Harper Embraces Keynes
Later today, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government will table a budget which goes to extraordinary means in its attempt to stimulate the economy, throwing the government into massive deficit in the process. This from a man whose Masters thesis completely opposed the theories presented by John Maynard Keynes. Granted, he has seen sure to include tax cuts in order to satisfy his base supporters. Based on what we’ve heard to date, this budget runs counter to that thesis.
Has the Prime Minister undergone a conversion on the road to Damascus? Is he now a socialist? Or is he about to enact measures that he does not believe in? For his core support, neo cons whose intention to shift the country towards the right, the question will be simplified: Is he a turncoat or a hippocrit? For surely, those who believe that government intervention doesn’t work and in fact makes things worse will be utterly disappointed in their man today. Evidence of concern appeared last week, when the Fraser Institute released their recommendations for the budget: Tax cuts and spending cuts and no money for stimulus.
Tags: budget, conservative, Economy, Harper, keynes, stimulus