'Considerable sacrifices' ahead, Stockwell Day warns

[HeresyLives]

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:22 AM

'Considerable sacrifices' ahead, Stockwell Day warns
Steven Chase

The man Stephen Harper has tapped to lead the charge on chopping federal spending warns that Canadians expect “considerable sacrifices” from Ottawa as it tries to balance its books.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/bureau-blog/considerable-sacrifices-ahead-stockwell-day-warns/article1471036/

[Lucy Goosey]

1. Oh, shit.

Mr. Day refused to say whether Ottawa is planning cuts to the pensions of public servants. But he promised to work with labour unions to “maintain the integrity” of public-servic pension plans.

Them's fightin' words, Stockwell. I know we make great scapegoats, but in my decade of experience in the federal public service, the vast majority of the people I've worked with have been dedicated hard-workers who genuinely aim to serve the public well. The "public servants are lazy" myth is politically convenient for them, though.

Not to mention that fucking us over doesn't actually do any good, economically:

Toronto Dominion Bank chief economist Don Drummond said cuts to public pensions would not be able to generate much current savings unless Ottawa went back and broke already negotiated deals.

So hands off my pension, asswad. Don't use me and my colleagues to shore up your political base.

...and I'm off to write my union to let them know that I expect them to fight this....

[HeresyLives]

2. I imagine pensions and social programs

will be targeted. Harper isn't fond of either.

[Spazito]

3. "Considerable sacrifices" to everyone BUT the wealthy and the corporations...

cuts to social programs not raising taxes on the wealthy; cuts to pensions and healthcare budgets but not to defense.

[HeresyLives]

4. We already have progressive taxation.

And nobody wants to hit corporations or they'll up and leave.

Witcha on defence tho.