The Liberals Grim Future

2010 has been a fantastic year for the BC Liberals. Polling numbers are up, more volunteers are joining the party, and great policies have shown them to be a dominant political force in British Columbia; oh wait, that's the NDP!

We are three years away from the latest Liberal mandate ending, but they are likely going to find this to be one of their toughest years yet. Here's why:

Polling numbers for the Liberals have dropped 14% since the 2009 provincial election, that's a lot of swing seats waiting to be captured by the social democratic opposition, and they know it. Watch out Ida Chong and Murray Coell, your days are numbered.

July marks the end of the HST citizens initiative, and since we have already passed the Elections BC threshold halfway through the period, it's likely that we will get over a million signatures. August would then be the month whether or not it will be confirmed to have passed or failed by the non-partisan office of the Legislature.

Let's not forget the Basi-Virk trial, or the Kash Heed investigation either. Who knows when they will end but I'd expect Kash Heed to be required to run in a by-election in his electoral district, which he most definetely would lose.

Oh yes, in November we can start recall too! Gordon Campbell, Colin Hansen, Mike de Jong, and hopefully many others will be on the chopping block for removal from the Legislature by early 2011.

You know if all this happened just in the next year, with another huge deficit coming from the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the Liberals would be lucky to be as popular as the Green Party.

Number of days until Carole James wins the 2013 provincial election: 1,082

The Drama That is Politics

All around the world, politics (as always) has been causing plenty of blood, sweat, and tears. In Europe, people have been getting violent due to over taxation and fiscal austerity. In America, Republicans are attempting to convince the public that Obama is the Anti-Christ, and in the never peaceful land of Korea threats of war are rising once again. What a day to be alive.

Federally, MPs have been squirming about a possible breakdown of legislators spending habits. In BC, Gordon Campbell has admitted that he is probably more unpopular than his much hated HST. Now sure, I have my opinions on all of these things, but the fact of the matter is that politics doesn't have to always cause division, or regressive policies.

Politics shouldn't be something that is feared, together as seen with the HST initiative, good things can come out of politics. We can progress together as a society and make our community, our province, our country, and our world a better place to live. So rather than contemplate killing each other, setting off bombs in banks, and spreading hatred among our citizens, we should embrace the potential of peace, good governance, and economic prosperity.

Happy Days Are Here Again

The recession is over! At least according to Colin Hansen...

Yes according to our Finance Minister, the economic downturn that has plagued us since 2008 (some would argue 2007), is over. Hooray! But wait a minute: did we not just announce a $1.7 billion deficit in March? Isn't the unemployment rate at 7.9%? Isn't the housing market stalling? Aren't worldwide markets collapsing once again amidst European debt crisis fears?

Unfortunately, this isn't the end of the Great Recession. We may wish it to be, but this is most likely only the beginning of Act 2. Things are going to get worse, before they get better (sorry for the pessimistic view point...) It seems to that the sole reason the member from Vancouver-Quilchena made such a statement was to simply distract the public from the citizens initiative, and recent government fallouts.

When the Great Depression ended, "Happy Days Are Here Again" was played consistently. Personally, I believe that it is a little bit too early to be playing our new economic prosperity song of the day (might I suggest Bad Romance!) If it is though, perhaps it's time to cancel that massively unpopular tax, whose countdown is slowly drawing ever closer.

Partial Success!

Today, a vast majority of British Columbians have achieved a small victory. Gordon Campbell, according to C-FAX 1070 is "casting doubts about a run at a fourth term." I am not an advocate of using emoticons, but because this is a joyous occasion, I will use it only once: o_O

Some have said that because of the recent Liberal fall out, Gordon Campbell might resign. I was never one to believe this, I thought he would wait until he was forced from office, but I always kept up hope! This could be an indirect reference to Gordon Campbell's possible resignation from the office of Premier of British Columbia.

Sure it took us 9 years to get here, many scandals, and painful things to occur to our fair province, but we are closer than ever to either having the HST be repealed, or better yet, having Gordon Campbell resign. My memory tragically only spans from the Campbell ministry beyond, so the thought of the Liberal leader leaving his position, is quite exciting.

Of course though, with Gordon Campbell gone, there is a very high chance of Colin Hansen taking over the post. I swear this will be the last time I use emoticons: :(

Keep fighting the good fight ladies and gentlemen, because together we can accomplish anything.