Susan Riley writes this morning that Canada is in desperate need of new ideas:
We need (another) overhaul of the tax system, to remove boutique credits that add complexity at the expense of fairness; and to close loopholes that allow the wealthy to shirk their responsibility. We need to bolster public pensions, get serious about energy conservation and strategy, and get creative about health care.
Instead, we get more commentary on the horse race, who stuck it to whom, and more voter apathy. Stephen Harper flourishes in such an environment. He came to Ottawa to stick it to a lot of people. And he has ideas:
There are rumours the Conservatives will move the retirement age to 67, for example; there is a good chance Canada will involve itself in a war against Iran, or Syria. These are not, necessarily, good ideas but they are more worthy of contemplation than, say, Senate reform.
If those ideas are adopted, the consequences are clear. It is no accident that income inequality is now rising faster in Canada than in the United States. But the NDP is focused, as it should be, on picking a new leader. And the media are focused on whether or not Bob Rae will stay on as permanent Liberal leader.
The Liberals got lost in the weeds of personal ambition and forgot the people they were supposed to represent.One hopes that the NDP will not make the same mistake. The only way to gain public support is to develop a program that people will buy.
