- Harper, Why Do I Get The Feeling We're Being Con'd . . . Once Again

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Walkom: Why Harper’s government is so divorced from reality, Thomas Walkom, National Affairs Columnist, Sep 11 2010
http://www.thestar.com/article/859393--walkom-why-harper-s-government-is-so-divorced-from-reality

Here's something to consider:

Moderately high unemployment being useful for right wing supporters - keeping unions in check, wages down and excuse " to stomp on public sector wages and eliminate government programs" (yah, like Harper has ever considered that) and most of all,

"it keeps the population in line. Most are too busy worrying about their jobs to pay attention to matters like climate change or the Alberta oilsands." (Toronto Star)

+
a small core of die-hard, extremist, right wing support (with epi-centre Alberta), that keeps Stephen Harper and the Con's in power . . . (cicblog)

= . . . (You do the math).

The August Labour Force Survey is not a reliable indicator of an economy that is on the mend.

There may have been a net 36,000 created. However, not only did the jobless rate go up. But, according to the Statscan report, 68,000 were in educational services "rebounded from a decline of a similar magnitude the previous month." (lets see, as lose in teaching jobs in July followed be a corresponding gain in August, what does that indicate - a stronger economy or the Summer holidays). Also, "There were increases in the public sector (+58,000) and in self-employment (+18,000) in August, while there were declines among private sector employees (-40,000)."(Statscan)

Teaching jobs are important and one of the better ways to spend tax payers money - certainly much better than a lot of the ways the Harper government 'used' the Stimulus Spending. It is not so obviously for Public sector jobs and perhaps Stephen Harper could fill us in on their nature (it seems a significant number went to the PMO office). But this is still tax payers' money, going towards deficits and not indicative of an economy that is mending.

These numbers certainly do not indicate that the economic crisis is over.

Increasing EI premiums is a tax in crease, plane and simple. Although I am sure Harper, Fleherty and the Con's will say it isn't. One sure indicator is whether EI premiums goes to a separate, marked account, dedicated to EI payments, or the the general purse. Another, is as stated that EI premiums are already more than supporting the EI program (by the tune of 55 billion).

Lloyd MacILquham cicblog.com/comments.html