That is the question, for tonight.

In an effort to make up my mind, on who to vote for, how about some online thinking of the positives and negatives of the Leaders and their associated Parties?  Tonight we’ll start with the NDP Party and Jack Layton.

The NDP is noted for being very socialist, compared to the other Big Two and frankly, they have never reached the status of every forming a Government. I mean they simply haven’t come close, despite winning control over a few provinces, such as Manitoba, British Columbia, and yes even Ontario. Yet they have never failed to be on the edge, of being considered a serious contender for Government. Not sure why, perhaps they are too far left, meaning being Socialist.

Yet when you think about it, look at some of the things we, as Canadians, hold up as being Canadian, as being admirable. The biggest being our National Health Care system. You know, where everyone can afford to go see a Doctor, to be treated without crippling monthly costs? Least that is the premise and for the most part it does seem to work. That isn’t or wasn’t a platform for the Conservatives or the Liberals, but was a cornerstone of the NDP platform eons ago. Tommy Douglas was the man behind it, and he was NDP, and yet here we are, worrying that cuts to our Health Care will happen, from not just outside pressures, but within.

Jack Layton in this election, & the last, talked about a national pharmacare program, for prescription drugs. An adjunct to our National Health service, which I think we all would like to see. I mean I know I pay about $100 a month for my medications, diabetic supplies. I know that come January I have to pay about another $100 a month for mom’s medication, and will until about July, when the provincial pharmacare plan kicks in for her.

Then there is the creating of more Doctors & Nurses, by creating more spaces in training facilities, such as Universities, to get us more. I like that, but frankly I think a lot of this is just political rhetoric. Is there truly a shortage in both, or is it more a shortage due to insane regulations and rules, and contracts between our health services, and the unions representing them?

As to the Tax Cuts hoopla, that Jack Layton was constantly hammering on about, during the debates, I don’t quite understand where the NDP Party stands on it. Will they roll back the Fifty Billion in Credits to the Big Corporations, or Not?

Then there is the National Day Care problem. When in opposition, along with Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and the NDP helped bring down the Martin Liberal Government before they could implement their National Daycare Plan. One that had Unanimous support of the Provinces, and was geared to insuring that the lower income person received the maximum help, while limited any aid to those who could afford Day Care on their own.

To me, Jack Layton hasn’t answered that one. Yet he says the Liberal Party failed to deliver on its promise, but is that a Liberal Fault, or is it his, for siding with Stephen Harper in bringing down the minority Liberal Government?

Then too, there is the lowering of personal income taxes. He says he is for that, yet again, he voted with Stephen Harper to defeat the Martin Government on a budget that included giving Canadians on the low income scale, a full 1% tax cut on personal income. One that has taken Stephen Harper nearly 3 years to implement, and call it his own tax cut for low income earners.

I like his concept of allowing caregivers who are family members, to at least claim something on their taxes. That is something missing today, and as one of those who would benefit, I think its about time. Why hire a stranger, when a family member can better do the job? I know it is a hard job to do, and there are huge sacrifices that must be made, when a family member becomes the sole caregiver, but it does make a difference.

In conjunction with that, I also like his idea of increasing the number of bed spaces for seniors. We need to do more for the elderly of our society, which are gradually being shunted aside, in the growing economic nightmare that is upon us. Those on fixed incomes are having to make choices between food, medicine, and heat. That is not something that should be happening, and yet while Jack Layton & the NDP Party are addressing two of those issues, they seem to be a bit behind on the energy one.

Which brings up the Green Plan by the NDP. Anyone know what it is? I sure didn’t get much on it, though I have a bit more information on the Liberal Green Shift, thanks to all the swipes being taken at it. But what is the NDP plan? Is it revenue neutral like the Liberal Green Shift? Does it tax polluters, and how does it impact the elderly and those on low income? Will there be reimbursable tax credits for them, or is it more of the smoke & mirrors similar to the Conservatives?

How does it impact foreign corporations?

Then there is trade. Will the NDP actually seek to dismantle NAFTA? Will they force the needed changes in it, in order to protect our national programs such as Health Care, Education, and Welfare? Not to mention Social Security. Again, while Jack Layton talks a good game, where is he beef? What about the Security Prosperity Partnership accord? Will the NDP refuse to accept it, and terminate it?

Given the current fear about the economy, what is Jack Layton’s plan for it? Does he propose a hike in the minimum wage, or does he propose a hike in Corporate Taxes only? How about regulation, for industries like the Oil Industry, and what about food safety? These are real issues, but I really didn’t hear much about it, still don’t.