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It’s the “Stupid Economy”
CPS Election Analysis 2008 - Week 3
September 14, 2008
"It's the economy, stupid" was a phrase coined by a Bill Clinton campaign strategist to expose Republican George H.W. Bush’s (Bush senior) failure to talk about economic questions in the 1992 Presidential campaign. Clinton did and he won.
Re-work the slogan and we get; “It’s the Stupid Economy.” Just how “stupid” the economy can become in the hands of right wing politicians is revealed everyday in the financial pages of the corporate media.
Herewith - A voter cautionary tale…
It begins November 2007 when Premier Gordon Campbell hosted California Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar in Vancouver. Campbell gave Schwarzeneggar advice on how to lower taxes and expand the economy and Schwarzeneggar gave Campbell advice on how to reduce carbon emissions. (Since 2001 the Campbell Liberals boast they cut $6.7 billion from corporate and income taxes and plan further cuts before the 2009 provincial election. Schwarzenneggar instituted tough emission standards.)
Then what happened?
On August 14th 2008 the Globe and Mail reported that California was struggling to pay firefighters. The rich in California build expensive houses in the dry brush. The brush catches fire every year and the houses burn down. Governor Arnold Schwarzeneggar laments that the fire season is all year round and fire fighting costs this year were $285 million or $13 million per day, not to mention the carbon sent into the California air. California is in a $15.2 billion budget deficit because referenda led by the right wing opposed to tax increases and there is now no money to pay firefighters. What to do? The Governor has proposed a disaster surcharge on those living in fire prone areas.
Next…?
The Globe and Mail on August 15th. 2008 reported that two thirds of U.S. companies and foreign firms doing business in the United States paid no federal income taxes from 1998 to 2005 according to the US federal Government Accountability Office. One quarter of large corporations with more than $250 million in assets paid no taxes at all…
Read on…!
On August 20th 2008 the Globe and Mail reported that the B.C. economy was headed for a new low. Central 1 Credit Union BC spokesperson, Helmut Pastrick said the BC economy was stalled and headed for serious trouble due to the fall in soft wood lumber exports, housing market slump and the decline in spending on the 2010 Olympics.
And it gets better…
On September 2nd the Globe and Mail reported that Environment Canada terminated a funding contract of the B.C. Sierra Club of Canada closing a climate change program.
On September 4th the Globe and Mail reported that Campbell was scrambling to explain why he spent $4 million to hike the pay of 100 top civil servants. What will he do to make amends…lower income taxes…
On September 8th 2008 the Globe and Mail reported that the lower mainland is in revolt over the Campbell government’s carbon tax…
Is there something to be learned in all of this?
Houses shouldn’t be built in dry brush!
Make Corporations pay their taxes!
Taxes on workers to pay for corporate pollution is a fraud
When Arnold and Gordon give each other advice…Hold on to your pocket book. |