Ontario Election 2011
This Ontario Election sucks.
I think Healthcare, Education, Environment, and RESPONSIBLE tax/economic policy is important. But the only issue on the provincial level that affects me directly, and something I desperately want to change, is INFRASTRUCTURE!
Traffic is a huge problem. Everybody knows it. The 401 clogs constantly. Other highways are the same. Local roads are even jamming up now here in Kitchener. I see alot of repairs being done, but nobody is building new roads to help address the problem. Nobody is even TALKING about it. Everyone remembers the 407 debacle and wishes we had never sold that highway. But we did, and now we need another highway to help with traffic in Ontario. Or at the very least, ALOT of expansions in existing highways. Or something really drastic like light rail or something.
The only party that is even HINTING at tackling Ontario's traffic problems is the PC party. But the problem is, they also plan on implementing so many tax cuts, along with spending promises, that I'm betting that once elected, they'll realize they no longer have the cash to spend money on roads after fulfilling all their easier tax promises. Frankly, I don't think I'm taxed all that heavily, and the tax breaks they are suggesting will likely not help the Ontario economy much (Ontario has some of the lowest business/corporate tax rates anywhere in North America). They also plan on doing basically nothing for Education, Environment, and will do some for Healthcare in as much as they'll help old people (y'know, the people that usually vote for them).
So then there's the Liberal party. They plan on tackling Healthcare, Education, Environment (or atleast more than the PC's will) and while many people disagree with it, I believe for the most part the Liberal tax policy is responsible and good for the overall health of the province. But the only thing they're promising to relieve traffic congestion is increased Go Train service, which helps the province very little, and helps me not at all.
And then there's the NDP, which doesn't address the traffic and infrastructure problems of the province at all, and has a platform that basically steals bits and pieces from the above 2 parties. But they have a pretty and elegant woman as head of the party, so that's nice.
So I either take a chance, vote for the PC's and HOPE that they actually start building roads and that their tax breaks for businesses don't ruin us economically, or I vote Liberal with the knowledge that my personal concerns won't be addressed at all, but atleast other people will likely be better off in other aspects. Hopefully.
This election sucks. Like seriously.
I think Healthcare, Education, Environment, and RESPONSIBLE tax/economic policy is important. But the only issue on the provincial level that affects me directly, and something I desperately want to change, is INFRASTRUCTURE!
Traffic is a huge problem. Everybody knows it. The 401 clogs constantly. Other highways are the same. Local roads are even jamming up now here in Kitchener. I see alot of repairs being done, but nobody is building new roads to help address the problem. Nobody is even TALKING about it. Everyone remembers the 407 debacle and wishes we had never sold that highway. But we did, and now we need another highway to help with traffic in Ontario. Or at the very least, ALOT of expansions in existing highways. Or something really drastic like light rail or something.
The only party that is even HINTING at tackling Ontario's traffic problems is the PC party. But the problem is, they also plan on implementing so many tax cuts, along with spending promises, that I'm betting that once elected, they'll realize they no longer have the cash to spend money on roads after fulfilling all their easier tax promises. Frankly, I don't think I'm taxed all that heavily, and the tax breaks they are suggesting will likely not help the Ontario economy much (Ontario has some of the lowest business/corporate tax rates anywhere in North America). They also plan on doing basically nothing for Education, Environment, and will do some for Healthcare in as much as they'll help old people (y'know, the people that usually vote for them).
So then there's the Liberal party. They plan on tackling Healthcare, Education, Environment (or atleast more than the PC's will) and while many people disagree with it, I believe for the most part the Liberal tax policy is responsible and good for the overall health of the province. But the only thing they're promising to relieve traffic congestion is increased Go Train service, which helps the province very little, and helps me not at all.
And then there's the NDP, which doesn't address the traffic and infrastructure problems of the province at all, and has a platform that basically steals bits and pieces from the above 2 parties. But they have a pretty and elegant woman as head of the party, so that's nice.
So I either take a chance, vote for the PC's and HOPE that they actually start building roads and that their tax breaks for businesses don't ruin us economically, or I vote Liberal with the knowledge that my personal concerns won't be addressed at all, but atleast other people will likely be better off in other aspects. Hopefully.
This election sucks. Like seriously.