But there’s a battle going on and the ordinary taxpayer is caught in the middle (which is not a bad place to be sometimes, if you want the best view of all the action).
In one corner are advocates for more government stimulus spending.
They say that the Canadian economy is still in recession and needs tens of billions in stimulus spending during the next few years to recover. The only part of the economy that’s growing is government. (‘Study urges more spending,’ London Free Press, Oct. 29)
According to advocates of more government spending:
“The public spending that has happened so far has been important, it has helped the economy bottom out, but it hasn’t been enough yet to drag the whole economy forward.”
And, “What you want to do is give the whole economy a kickstart and then hope you get some momentum coming out of that.”
Sounds like we’re dealing with an uncle with a drinking problem, not a national economy, eh!
Old Uncle Louie has fallen into the ditch, has bottomed out, needs to be dragged back onto the sidewalk, and given a kick in the direction of home. And we ‘hope’ he can find his front door.
In the other corner are the advocates for thrift who say the economy is recovering and more spending is not the answer.
And who say “more spending would only hurt because the country would have to go deeper into debt to find the money.”
My family calls me “the tightwad” on occasion (I do not, however, have the first dollar I ever made) and would tell you I’d likely side with the non-spenders.
In this case I’ll stay in the middle for a month or two and enjoy the view.
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Yes, we have to live within our means, from a household and government stand point.
But some spending is needed to transition to a more sustainable economy.
Is our stimulus spending supporting ‘ business as usual,’ or ‘same old, same old?’
I’ll watch the fight for now from the centre of the ring.
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