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Winnipeg City Issues & Urban Affairs: Dion.. you're an idiot.

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    • CommentAuthorDeanK
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008 edited
     
    Dion says Canadians willing to accept plan to tax carbon emissions http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/080515/national/dion_carbon_tax I cant believe he seriously thinks he will get elected into power with that as a part of a main platform. If he does do something stupid like that, gaurenteed conservative Majority.
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      CommentAuthorcancelbot
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    Moderator
    People are environmentally conscious, but I don't think it's the absolute #1 issue for many people. Dion would probably be wise to hitch his wagon to another issue...obviously the environment is important and deserves his party's attention, but it might be wise to focus on policies that are more likely to garner votes.
  3.  
    He missed a window. Six months ago is could have flew and I think polling showed it very well could but since gas prices have bumped that train left the station.
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      CommentAuthorSputnik
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    That last think Dion should be doing is taking a #3 of #4 issue like the environment and elevating it to the #1 position by turning it into a new tax.
    Thankful People: cancelbot
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      CommentAuthorStBPegger
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    Is the environment a #3 or #4 issue? From the polls I recall, it was either #1 or #2.
  6.  
    Canadians are always willing to accept another tax, especially if it forcibly shoved up our collective butts. Its comments like that make me thankful that Dion is a Liberal.
  7.  
    The problem is we have to many #1 issues.
    Thankful People: Jupitergal
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      CommentAuthorcherenkov
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    I personally believe a carbon tax is a pretty good idea, but I also think it would be political suicide for Dion. If he actually went ahead with the platform in an election with gas prices as high as they are (or higher), he will get crushed, but at least in my eyes he will have earned a little more respect.
    Thankful People: zander
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      CommentAuthorzander
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    I agree the timing is terrible, but a carbon tax - if done correctly (i.e. tax shifting or entirely revenue-neutral) is cited as one of the best ways (if not the best way) of dealing with carbon emissions.

    If he brings it up now, the Cons, Bloc and NDP will go negative on him, the idea will become toxic and Canadians will lose the opportunity to have an honest discussion about an excellent policy tool.

    This one needs to sit for a bit.

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      CommentAuthorStBPegger
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    Agreed - especially when there are so many other ways to tackle the environment issue that are more easy for the public to digest.
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    I think it's a wonderful idea. Dion should also say he wants to tax food, having a baby and dying.
  12.  
    Did anyone notice the graphic on the front page of the Free Press showing how much the Arctic ice has shrunk from 1979 to now?

    The article is here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/story/4173682p-4762112c.html

    I think its time to reduce fossil fuel use. A carbon tax would do that, maybe letting me keep more of my income if they offset it.

    They probably need to reduce the impact of a tax shift like that on rural and northern people. They need "the juice" more that urbanites do.
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      CommentAuthorNorthlands
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    How will this work, really? They tax the hell out of cigarettes and people still smoke. People like incentives better than negatives. Making it easier to live more green will appeal to the masses much easier than punishing everyone for not doing what he wants. Stephane Dion hasn't exactly been a stellar leader for the federal liberals since he's taken the reigns. Making a bonehead move like this will only further the general publics' view of him as a unpersonable policy wonk. The high price of fuel alone should begin to curb the general publics' use of gasoline. Less consumption will lower the emissions. We're already paying taxes on fuel. The gov't isn't using all of that money to go back into our infrastructure either. So I begin to wonder what this new tax would bring us? More raises for MP's? A few new federal buildings? I hope he does try to push this through. It might finally force the liberals to choose a real leader.
  14.  
    He says he will reduce income taxes to offset the carbon tax....talk about opening a can of worms.

    I have to agree with Dean...Dion is an idiot. (I disagree he's policy wonk...he's just a wonk).
  15.  
    There are worms in cigarettes?
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      CommentAuthorSputnik
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    Posted By: NorthlandsPeople like incentives better than negatives.


    I have always said. The best way to see a policy or attitude change is by making everyone think they came up with the idea on their own.

    Being spoonfed (or forcefed) by the government will generally see more resistance.
  17.  
    Posted By: JimmytufishI think it's a wonderful idea. Dion should also say he wants to tax food, having a baby and dying.


    i thought all that was taxed already?
    • CommentAuthorDeanK
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    Posted By: Freethinker
    Posted By: JimmytufishI think it's a wonderful idea. Dion should also say he wants to tax food, having a baby and dying.


    i thought all that was taxed already?


    yes sir, thank you very much Mr Mulroney.
  19.  
    Moderator
    Dion is getting the concept out of the way early. Remember last time around when the first thing Harper said in the whole campaign was that he'd open the books on banning gay marriage? All he had to do was *say* it, right at the outset, and Ma and Pa Jesusfreak were a lock for the whole campaign. Not only did he not have to actually *do* anything about it, he never had to address it again, before or after the election. By the time voting day came 'round it was so forgotten about it wasn't even funny.

    A carbon tax is pretty much the same - you're never going to actually convince anyone to change their mind on the position, so why not get it out of the way early in the campaign. Get the ones for whom it *is* the number one issue on-side, and then move on to other stuff because you no longer have to worry about them. Use softer issues to try and sway the undecideds.
    • CommentAuthorDeanK
    • CommentTimeMay 15th 2008
     
    maybe.. but I would not give Dion that much credit

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