It's not this election I worry about.
We aren't the only people that think about these things. The NDP fully know where they were, what happened to them, and what it took to get back. They aren't going to risk that in a 'all you can buy spending spree'...in their first term.
I think you'll see that there is no money for them to play with.
My fear is, they will have a 'status quo' first term, with marginal changes to the spending structure. Teachers will probably get a small increase in their next bargaining session-things of that nature. They'll also get a lot of Obama style mileage out of blaming the previous administration. We all know that the budget was bullshit. There was a huge deficit covered with the sale of assets to make it balance. The Liberals then get to say, "we gave you a balanced budget...its up to you that you didn't sell off the shit to make it work"
It's the term that follows that leads to concern. That's when they start really working on their own steam. No ability to go back 4 years for blame, it starts riding on them. That's when they start making their investments.
So, I'm stuck between a rock and a place left of the rock. The Liberals are out of steam, and the momentum seems to be with the NDP. I think the best the Liberals are working for is not to be decimated in the election.
This really happens with every time the economy is in the shits. The previous party takes the hit on it, the new party comes in and inspires confidence in the economy based on the change. In that regard, its all a house of cards. People will only feel confident to spend if they feel that money will be replaced by sound employment. They then pepper in some policy to ease transactions to spur the growth.
Although unpopular, I think Clark would have had a better opportunity with being premier if she had fully blamed Campbell for the HST and other issues, and worked harder to distance herself. That though, would probably rupture the party. She would have gained that boost in confidence. She very much seemed to most people to be a continuation of the Campbell government.
Oh, what the hell. What a wonderful time to post one of my favorite political ads of all time: