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Thursday, January 22, 2009
Stephen Harper is not socialist enough to fix the economy: Jack Layton
New Democrat Leader Jack Layton will be in Toronto on Friday to speak at a meeting of the Toronto Board of Trade. Layton was invited by the Board of Trade to present his views on the current economic crisis and the upcoming federal budget.
Layton’s speech is titled “Canada’s next move: What Parliament must do to get the economy on track.”
“[Prime Minister] Harper is asking Canadians to trust him in implementing an agenda he has spent his lifetime opposing. That’s why we believe Canada needs a new government,” said Layton. “As we move forward, we need to listen to all voices and work towards the common goal of getting Canada’s economy back on track.”
What Layton is saying is essentially correct: Harper has not historically been a socialist, or a Keynesian or an interventionist, which is what the prevailing wisdom is now demanding as a cure for the ailing global economy.
Of course, the prevailing wisdom is wrong. What is needed now more than ever is to reduce the size and scope of government and unleash the wealth-creating power of capitalism. This is a job to which Harper is well suited, but he appears prepared to embark instead on an insincere strategy designed not to fix the economy but to appease Jack Layton and the other statists in parliament.
Harper may be the most market-oriented leader in the world. He is also a powerful and effective communicator. He should trust his own ability to persuade the public and out-debate his opponents on key economic issues -- and he should trust the effectiveness of free market ideas to fix the current problem.
Western civilization is facing its greatest challenge: a global economic collapse, the lose of economic freedom, a coming global monetary crisis, and a reactionary rise in protectionism. With Harper’s leadership, Canada could overcome these challenges and be an example to the world in an exercise of soft power for which our country is known.
Harper will be trusted by Canadians when he pursues an agenda true to his core beliefs, true to reality and true to economic and personal liberty. This will also save our country and secure his place in history.
Posted by Matthew Johnston
Posted by westernstandard on January 22, 2009 | Permalink
Comments
Matthew, I totally agree with you. The more Layton says the more I realize he is in fact, an idiot.
Posted by: TM | 2009-01-22 12:32:16 PM
It would be a welcome relief if harpers budget cut government spending and avoided deficit spending for make work projects.
Posted by: Freedumb | 2009-01-22 1:45:15 PM
Jack Layton is a communist, pure and simple.
Duceppe is a Communist.
Those two already have a huge largesse dependent audience in their camp.
Harper needs to get his less government (budget) message out for recovery, lest we do become totally a communist state, with Taliban Jack and Duceppe in power.
And beware of Obama, because he is a Marxist at heart, with lots of taxpayer bucks to toss out.
Posted by: Joe Molnar | 2009-01-22 2:26:18 PM
Uh, isn't it a good thing that Harper isn't a socialist?
Well, it's not like Layton is one either - he's the unpaid agent of Ontario's auto industry.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-01-22 2:57:39 PM
Pike, Layton is getting benefits to their agent. Maybe not a paycheck, but financial benefits.
Posted by: TM | 2009-01-22 3:09:59 PM
I meant Layton is getting benefits to BE their agent.
Posted by: TM | 2009-01-22 3:10:27 PM
Poor Jack cannot grasp that it is especially due to his own socialism/communism that he will never get elected to run the country. Those who voted conservative rejected socialism.
Posted by: Alain | 2009-01-22 3:20:57 PM
TM: you could be right, but I think Layton is nuts enough to do it all for free.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-01-22 3:21:20 PM
Nobody does anything for free. Unless they truly are nuts. Lets hope you are right.
Posted by: TM | 2009-01-22 3:53:21 PM
Well, when I meant "free" I meant he didn't receive any direct monetary reward, like an envelope full of money. Jack benefits in other ways, like subsidized housing and the perks of holding elected office. Hey, it works.
Posted by: Zebulon Pike | 2009-01-22 4:15:02 PM
Not to mention the financial comtributions directly to the party from the unions and its members. And the union ads usually promote the NDP and bash Harper.
Posted by: TM | 2009-01-22 4:16:53 PM
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