Sunday, December 11, 2005
Letting people make their own mistakes
Seen in a short CTV article:
I agree with Scott Reid that the Conservative Party's proposal would allow parents to spend this money on those things. I don't agree with "the Tories" that Scott Reid's comments prove anything about "the Liberals," though I have heard similar attitudes before from people who identify themselves as liberals or socialists.
Personally, I'd prefer to just leave the money in the hands of the people who earned it in the first place. But given that this money is going to be redistributed to these parents (either in the form of cash or in the form of "free" social programs), I'm completely in favour of allowing the parents to spend the money on beer and popcorn. (I don't expect that many of them will, though.)
Update: Looks like CTV pulled the original article and now there's a new article about Reid's apology:
I don't think I'd call the Conservative Party's proposal a tax cut (because it's significant to me that they're proposing taking money from non-parents and giving it to parents), but I agree that it's not a child-care plan. If I were a parent, I don't think I would want a government child-care plan. I'd rather have my money back and figure out my own plan.
Scott Reid, Prime Minister Paul Martin's director of communications, says there's nothing in the Harper plan to make sure that cash allowances intended to pay for day care would actually be spent for that purpose.
Reid says parents could take the cash windfall and spend it on anything they want _ including beer and popcorn.
The remarks made on a CBC television program sparked an immediate response from the Tories.
They say Reid's comments prove the Liberals don't trust families to make their own choices on what's best for their children.
I agree with Scott Reid that the Conservative Party's proposal would allow parents to spend this money on those things. I don't agree with "the Tories" that Scott Reid's comments prove anything about "the Liberals," though I have heard similar attitudes before from people who identify themselves as liberals or socialists.
Personally, I'd prefer to just leave the money in the hands of the people who earned it in the first place. But given that this money is going to be redistributed to these parents (either in the form of cash or in the form of "free" social programs), I'm completely in favour of allowing the parents to spend the money on beer and popcorn. (I don't expect that many of them will, though.)
Update: Looks like CTV pulled the original article and now there's a new article about Reid's apology:
Reid later sent an email to reporters apologizing for his remarks. "It was a dumb way to make my point and I apologize because obviously, no responsible parent would make that choice. The point remains that Mr. Harper offers a tax cut, not a child care plan."
I don't think I'd call the Conservative Party's proposal a tax cut (because it's significant to me that they're proposing taking money from non-parents and giving it to parents), but I agree that it's not a child-care plan. If I were a parent, I don't think I would want a government child-care plan. I'd rather have my money back and figure out my own plan.
