Don’t you love elections? Where every day is a new opportunity for the hand in your pocket to actually put something back. Where every change you ever wanted made in the political landscape will suddenly magically appear.
So far leading up to the provincial election in May, we’ve had our medical premiums slashed – of course that won’t actually take place until well after the election, but hey, it’s the thought that counts. Colour me cynical but I have visions of reality. As in medical expenses in B.C. are rising faster than an iceberg in front of the Titanic. If we couldn’t afford to be almost the only province in Canada still charging medical premiums at a time when we’re supposedly rolling in dough, how the heck will we do so in the years to come? I predict the premiums will more than double for the poor wretches still paying them.
Veering from the monetary issues for a moment, I’m always surprised how quickly some changes can be made, especially when they score big in public perception. For instance, how is it possible in 2017 that some women have to go to spend eight or more hours on their feet in high heels as terms of their employment? It didn’t take long for that bandwagon to get passengers, did it? Changing the rules in favour of the long-suffering wait staff definitely was a step in the right direction for the Liberals. High optics, little negative consequences for the reigning party. After all, what employer in his or her right mind is going on record as being a sexist in this day and age?
Back to money, I was actually hoping to see more relief in the provincial budget for the folks in B.C. who need it the most. You know, those people who reside on the largesse of the taxpayer – the disabled. Every time we give something to the people on disability pensions, we turn around and take something away from them. And to add insult to injury, we claw back any further pensions they get from other sources including the Canadian government. We can continually give politicians cost-of-living increases, but we have to make someone who can’t afford to own a vehicle or perhaps is unable to drive pay for a bus pass. In my book that’s pretty disgusting.
And lest we start leaving all the meanness and penny-pinching at the feet of the Liberals, let’s remember that it was the last NDP government that first froze welfare rates. Both major parties seem to think it’s OK to penalize the poor. However, now that there’s going to be some much needed brakes applied to fundraising for politicians (big surprise, after the election), perhaps everyone’s voice will carry more weight.
What will happen in May is anyone’s guess. No matter who the polls say will win, and if we’ve learned anything in the past few elections, regardless of what they say, I predict the slogan of the next government will once again be,
“How can we bamboozle you? Let us count the ways.”
