Often what they don't want is what we need

So the outspoken Garth Turner has resigned his quest for candidancy will not be running for the Liberals.

He cites the country's fiscal mess, and the reluctance of both Harper and Iggy to have a real discussion about it. Both leaders claim they won't raise taxes, and both won't name any program cuts.

This doesn't seem credible. as Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page pointed out last February (pdf):

The current economic slowdown is global. As such, there are many external influences
beyond the control of Canadian policymakers that will impact Canadian economic growth
and fiscal finances. Further, PBO analysis suggests that for the Government to return to a
surplus position over the next five years is predicated in part on the Government
undertaking contractionary measures (i.e., additional spending restraint and/or increased
taxes) which would dampen the effectiveness of automatic fiscal stabilizers while the
economy remains well below its potential capacity.

We are shortly going to hear officially just how huge our deficit is. A portion of it may very well be structural.

And the big plan from our leaders? Steady as she goes, there's nothing to look at here...

Turner wants a frank discussion about this. He doubts -- correctly I say -- that economic growth will cure our deficit.

Look, the Liberals can't have someone like Turner around insisting we have a real discussion. Every word Turner would speak concerning our real choices here will have Harper's people demanding Iggy decide upon more taxes or spending cuts. Meanwhile, Harper would continue running around claiming neither are necessary. The liar.


So, outspoken Mr. Turner is not welcome.

Our last election featured Harper claiming everything was rosy, even as his government was madly borrowing and trading T-Bills to banks in exchange for mortgages. He gave interviews claiming all was well, and that there would be no deficits.

Our next election will feature more of the same. "Don't worry, everything is getting better. Now, please, dear electorate, go back to sleep."

We need MPs telling it like it is, Sadly, these days, MPs are more and more under the whip to be quiet and tow the line.

We need more MPs like Turner. Oh, Yes, I know of his weaknesses, but he's no sycophant.