One of the great things about a Canadian election is learning how many ways the same thing can be put. From the right-wing to the left-wing is a span of about a nanometre on the scale of political ideologies. Our neo-cons support socialist programs in health care and business development, our socialists support the free market. In this election there is no better example than the New Energy Economy. Jack (!) has announced programs to shift manufacturing on to a more sustainable foundation. The governing Conservatives have a remarkably strong and, dare I say, progressive program for shifting to a more sustainable economy. We all know about the Green Shift from the Liberals, even if we don’t quite understand it…perhaps, to be fair, yet. Don’t like the big parties? Then you can vote for the Green Party.
This is all plainly good and a bit weird. And I think it is plainly good for another reason other than keeping the place neat and tidy – it will create a new bubble economy! In the last fifteen years we have lived through the IT bubble (burst in 1998-2000) and the credit bubble (burst 2007-2008). The times of bubble economy are good times. Plenty of investment and, best, plenty of high grade burn rate of that investment, distributed generously amongst work toys, snack trays and recreational marine craft. People expect no results and lots of meetings over lunch. People get hired, buy things, save. All good.
And especially good if, by some fluke, the bubble also has the side effect of creating a number of actual benefits other than blowing the investments of others. In addition to jobs and increased trade, energy security should be that sort of bonus side effect benefit…in addition to thousands of buffet-style Chinese, Thai and Korean BBQ takeouts devoured in lunchrooms across the land.
Other news on Day 5:
- Harper does the right thing and does it quickly and decisively.
- Dion makes food inspection prime issue – smart.
- Do you trust any of these polls?
- A very good point from a soldier’s father.
- Questions about this Liberal candidate suggest Denonville’s terrible acts were not most extreme imaginable, even 325 years later.
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