Mixed Economy Blues

Danny Williams lowers the Canadian flag threatening to leave confederation if he doesn’t get the rights to his province’s off shore oil revenue (justifiably so), and maintain his equalization status as well (pitifully wrong). So how does Canada respond? Well Saskatchewan Premier, Lorne Calvert, predictably responded with his own demand for more federal coffers, which inspired Daulton McGuinty’s plea for more taxpayer moola, which lead Ralph Klein to complain about his provinces lack of financial support from Ottawa. What happened to our “fair” Trudeaupia?

Wasn’t equalization supposed to bring about the happiness usually identified in unified just societies? Or do the ethics of a mixed economy only divide its citizens into special interest groups that spend their time crying for their share of the federal teat? This is the natural climax of a country where 46% of all produced wealth is redistributed by the federal government at their whim (we still lag behind China in this department but we are #2). We’re a culture dominated by pressure warfare groups (lobbyists, politicians, businessmen, union leaders) paid to attack the other lobby aims in order to promote their own special interests—Albertans are ignorant redneck oil barons, while Quebecers are lazy frogs that spit on the Canadian flag… we’re not good at building airplanes, well then higher better engineers?... No, hire better lobbyists, get us some more money!... etc.

We have an economic climate where one citizen’s or province’s gains come at the expense of another citizen or province. Ontario wants more infrastructure, well then lower the immigration funding to Manitoba. The unemployed need better dentistry benefits, cut the funding to public education. Air Canada is failing and needs massive no-interest bailout, well then raise taxes on the oil companies...etc. In a free country one person’s gains do not come at the expense of someone else. Instead Increased wealth morally comes by increased production. Men who are free to produce have no incentive to loot.

And I know corrupt socialists out there are trying to refute the argument by saying we protect our citizens from hardship and that we are a compassionate society.

Is a proud country led by the principle of appeasement? Does a just country have Premiers that try to hide their province’s wealth as well Premiers whose sole goal is to convince Ottawa how poor and helpless they are? Do Moral states have politicians running under the banner of “I can get this much more in Ottawa” Does a compassionate Prime Minister, loot prosperous citizens for his own political gains? No to all these assertions, proud countries are free countries where citizens cooperate and don’t view other citizens and regions as potential enemies, and compassionate countries do not have to be coerced into helping fellow citizens.

P.S: Why doesn’t Wyoming ever complain about the wealth of California?
-The Angry Roughneck