I always get a kick out of conservatives, CPC in Canada and Republicans in the U.S., claiming that they are the party that is concerned about the economy. EVERY party is concerned about the economy! The difference between the parties is in how they go about measuring success. For conservatives, as long as the GDP is rising they consider themselves to be successful in managing the economy. For liberals, however, a successful economy is measured by how financially well off the citizens are relative to previous years. In the U.S., for example, banking/investment income traditionally made up between 10-15% of their GDP whereas in recent times that percentage has climbed to 50-60% of GDP. Manufacturing was the largest contributor to GDP throughout their history and it is in manufacturing where jobs are available to the citizens. Banking/investment activities employ very few people relative to manufacturing activities and so fewer people benefit from GDP gains under such an economic philosophy. The few that do gain under a conservative economic system gain big time and then end up depositing their earnings in off-shore tax havens to avoid paying taxes that would benefit the general public. So, we've got to finally break this long held myth that conservative philosophy is the best philosophy for achieving a healthy economy because their definition of "healthy" is GDPcentric as opposed to citizencentric.
he seems pretty down to earth in this interview, but that doesn't excuse his parliamentary performance under Harper
I won't miss him
I don't think anyone was confused, it was pretty clear where their priorities were at.
I always get a kick out of conservatives, CPC in Canada and Republicans in the U.S., claiming that they are the party that is concerned about the economy. EVERY party is concerned about the economy! The difference between the parties is in how they go about measuring success. For conservatives, as long as the GDP is rising they consider themselves to be successful in managing the economy. For liberals, however, a successful economy is measured by how financially well off the citizens are relative to previous years. In the U.S., for example, banking/investment income traditionally made up between 10-15% of their GDP whereas in recent times that percentage has climbed to 50-60% of GDP. Manufacturing was the largest contributor to GDP throughout their history and it is in manufacturing where jobs are available to the citizens. Banking/investment activities employ very few people relative to manufacturing activities and so fewer people benefit from GDP gains under such an economic philosophy. The few that do gain under a conservative economic system gain big time and then end up depositing their earnings in off-shore tax havens to avoid paying taxes that would benefit the general public. So, we've got to finally break this long held myth that conservative philosophy is the best philosophy for achieving a healthy economy because their definition of "healthy" is GDPcentric as opposed to citizencentric.