To answer your comments though… “Blaming the previous regime” is a sort of irrelevant issue. EVERY government blames the previous regime about everything that doesn’t go right, or at least that seems to be the case for as far back as I can remember. I’ve never seen a government stand up and say “woah! we fucked this up!” So whether Harper’s going to do that now doesn’t really matter.

The legislation will probably be contentious, but that’s what I’d probably do too if I thought I could win, so I can’t fault them for that. I will say that he seems to be taking a page from the Joe Clark “Govern like we have a majority (c) 1979″ playbook though, and we all know how well that worked out.

There will probably be attack ads, which is unfortunate. I’ve expressed my displeasure with that approach both in writing and with the suspension of my financial contributions. I won’t pay for that crap. I am confident that I’m not the only one who has taken that approach. When I want to support malicious douchebaggery, I’ll donate to PETA.

My point in my original comment remains, however. Agree or disagree with the CPC stance, at least they *HAVE* a stance. None of the other parties seems to be willing to step up, which I find rather odd. My guess is that they’re just waiting to pull a “that’s a stupid idea” thing irrespective of the nature of the solution, come out with their OWN attack ads, and not actually produce a workable solution to the problem at hand.

I agree with you that the next election will have abysmal turn-out. I find it unfortunate that so few people care enough to bother voting. On the other hand, people with no interest in how they are governed and who have neither the interest nor the desire to find out what the issues are and where the candidates stand are probably doing everyone a favour by staying home.

As it stands, regardless of attack ads, I don’t think the Liberals will have a chance in forming the next government. Until the economy does officially turn around, I would bet that most people will view an election as a complete waste of time and money. If you thought 59% turnout was bad last time, I think next time ’round it’ll be worse.

Oh and Darin – how about Hume as mayor?

Even if the Ig has nothing to say on this issue, where’s the rest of the Liberal guidance to show us the lighted path to Canadian glory?

On one spot we agree, however. I think the GST is a great tax. I’d rather they lowered income taxes across the board than the GST. My only snivel is that the GST would likely have been defeated if the senate hadn’t been stacked at the last minute. Even though the outcome of that stacking was probably the better way, I find the undemocratic process by which the GST was originally rammed through to be distasteful.

I welcome politicians working over the summer. They get paid enough – they should be working.

Secondly, at least Harper et al are doing *something*. Where’s Iggy? Still on extended vacation? Thinking deep thoughts? This whole “travelling across the country” is BS.

If he truly cared about this country, he’d be front and centre.

And he’s not.

Not much of a leader-to-be.