The environment is much in the news these days. How do we protect it, how do we halt global warming, how to we make sure that we have clean air and clean water. I think that these are the questions that are going to control and direct the Canadian political scene.... at least until there is a recession. What is troubling about the current political climate is a pervasive belief that the only worthwhile solution to environmental problems is government largesse. This big government approach to environmentalism is accepted essentially without question across the Canadian political spectrum. This is wrong.
Or let me put it another way there is nothing wrong with the NDP and the Liberals proposing huge government spending projects to solve environmental problems. The idea that government is the best venue for solving societies ills is the core ideology of these two parties. Unfortunately this tendency to assume that government can solve the problems of the country has spread to the Conservative party or rather migrated with Joe Clark and Peter McKay from the Progressive Conservative Party to the current Conservative Party.
This is my basic problem with the current Conservative Party they absolutely refuse to actually act like conservatives. Rather than handing out government money to technologies of dubious merit (see my last post) why not let the market decide what new green technology should fuel tommorows automobiles.
Why not place emmissions standards on automobile companies similar to the emmissions standards under the US clean air act, covering all of the models imported into Canada in a fiscal year. The allowable emmissions would shrink every year but the emmissions amounts allowed could be transfered from one model to another. This would allow auto companies to sell there SUV's but would force them if they wanted to continue to sell SUV's to find ways to lower emmissions in the SUV's drastically or find a way to make marketable vehicles with zero or minimal emmissions. This type of program places all of the cost where it should be, on the shoulders of those who wish to sell vehicles that pollute the environment. Conversely it provides benefits to everyone in society through better air quality and better access to vehicles that are cheap on gas. Please explain to me why this would not work? Please explain to me why I sitting at my computer before I start my workday can come up with market based solutions to environmental issues but the ENTIRE CONSERVATIVE PARTY BRAINTRUST cannot think of one worthwhile program that would use market forces to protect the environment. Or maybe its just me.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Harper a Conservative?
If you do not enjoy politics please be warned this post is well, almost exclusively about politics.
I read today in the Edmonton Journal that we may be in for a long season of Conservative success at the federal level. The journalist in question pointed out the strength of the Consverative parties current polls and the weakness of opposition leadership. The journalist quoted from a book written by Chantal Hebert the central thesis of which is this Conservative resergence. The difficulty that I have with talk of a Conservative resurgence is the sneeking suspicion that while it might be a resurgence for the Conservative party it is not a resurgence for conservative ideas or ideals. If you look at the policies of the Harper government there is precious little that seperates them from the Martin or Chretien Liberals. A few examples:
1) The Harper government forced Boeing to provide regional offsets and investment in order to win a contract to build military aircraft.
http://andrewcoyne.com/2007/01/senator-porkier.php
2) The Harper government recently announced billions of dollars in subsidies to Canadian farmers. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070309/harper_farmers_070308/20070309?hub=TopStories
3) The Harper government first cut the funding then returned funding to feminist lobby groups. http://shaidle.blogmatrix.com/:entry:shaidle-2007-03-09-0000/
4) The Harper government has announced millions of dollars in subsidies to "green" inititatives in British Columbia. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070313/harper_ecotrust_070313/20070313?hub=Canada
Is that enough examples? I sure hope it is. By definition conservatives believe society functions best with less government and lower taxes. They believe that government programs are a detriment to the free market and in the end not beneficial to the citizenry. They believe that even the environment can benefit from market forces. The problem is that people who vote for the Conservative party are just as fond of government largesse as everyone else. From farmers to small business people from vetrans to the oil companies we are all conservatives when it comes to cutting other peoples programs and lowering our own taxes.
Conservatives cannot champion smaller welfare rolls while at the same time providing billions of dollars in program funding to farmers, it is hypocrisy. If we want to make government smaller we have to be willing to start with programs that help people that vote for the Conservative party. If we are not willing to do that then any Conservative government will always only be conservative in name only.
I read today in the Edmonton Journal that we may be in for a long season of Conservative success at the federal level. The journalist in question pointed out the strength of the Consverative parties current polls and the weakness of opposition leadership. The journalist quoted from a book written by Chantal Hebert the central thesis of which is this Conservative resergence. The difficulty that I have with talk of a Conservative resurgence is the sneeking suspicion that while it might be a resurgence for the Conservative party it is not a resurgence for conservative ideas or ideals. If you look at the policies of the Harper government there is precious little that seperates them from the Martin or Chretien Liberals. A few examples:
1) The Harper government forced Boeing to provide regional offsets and investment in order to win a contract to build military aircraft.
http://andrewcoyne.com/2007/01/senator-porkier.php
2) The Harper government recently announced billions of dollars in subsidies to Canadian farmers. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070309/harper_farmers_070308/20070309?hub=TopStories
3) The Harper government first cut the funding then returned funding to feminist lobby groups. http://shaidle.blogmatrix.com/:entry:shaidle-2007-03-09-0000/
4) The Harper government has announced millions of dollars in subsidies to "green" inititatives in British Columbia. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070313/harper_ecotrust_070313/20070313?hub=Canada
Is that enough examples? I sure hope it is. By definition conservatives believe society functions best with less government and lower taxes. They believe that government programs are a detriment to the free market and in the end not beneficial to the citizenry. They believe that even the environment can benefit from market forces. The problem is that people who vote for the Conservative party are just as fond of government largesse as everyone else. From farmers to small business people from vetrans to the oil companies we are all conservatives when it comes to cutting other peoples programs and lowering our own taxes.
Conservatives cannot champion smaller welfare rolls while at the same time providing billions of dollars in program funding to farmers, it is hypocrisy. If we want to make government smaller we have to be willing to start with programs that help people that vote for the Conservative party. If we are not willing to do that then any Conservative government will always only be conservative in name only.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
101 Continued again
Just thought of some more
26. I really like watching highschool basketball, particularly in southern Alberta, those boys can play.
27. Growing up I spent a lot of weekends out at my uncle howards, he cowboyed in the porcupine hills and I would go out and ride and work with him. Those are some of my best childhood memories.
28. When I was little instead of reading a standard bed time story I would insist that my parents read to me from the encyclopedia of mammals. Like I said I am a nerd.
29. I need glasses but I refuse to wear them, I just find them way to uncomfortable.
30. I know nothing about cars other than how to drive them.
31. Whenever we travel as a family I drive, I would rather do that than fetch and carry for the kids.
32. I never pictured myself getting my masters in environmental and natural resource law, but the more I think about the more excited I get.
33. I sold insurance for a living, I liked it.
34. I have worked in the basement in almost all of the places that I have been employed.
35. Working for the Yellowhead Tribal Council was the best job I ever had, but it only lasted for a summer.
36. I have always been a bit of a loner, but the friends that I have I would do anything for.
37. My extended family is very important to me.
38. I would rather travel to a great city than to a resort, Paris over Cabo San Lucas every time.
39. I think it is unwise to trust people too easily.
40. I am much less coordinated than I seem.
41. When I was a kid I kept a book in my desk at school to read when I finished my work, a particular favorite was Asterix and Obelix (preffereably translated from the original French).
42. I hope my kids work harder in school than I did.I am going to take a break from this and maybe do some acutal posts.
26. I really like watching highschool basketball, particularly in southern Alberta, those boys can play.
27. Growing up I spent a lot of weekends out at my uncle howards, he cowboyed in the porcupine hills and I would go out and ride and work with him. Those are some of my best childhood memories.
28. When I was little instead of reading a standard bed time story I would insist that my parents read to me from the encyclopedia of mammals. Like I said I am a nerd.
29. I need glasses but I refuse to wear them, I just find them way to uncomfortable.
30. I know nothing about cars other than how to drive them.
31. Whenever we travel as a family I drive, I would rather do that than fetch and carry for the kids.
32. I never pictured myself getting my masters in environmental and natural resource law, but the more I think about the more excited I get.
33. I sold insurance for a living, I liked it.
34. I have worked in the basement in almost all of the places that I have been employed.
35. Working for the Yellowhead Tribal Council was the best job I ever had, but it only lasted for a summer.
36. I have always been a bit of a loner, but the friends that I have I would do anything for.
37. My extended family is very important to me.
38. I would rather travel to a great city than to a resort, Paris over Cabo San Lucas every time.
39. I think it is unwise to trust people too easily.
40. I am much less coordinated than I seem.
41. When I was a kid I kept a book in my desk at school to read when I finished my work, a particular favorite was Asterix and Obelix (preffereably translated from the original French).
42. I hope my kids work harder in school than I did.I am going to take a break from this and maybe do some acutal posts.
101 Continued
9. I am addicted to political blogs there are 4 or 5 that I check at least twice a day.
10. I love my kids, they are all really cool people, in all likelyhood cooler than their dad.
11. In junior high me and a couple of friends made plans to build a hovercraft, in case you haven't guessed I was a HUGE nerd.
12. I would love to live in New Zealand and almost convinced Jenie to move there when Kris and Tandy were living there.
13. As far as I can tell winter has no redeeming features other than snow skiing. Other than that the whole season is crap.
14. I am a political junkie, I am a card carrying member of a political party and love nothing more than to argue politics with people who are similarly inclined.
15. When I was a teenager I wanted to be a cowboy, my mom told me I had too much potential to be a cowboy, she is now married to a cowboy.
16. Law school was probably the most rewarding, interesting and enjoyable three years of my life. Actually practicing law, not so much.
17. My favorite prophet in the Book of Mormon is Abinadi, incredibly powerful, teaching King Noah and his priests as they build the fire around him, amazing.
18. I love my calling as sunday school teacher, I get to spend an hour a week talking about the gospel with teenagers who have good questions and interesting comments that is a great way to spend an hour.
19. My parents divorce is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
20. I enjoy reading historical fiction, and science fiction I am also on a bit of a kick where I read political non-fiction.
21. I met my wife when she was on a date, she denies it to this day but it was a date.
22. The first time I met my inlaws her dad and I immediately clicked, we have a very similar sense of humor.
23. My best friend from the time I was in grade six until I got married was Trevor Zuba.
24. I will go to my grave believing that The Princess Bride, Better off Dead, Willow and Ferris Buellers Day Off are classics, I will not discuss this.
25. My oldest daughter was born on my 23rd birthday. She is easily the biggest present I have ever received.
Well a quarter of the way there, this is harder than it looks.
10. I love my kids, they are all really cool people, in all likelyhood cooler than their dad.
11. In junior high me and a couple of friends made plans to build a hovercraft, in case you haven't guessed I was a HUGE nerd.
12. I would love to live in New Zealand and almost convinced Jenie to move there when Kris and Tandy were living there.
13. As far as I can tell winter has no redeeming features other than snow skiing. Other than that the whole season is crap.
14. I am a political junkie, I am a card carrying member of a political party and love nothing more than to argue politics with people who are similarly inclined.
15. When I was a teenager I wanted to be a cowboy, my mom told me I had too much potential to be a cowboy, she is now married to a cowboy.
16. Law school was probably the most rewarding, interesting and enjoyable three years of my life. Actually practicing law, not so much.
17. My favorite prophet in the Book of Mormon is Abinadi, incredibly powerful, teaching King Noah and his priests as they build the fire around him, amazing.
18. I love my calling as sunday school teacher, I get to spend an hour a week talking about the gospel with teenagers who have good questions and interesting comments that is a great way to spend an hour.
19. My parents divorce is probably the worst thing that has ever happened to me.
20. I enjoy reading historical fiction, and science fiction I am also on a bit of a kick where I read political non-fiction.
21. I met my wife when she was on a date, she denies it to this day but it was a date.
22. The first time I met my inlaws her dad and I immediately clicked, we have a very similar sense of humor.
23. My best friend from the time I was in grade six until I got married was Trevor Zuba.
24. I will go to my grave believing that The Princess Bride, Better off Dead, Willow and Ferris Buellers Day Off are classics, I will not discuss this.
25. My oldest daughter was born on my 23rd birthday. She is easily the biggest present I have ever received.
Well a quarter of the way there, this is harder than it looks.
101 Things
I like peoples list of 100 things so I am going to start with that.
1. My wife is my soul mate and my best friend also she is hot.
2. when I was little I got really sick once a year like oxygen tent over christmas sick.
3. I like steaks medium rare I will not eat them any more cooked than that.
4. We moved a lot when I was little, I attended five elementary schools.
5. I hate amusement park rides that spin they make me sick.
6. I spent the first four months of my mission in India and Singapore the day I returned to India from Singapore (renewing my Visa) I found out they were closing the India mission to foreign missionaries.
7. I love celebrity gossip the juicier the better.
8. I promised my best friend I would wait eight months after meeting a girl before asked her to marry me, Jenie and I were married 10 weeks after we met.
Off to the park I will take this up later
1. My wife is my soul mate and my best friend also she is hot.
2. when I was little I got really sick once a year like oxygen tent over christmas sick.
3. I like steaks medium rare I will not eat them any more cooked than that.
4. We moved a lot when I was little, I attended five elementary schools.
5. I hate amusement park rides that spin they make me sick.
6. I spent the first four months of my mission in India and Singapore the day I returned to India from Singapore (renewing my Visa) I found out they were closing the India mission to foreign missionaries.
7. I love celebrity gossip the juicier the better.
8. I promised my best friend I would wait eight months after meeting a girl before asked her to marry me, Jenie and I were married 10 weeks after we met.
Off to the park I will take this up later
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