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It's a Recession or Worse

When the rich get into financial trouble they receive a stimulus package. When the poor need financial help they get a handout. It's the same provider, the government, giving the same item, money. Yet when it's a millionaire coming cap in hand they get the money and apparently in the USA no questions asked. The same isn't true when someone applies for social assistance.

There is a recession on. Talk to cab drivers they know when business is down. Noticed that your favorite restaurant isn't packed to the rafters on Friday and wonder why now it's easy to get a seat. Servers can tell you there is a recession on. The one people who won't, especially during an election campaign, is the government.

It is a global economy so the meltdown in the USA will at some point impact Canada. Likely fewer tourists, less trade and so on.

What's galling about the bailouts for the big boys is how often we hear there isn't any money to say, bring subsidized housing up to code. Odd how when people lose jobs and can't pay their rent or put food on the table, that they are told that 'we can't spend our way out of a recession'. Government must start spending for the people as they have for corporate interests.

The recently re-elected Harper Conservatives have made clear they will not put resources into social programs and other initiatives crucial to our survival. In fact, they will try to do the very opposite. As the downturn cuts into government revenues, government will try to cut programs, in order to balance their books. This should not only be expected from the openly right wing Federal Government. Ontario's Dalton McGuinty has already used the economy to renege on an election promise noting that the economy downturn will delay Queen's Park's 'poverty reduction' measures. Fiberals redux?

Dalton McGuinty has just announced that $635 million to fund the Pan Am Games is available, but the poverty reduction measures are to be reduced?.

Governments need to get their eye on the ball and help those on the worst end of the socio-economic conditions. It would be a far better use of 635 million dollars.