Sunday, February 25, 2018

Conservatives need to rally around something simple - Tax cuts

Its Sunday, and I am in a really good mood.  I'm not able to make it to Church every week due to my work schedule, but today was not one of those days.  I'm able to attend about two out of every three Sundays.  Today the hymns were upbeat, the fellowship wonderful and the sermon was fantastic.  

The readings were from Genesis and Matthew, about the creation story and John The Baptist.  About God's love for His creation and His love for us, His creation.  

We had a guest Pastor today, one who retired from leading our Church a number of years back, long before I joined the congregation.  His sermon was fantastic, about how we're constantly being told "you're not good enough".  It starts when we're kids, our parents get mad and say: "Why can't you be good".  The implication is obvious, a child hearing that they're not good, that means they must be bad.  And it doesn't stop when we're kids, it keeps going throughout life, people continually hear that they're not worthy.  

That's the wonderful message of Jesus Christ, that despite what others say...even our parents, deep down in my soul I know that I am worthy, that I am part of a chosen people.  Its a nice message to hear on a Sunday, or any day for that matter.  I asked the Pastor after the service if the sermon was new, or if he'd gone back into the archives for a "best of".  "That one was from 2003 brother", was his answer, "with a little tweaking".

Why am I writing about my Christian faith?  I mean, isn't this a blog about politics?  Its often said that these are the two topics to never discuss, but if I'm going to write about one, I might as well include the other.  

So now that I've covered religion, I'll move onto politics and the role religion often has.

When musing about Conservative politics, taking matters of faith into consideration is not without a fair degree of importance.  A lot of party members are also members of a faith community, and not just the Christian faith.  But my knowledge of Islam, Sikhism, Judaism and other religions isn't sufficient enough to express views on them intelligently so I'll stick to the faith I was brought up in.

Those who've read my previous postings already know that I'm supporting Brown, and I imagine some might be surprised that I'm a Christian.  It shouldn't be surprising to those who already know how divided the Christian Church is among all the different denominations.  

There is a common thread however.  All the Churches I've been to preach from the Holy Bible and acknowledge Jesus as Lord.  That doesn't mean they're all the same however, just as their are varying sects within Judaism and Islam, Christians have differences too. 

What Does Polling Say?

Ontario Conservatives have differences too, tons of them as this race shows.  We have 5 candidates and if the polling that just came out is even remotely accurate, not one single leadership hopeful will have even 30% after the first round of voting.

Its going to come down to second and even third choices.  According to polling numbers being published from Mainstreet Research Brown and Elliott are in a statistical tie (with Elliott ahead by less than a single percentage point) with just over 28% each and Doug Ford third with a bit more than 22%.  

Mulroney and Allen come 4th and 5th with 14 and 6% respectively, that means they'd be the first to drop off.  I consider Caroline Mulroney's supporters to be the most forgiving of Christine Elliott taking a job from Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne.  Given that Brian Mulroney spoke glowingly of Justin Trudeau even before he became the Liberal leader, and is now working for the Liberal government, it makes sense.  

Allen's support I see moving mostly to Ford, which means this is going to be a horse race....

At the end of it all there will be only one leader, and if polling reflects the actual results it will mean that over 70% did not have that person as their first choice.  Patrick Brown is in the hunt, but I think it could very well end up being any one of the three.  

I am hoping that the prospect of an income tax cut in the party's platform will convince enough party members to have Brown, if not first....at least second or third.  Otherwise we'll be seeing Ottawa impose a carbon tax on the province and we'll have to settle for whatever they decide to send back our way.  Railing against the Carbon Tax is good politics, like the candidate for Student Council who promises three hour lunches, its good for posturing.  

I've worked out that the income tax cut proposed in the Party approved Patrick Brown platform, that it would mean over $100 in tax savings for me personally each month.  To bring religion back into this, I guess that makes me guilty of avarice, oh well.  Those unhappy with the new Sex-Ed curriculum could use the money to help pay for the tuition at a private Christian school.    

It still frustrates me that this leadership race is even taking place, it never should have happened except for some yellow journalism by CTV.  For more on this watch Deb Davison's look into the real motivation behind the trumped up allegations:


Happy voting everyone.  Christians should know all about false allegations and the way the mob is typically whipped into a frenzy by groups like the Pharisees who've now moved into the media and decide what and how it is reported. 


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