes! Baldrey was almost in tears as he signed off his poll result story on Global’s 5pm cast! Also, either that boy has been getting a lot of sun, or he is looking like he has been shamed into jumping the Clark ship as she slowly slips beneath the waves. Methinks it be the latter.
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Polls are pointless at this point hey Libs? I don’t think they are, I think KRUSTY is going down……
http://www.theprovince.com/news/Christy+Clark+longer+best+suited+handle+economy+Poll/6912906/story.html
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Alex, with all due respect – I think you have mis-judged the level of supreme frustration and ‘dissatisfaction’ that people are feeling.
You are one of the most astute commentators out there – and even with all your contacts and with your finger on the pulse daily – you have been surprised by the reaction to someone who is considerd part of the problem – not part of the solution. I, am not surprised at all, as I feel that frustration too.
Browns experience cannot be understated, but ‘the regular folks’ have had their lunch stolen for sooo long, that they cannot yet feel comfortable with people that are considered the ‘ruling elite’ and to close to ‘the problem’.
I dont know Mr Brown, I’m sure he is an outstanding person, serves his community, his family etc etc – but the pain is to great, the wound to fresh, for the populace to do anything except strike out at those perceived to be part of ‘the problem’.
Some of your commentators have crossed the line and they need to be dealt with, but please take a breath……those that have been bullied (which is essentially all of us) often strike out quickly and with a shotgun approach, at the first opportunity, at all they perceive as responsible or, as I’ve already said – part of the problem.
He, and you, must have big shoulders and let the steam escape.
We are good people…. and that is exactly why you are seeing this kind of reaction.
Fair….no.
The best course of action….no.
Necessary to move on ….yes.
All my best,
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And there, ladies and germs is how one communicates objection.
Instead, I just had to ban another idiot Ho suggested that Brown laundered money and that I did too, that’s why I support his right to voice his opinion.
Honestly…
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I washed my jeans with 2 twenties in my pocket. Does that make me a money launder?
Sorry things seem to be getting a little heavy thought I could lighten it up.
Higgs Boson goes into a Catholic church.
The priest says, “You’re not welcome here.”
Higgs Boson says “You can’t have mass without me.”
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Looking at Alex to the left through the corner of the eye..
I extend my and and arm out with something on the hand that the fingers have lightly gripped.
“um.. chocolate?”
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Alex: there always will be those that try bullying to get their own way.
It’s your forum and your rules.
I appreciate your efforts and see them as for the greater good of the whole province.
John
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Vancouver Real Estate = Drug Money
Here is the problem, as long as the corruption is left to rot out the heart and soul of trust in our communities, everyone, I mean everyone is effected. When we take business to other markets, the clouds of corruption, drug money and money laundering hangs over all of our heads.
We need to clear the air and get squeaky clean in all business sectors and in public office to regain the trust of our external customers. Customers that are far too often heard saying, “Just some more trailer park boys from British Colombia bring their budding business ideas and Railway proposals to the table”.
It is common knowledge that British Colombia is a laundry mat for dirty money and that the illegal trade in the least profitable of the drug trades, marijuana, is a 10 billion dollar a year industry. An industry that is bigger than mining, forestry and fishing combined. Add to the fact that we have international organized crime syndicates and terrorist groups in the hundreds, the problem is if you live in BC your going to be painted with the same brush of the corruption and crime community that is dominate here.
Not everyone is laundering money but the ones that are, and we know who they are, are hurting everyone’s reputation. Just like when a handful of MSM reporters practice propaganda for the political pals, make everyone in the MSM look like Shills.
It is a sad fact, but that is the way it works. And that is why we need the ICAC now, to protect the innocent from being accused of crimes that for the most part are rampant and going prosecuted.
Turning a blind eye to corruption in public office is not helping. And is the first place that credibility needs to be returned. Once done, a sense of trust can once again replace the omniprésent of doubt that now exists about every business person, public official, and politician in British Colombia. Corruption is a cancer that kill the market place, without trust nobody buys stock, loans money or invests. And everyone is seen as a crook even the honest.
This is why being the third largest narco state in the America’s is a bad idea. Why being the world wide hub for the manufacture and distribution of synthetic drugs, as well as, a money laundering machine for the criminal terrorist networks is just bad business and bad economics.
Guilt by association not good for BC business, time to vote for parties that are about law and order and putting and end to crime and corruption. British Colombia needs to stop being the soft spot for international organized crime banking in the Asia Pacific. We need to protect the reputation of our markets and our business people. Honesty is our Brand, the Brand that made us great. The new Brand of gangster haven, crime capital, illegal Drug Capital needs to be flushed along with all that Brands supporters.
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Too true!!!
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The most important thing isn’t right versus left, but right versus wrong.
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Bless you.
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Alex, I feel your update is right on. I’m not only sick and tired of Christy and her government, I’m MORE sick and tired of some of my left wing friends who criticize anyone who’s taken a risk and made some money for themselves.
Back in the Bennett days we used to joke about the number of former used car salespeople who were in the government. But a used car sales person knows a bottom line and the ways to meet it. I think rather better than a social worker or teacher would.
Most of my NDP friends are truly expecting a free ride from the, no doubt, NDP government next year. Good luck to them.
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I doubt, and hope, that there won’t be any free rides for anyone. That includes the corporate welfare schemes like Pacific Carbon Trust etc. etc. that were cooked up by the Liberals.
I am not looking for a free ride. I will get a reasonably priced ride when our Province is well run and our books are in order. That is not the case at present.
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EXACTLY!!!!!!!
Someone start cutting waste please! Secretaries don’t need secretaries!!! What does the PAB really do anyway??? How bout the ridiculous number of staffers for the Premier?! Just start there.
I mean, what’s several million between friends?
And the Pacific Carbon Trust should be dismantled. Immediately!
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I find your comments quite offensive.
You seem to think that things were better in the good old days. Maybe you need to be reminded of the Bennett days of insider trading etc.
Just because people sit on the left doesn’t mean that they do not own businesses and understand how to balance the books!
As for the social workers and teachers – at least they have a heart and care about our society.
Balance is what we need not rhetoric like this!!!
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Social workers? You must be kidding! This is a cruel combination of Gestapo, Hitler’s SS and the KGB. Those indoctrinated in eugenics and without any scientifically confirmed credentials individuals work mostly as child-snatchers. In order to avoid any scrutiny by not so long ago established the BC Association of Social Workers and even younger BC College of Social Workers, those employed by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development (or Destruction as some call it) are legally exempted from such a registration that makes them totally unaccountable. Please, throw in a $1.35 billion dollar annual budget (BC Rail was sold for one billion) and you’ll have the (not necessarily) full picture, as over one billion of the MCFD budget is spent outside the Ministry on lawyers, “shrinks” and other whores of the court (http://whoresofthecourt.com/), foster and group homes etc., adoption agencies and adoptive parents, and you’ll have a fair picture of the abuse of our, taxpayers’ money. Here’s the site that may help you understand this enormous, legally-sanctioned injustice http://www.pa-pa.ca/. Have a good reading! The person who created this site is a successful Chartered Accountant holding an MBA Degree conferred by Simon Fraser University.
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Easy on the Nazi analogies, please. I’ll delete your comment next time.
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I’d concur with observer and Derek. The idea that the social workers “care” is a sad joke on the taxpayers (look at what the MCFD budget is…look at he sad jokes that run these ministries…look at the newest headlines with a $13,000,000 price tag. Look at the fact that there isn’t a shred of fiscal responsibility. We as a society must do better than just signing blank cheques to the assorted ministries or we will all pay the piper.
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I think I’d rather put my trust in a teacher than a used car salesman. Yes, there are a few bonehead activist teachers out there, but even at their worst most of them actually mean well and truly want to stick up for disadvantaged kids. The vast majority are good, hard working people who don’t give a fig about politics (although they might want to flush the BCTF of bonehead leaders). It says a lot about our society that we tend to equate making $$ with success, rather than helping those less fortunate than themselves. Personally, I could care less about making money. I am financially self sufficient, but far from wealthy. I pity people who worship money.
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I cant agree with Mr. Brown’s diagnosis of the problem, but I very much agree with his dour assessment of the economy. We’re on the downslope of a cheap credit bubble, which lots of people acknowledge. I also believe we’re also on the downslope of a cheap oil bubble. Together the two problems are fairly intractable. I don’t think there’s much a premier alone can do to pull us out, but there’s plenty a premier could do to make the situation worse. Best for the next premier to focus on low-hanging fruit for starters. Good people could endlessly debate merits of left vs right, but I would note two things in the context of BC/Canada: 1) taxes seldom shift by more than a few % points of GDP over a term and have far less effect than other growth factors; 2) most people are concerned about cronyism, no matter which side is doing it. As a start, a new premier might make good governance reforms a priority – there are lots of places doing great work on this whose work could be cribbed.
Now I would have a new government go faster and farther, but I doubt much of the province would want to follow. So recommend slow, steady and clean.
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Well said, Stickyfeet.
I predict the NDP won’t have much “official” opposition. (Perhaps the two of them will share an office beside the cafeteria vent.)
It will be up to media, bloggers and the people of B.C. to keep the pressure on Mr. Dix and his party to keep it slow, steady and clean.
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“It will be up to media, bloggers and the people of B.C. to keep the pressure on Mr. Dix and his party to keep it slow, steady and clean.”
Like the media did when Campbell and his ilk had free reign in their first term? Yea they held his feet to the fire. I guess we have a clean government because they were so diligent.
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Well, he did well today in my book. Announcing that he will not bring back the capital tax on the resource sector means he is looking at being Gary Doer and not Bob Rae.
Some relief…
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Nothing says socialist as loud as the feeling of entitlement for a strangers $2000 … because, like, he/she hasn’t paid enough for stupid, feel good, useless programs.
I fully support the notion that all the grannys working at Tim Hortons should be paying more taxes so that the 20 something teachers can enjoy their retirements.
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Dear mathematically useless square,
Why do you hate teachers so much? Do you blame them for your plight in life, or does paying your fair share to have a top notch public education system bother you?
Please don’t be afraid of socialism. Even right wing Conservatives understand the importance of a balance between making money and ensuring a happy society.
As a former teacher, it always bothers me how some people have such a hate on for teachers. If it is so easy and lucrative, get your GED, BSc / BA, volunteer for at least a year in the schools, extra year in PDP, and then try to get a part time TOC job. When you do, you will realize the hours required, and the complexities of the job that can’t be understood just because you once went to school.
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Dear Curious,
Don’t be afraid of responsibility and self-reliance … it’s not that horrible.
You know nothing about my education or station in life. Because you imagine something, it doesn’t make it real.
Next time your at a Timmies, and a granny is serving you, ask yourself what “fair share” means.
BTW: Hate is a strong word … from what I see, it is an emotion most often displayed by you left wingers.
If I told you I was teacher, do you think I should get a raise and more benefits?
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Alex
This perhaps could be considered off topic…..and perhaps not.
“Political correctness is a doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rapidly promoted by mainstream media which
holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a piece of shit by the clean end.”
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Mrs. Sparky sent me that while I was at work today.
I think she get’s it.
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Reply to Derek – why would a used car salesman know more about the bottom line than a teacher? Seems like a stupid thing to say really
Mike
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I would much rather listen to a teacher, having once punched a car salesman (twice) in the mouth for making inappropriate comments to my wife, when we were once looking for a car together.
However, at least the teacher who dwell here are articulate and decent people. Wonderful folks. But there are the doctrinaire. Luckily, I get few of them.
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It’s funny, I havn’t seen premier Hunny Bunz for awhile.
Has she gone into hiding, is she being advised to lay low and keep her mouth shut ???
Or has the mainstream media bored of her, and not giving her the time of day?
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It’s part of the Boessenkool plan.
She’s off for the summer and thn back on with a vengeance in September.
If she lasts that long.
Stay tuned.
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Hmmm… that could make for a dull summer around here, Alex.
‘Hard to score any hits with your ‘bomblets” when the targets have been submerged.
They’ll have to come up for air sooner or later.
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Don’t worry about that.
When you score direct hits, it doesn’t matter. Just gimme time…
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For those of you who missed Keith sharing the latest poll results:
http://www.globaltvbc.com/british+columbians+think+bc+ndp+best+able+to+manage+economy/6442676725/story.html
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I know.
He looked distraught. Bizarre.
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And Keith fails to ask or explore the most obvious question on the poll results….why?
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I know, it’s unbelievable. I immediately thought of your exceptionally articulate and astute note to the CBC some months ago, when you referred to a level of journalistic excellence that should not be the exception, but the rule.
Always a pleasure…
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Could someone please telll me fron where came the idea that NDPers expect a fr4ee ride? Most NDPers are tired of paying buisneses share of taxes perhaps this is the tax they are thinking of? just saying
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I’m confused ( obviously ). I fail to see the reasoning behind hating on Mr. Brown for pointing out the obvious. I see little if anything in his letter that attempts to influence me to support or not a political agenda. He does paint a very accurate picture of finances on a global scale. I see no inaccurate claims in his missive.nor any attempt to convince me to subscribe to his belief. In recent times nations are coming to the same conclusion. Do we disregard him simply because he’s been successful. Perhaps we should stand at the entrance to universities and demand students sign an agreement that should they pursue their chosen course of study, and subsequently become successful, well off with their heads. Do we not presently have that myopic thinking running our ship into the shoals ?
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And the voices of reason finally gather…
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Sorry Alex, but going with a random name for this post.
Had a good discussion with an employee in the premier’s office. Don’t want to give away identity but she/he is already actively searching for future job opportunities elsewhere.
Also, Dave Hayer is not seeking re-election either. Not a surprise.
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Christy pushed him out. That’s why he didn’t laud her.
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Just heard on Simi that Murray Coel makes it what – 7 now not running again.
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Christy’s pushing them all out.
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Alex, can you clarify what you mean by “pushing” them out?
Is she encouraging them to leave or is it a natural consequence of her stupidity and lack of leadership skills?
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Both.
Why do you think Dave didn’t mention her?
Notice the absence of laudatory comments about her by outgoing MLAs?
Mind you, now that the fools backing her have read that observation here, expect contrived fawning any moment soon. LOL!
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Rhumor has it that the NDP of BC plan to back Cristy in her own comedy show. The show is to star Cristy and it is to be called “IS THE PRIEMIER IN” and I believe it is to priemier in prime time on your favorite tv channel.
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Mr. Brown is running scared just like all the other corporate demagogs,and he is using fear mongering and attack tactics to further his and the corporate elite agenda. We should not bow to corporations and afford them special economic privilages in return for jobs, The truth is this country has the resources ,both natural and human to succeed without our corrupt governments having to sell us out for a few jobs. Politicians are politicians,left or right,majorally corrupt,only lie when their lips are moving. When was the last time you heard a politician referred to as a statesman.
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Alex,
I and many of my friends are all well off, and I certainly don’t resent the rich. What differentiates me, I hope, from people like Peter Brown, is that in my limited involvement in public life I try to ensure that I reflect an interest in the general good, and in particular, those less fortunate than I am. If that meant that I had to pay a few bucks more towards my taxes, that’s the price of living in a great country like this. I’ve watched Brown thru the 70′s to now, and I defy anyone to provide me an example where he pushed for better treatment for anyone other than himself and investors like him. As in the message above, his message is always the same- the province will be ruined by the socialist hordes, no one will invest in this province etc. This is hardly reflective of the balanced approach that you seem to be advocating. I don’t doubt that he’s a nice guy in his personal life, but him and several of his cronies are not reflective of many of the rest of us who also have money but realize that continuing to concentrate more and more wealth in the hands of less and less will lead to ruin.
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More reasons why the right won’t unite under a Liberal banner or even with Liberals in their midst. They just won’t learn. They are pushing ahead with the sale of the LDB, something they didn’t want until Kinsella approached them.
Peter Brown might give them some sage advice that they ought not to continue with the mistakes that got the Liberals into this mess at the outset. This won’t unite the right, it will wipe it out.
http://www.vancouversun.com/move+privatize+liquor+distribution+highly+tainted/6924090/story.html
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I think, if anything, Peter has discovered–and rather quickly, that under Clark this will come to a dramatic crash.
I’m not sure why someone that bright needed to be spoonfed the intel, but he’s in the know now…
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