
Conservatives have been wrong about big government for some time now.
At least since the introduction of large-scale benefit programs, and probably before that, they’ve argued that the bigger the government, the higher the taxes and the greater the waste. Ronald Reagan was fond of asserting that “the most terrifying words in the English language are: ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’ ”
But history suggests it’s not size that’s the problem, it’s character. Bigness doesn’t necessarily mean pain, though admittedly it increases the opportunities; more often it’s short-sighted, inept, irresponsible governments, hungry for public approval, that are behind so much budgetary damage.
This has been confirmed anew by the expert panel charged with assessing the state of Alberta’s economy. The panel, headed by former Saskatchewan finance minister Janice MacKinnon, painted a dismal picture of a province addicted to outspending its (chronically unreliable) income.
“Without decisive action, the province faces year after year of deficits and ever-increasing debt,” it warned. Health care needs a “major transformation.” The public service has to start living in the real world. Local councils can’t expect the province to pick up every bill. Universities have to study up on new math and raise their own cash. Everyone needs to quit assuming spending can just go up year after year, regardless of the revenue available.
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