Tomorrow is election day and I’ve been sitting here in the nest thinking I’ve watched so many elections and politicians come and go. Some good, many bad and the majority just simply forgettable.
On the eve of this 2025 edition of Newfoundland and Labrador election I have a few thoughts to squawk.
Watching some of the wannabe politicians say they are going to cut taxes and improve services is infuriating. Same old bird poop all over again. What kind idiot believes this? Basic economics tells us this is not logical. You need money to provide services.
So where is that money coming from?
Everyone talked about what the election issues were. Many said it was the MOU and possible new contract with Hydro Quebec for further development of Churchill Falls and future development of Gull Island.
Others kept it to basics. Healthcare, cost of living, education, transportation, crime …the usual.
Lord knows these are the perennial issues for Newfoundland and Labrador. We all know this. The “problem” is not having the money to pay for it and, of course, in some cases, incredible bad management.
These may be the primary issues but you can’t have any of that without money. Not sure how some politicians think they can say they will cut taxes and still provide services. Government is barely doing it now.
Another challenge is our aging and dwindling population. No tax base. You simply can’t tax people enough to pay the bills. Yet the leader of the PC Party said he was going to cut taxes to businesses. So, how is he going to pay for those new ferries he also promised?
The reality is you need money to provide healthcare, education, transportation and every other service governments are supposed to provide.
The once lucrative cash cow, offshore oil, is growing old and not delivering like she once did either. We are about to find out what “non-renewable” energy really means.
So, it all comes back to the money.
As of right now, in reality world, our “services” may be resting on the Quebec Hydro deal that will bring in the amount of money required to maintain what we have and pay our debt right now.
Betting on a better deal, MAYBE, in twenty years is a mighty big IF and a Hell of a gamble. They way governments and global economies are now we can’t bank on what’s going to happen next week.
Those former politicians and bureaucrats who speak this nonsense are not be listened to. They had their chance and didn’t deliver. Wouldn’t, couldn’t doesn’t matter. They failed.
They failed and should show some humility and just fuck-off now. What they have to say is one-hundred percent worthless.
And not only did they FAIL at getting a proper deal with Quebec Hydro in the past 56 years they saddled us with the BILLIONS of dollars of debt with the Muskrat Falls fiasco.
But now they want to tell us not to make a bad deal? No shame, no self-awareness.
They should take their millions and healthy government pensions and just go away and leave reasonable people to clean up their mess and try to put things right.
There is a real deal on the table here and now with real money. Not more delusional wishes or dreams of glory in battle with Quebec.
Time to fly forward.
SQUAWK!
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