For last few years I have bounced back and forth between the PC and the Wildrose parties. This has caused many to ask me “Who are you with now”? My standard answer used to be the NDP … the “New Dean Party.”
It brought lots of laughs but not so funny anymore. A few things are certain - I won’t have to worry about bouncing around between the parties simply because there is only one conservative party now, the Wildrose.
My political beliefs have always aligned with the Wildrose, however, disagreements with past leadership and senior members of caucus kept me at bay. Well, a new exciting chapter has unfolded under new leader, Brian Jean.
Years ago, just months after Danielle Smith had won the Wildrose leadership, I had a frank discussion with her lieutenant, Rob Anderson. He declared that we would form government in two years. I said it would take ten.
It should take time as building a political party is similar to building a solid business. To run downhill, and rush to power has its own challenges. You need the right people, policies and, of course, legislative experience to run a government. This is not a secret. I am glad that my prediction is going to be closer to the truth. By the same token, the Rachel Notley NDP government is going to wish they hadn’t been rushed into power.
Do I like Rachel Notley? Absolutely! I find her to be an honest, straightforward, likeable politician that I believe will be very ethical.
Would I vote for her? Not in a million years.
The NDP and their socialist policies are from another planet. Her group of advisors and cabinet have next to no experience in running a business and, newsflash, Alberta is a big business. The Wildrose opposition under Brian Jean will have a field day with this new government. We don’t have to worry about cronyism and ethics anymore; we will just have to watch blatant mismanagement.
Will any good come out of this for Albertans?
My guess is that it will not be a great part of history. I hope I am wrong, but having lived in Saskatchewan under the NDP for twelve years I know first hand the devastation that can be done at the hands of socialists. Tough words, you bet, but they will be backed up when we see things like the minimum wage raised by 50 per cent. Can you imagine if you are operating a pub, restaurant, coffee shop, or landscaping company and you have to absorb this new level of expense? Say hello to $10 beer, $7 coffee as well as hefty increases to the cost of eating out. The living wage discussion goes nowhere with me. You’re not making enough? Work two jobs. Many of us had to when we were young and couldn’t make it on one wage.
If it is too expensive here, live elsewhere. There are plenty of jurisdictions with lower costs of living. Let’s get this straight – you have minimal skills, you’re not motivated, you work in an industry that doesn’t pay well and we should elevate your pay just because? Seems to me like a really poor way to manage an economy. The sad part is this is just the tip of the NDP policy iceberg.
The idea of taxing the upwardly mobile to support those with lower incomes may strike a chord with the general population or, at the very least, those with the lower incomes because we all know those rich, fat cats living high on the hog deserve to pay for their success, don’t they?
After all, just because they took a few risks, made some sacrifices, worked a little extra and were basically lucky, shouldn’t they share? The truth of the matter is they do share, they build more businesses, hire more people, donate more money and, most importantly, they expand the economy. The socialist model of government running everything just doesn’t work. It may seem like it for a while but the laissez-faire model I subscribe to will win out every time. Unions had their place a century ago, so did the steam engine. Luckily we evolved, and we don’t need either anymore.
The really exciting part about the new political era we are entering is that I won’t have to dream up things to write about for the next four years.
