There has been a lot discussed about the economy. All during the last federal election, the Opposition constantly talked about how we were in a recession, that our economy was being harshly impacted by the USA Recession, and subsequent Global downturn.  Both Stephen Harper & Flaherty downplayed it, saying Canada would weather the bad stuff, that we were immune, due mainly to their handling of the situation.

Leading Economists disagreed then, and now suddenly Canada is in the midst of a recession. Our jobless rate is rising, and prices are rising, despite the sudden, unexplained, drop in fuel prices, that helped spur this Global Recession. Huge deficits are now being proposed and acted upon, across the Globe.

The Bank of Canada Governor, Mark Carney has been out in the front, explaining how deep the recession is, how we can better survive it, and how we need to spend a lot more, both in Government & personally. Yet our Prime Minister & Finance Minister, seem to constantly be disagreeing with the words from the top bank’s Governor, and the other leading economists.

Flaherty even has commented on how the recession is really very mild in Canada, again thanks to his Government’s astute handling of the situation.

Even Mr. Carney had a rosy picture to paint, but is now backtracking.

“As noted in our March interest rate decision, the Bank now expects the output gap will be considerably wider than before, and we do not expect it to begin to close until the first quarter of next year, at the earliest,” he said. ( source – CBC News )

Kind of makes one wonder, just how does one get to be Finance Minister or Bank of Canada Governor? I mean it seems these two bozo’s can’t get their stories straight, and there has been some rather interesting contradictory statements, that leave us all, scratching our heads. I mean it is pretty simple, or so it appears, and yet these two economic giants, along with our so called economist Prime Minister, have failed to forecast a single trend, accurately.

I mean who do we believe?

Harper, Flaherty, ignore the issues, when they first appear, and instead of being proactive, they are reactive, and yet, are they? I mean do they act out of what is a good choice, or are they reacting to protect their political interests? Is this deficit, a blessing, or will it become a nightmare. So many hidden expenses, that both Harper & Flaherty tell us are essential, but we don’t need to know the details, scares the crap out of me.

Then we have Carney, who tells us he forecasts an upturn, then backtracks saying things are a whole lot worse than he first forecast. So is his forecasts, based on real economic indicators, or is he being pressed to provide a rosy picture, to help bolster the political needs of his master, Harper? 

And the Opposition is no better. I mean seriously, they urge more deficit spending, but give us no added details, just as Harper doesn’t. Okay we have a THIRTY BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT, YET DO YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS BEING SPENT? Like, how much of that deficit spending, is actually going to our pockets, to jobs and projects, that will create high paying employment?

Throwing money at failed businesses, like the Auto Industry just seems like flushing it down the toilet. Banks are being given a free hand, which hasn’t worked in the past, and sure hasn’t eased the credit crunch today, so why are we doing it? And then too, on the one hand, Harper tries to ease banking regulations, but then tells the world that our tougher regulations saved the banks, and Canada.

SO WHY IS HE TRYING TO EASE THOSE REGULATIONS NOW?

None of this makes much real common sense. I mean if regulations helped minimize the effect of the recession, why should we weaken them now? And why are we adding tax cuts to businesses, that have shipped jobs abroad, without insuring they will spend the added revenue here? How come we aren’t demanding some real hands on accountability from all these big corporations, as we throw billions of our money at them?

Where are the guarantees, for spending the cash, here, and in keeping the plants open? How come we attack the labor force, unions, in making them the scapegoat, yet seem okay with golden pension plans for CEO’s? I mean something just smells here, and it isn’t the rotting garbage in the trash can.

Seems to me, that we, the people, are once more being conned. Our Political leaders are too busy trying to score political brownie points, or in the case of Harper, trying to worm his way into Obama’s favor. Business is busy trying to cover its outrageous salaries and perks, at the expense of the workers, and the unions are desperately trying to keep their cushy jobs too, while the worker gets shafted.

Safety is a joke, quality is a joke, and yet no one seems to be able to figure out, why people aren’t spending money in buckets, to buy junk. I mean come on, let’s all trade in our old cars, to get a new one that won’t last half as long as the old one. Let’s all buy new washing machines, that fall apart just as the warranty expires, but hey not to worry, it uses a few pennies less in energy.

Something is really out of whack here. I mean who would have thought that organized religion would be leading the charge for racism and descrimination, or that so called conservatives would be rushing to spend billions upon billions, to line people’s pockets, who already have over full wallets and bank accounts, but hey, that’s what is happening.

Makes you wonder, if people like Flaherty, Harper, Carney, simply sit around some crystal ball, hoping for a clear picture, or maybe their horoscope in the daily paper, will give them some insight into what is about to happen. It is obvious they certainly are not looking at the proper economic indicators, or if they are, they aren’t able to figure out what they mean. Then too, not like they have to dig into their pockets to buy food, to pay for heating their homes, or figure out how to get to work, and look after the kids.

Where is the true conservative spirit, of demanding value for the buck spent, instead of spending the cash to those who can provide the most in campaign funding?

Where is the true conservative spirit, of protecting the most vulnerable of our citizens, instead of having secret hearings, of leaving citizens tortured, & stranded, simply because they are colored, and of the wrong religion?

JUST WHO CAN WE BELIEVE ANYMORE?