We have come full circle. The Alliance and the Liberals seem to be campaigning for the votes of the 150 members of the Business Council on National Issues, the loudest voice for tax cuts in the country. The rest of us have been judged unfit to make important economic decisions so our preferences are irrelevant. It doesn t matter that since February fewer and fewer name tax cuts as a priority in dividing up the federal budget surplus. Those wanting active government in the form of increased spending on Medicare, education, child poverty, or establishing a national child care program have been increasing.
Democracy is all about equality.
But the tax cut campaign is really just the last assault in a war on democratic government. As programs erode under the burden of huge cuts, we are told they don t work any more. With the deficit miraculously turned into a surplus, the customer is going to get her money back. The tax-cutters arguments do not stand up to scrutiny. We either cut or lose our competitive edge.