Dan Gardner goes in-depth on what is really a simple story. The Liberals established a solid economic foundation, preparing Canada in the case of hard times … or Conservatives. Both have happened.
Once in power, the Conservatives promptly took the credit for Canada’s economic stewardship. As the country’s deficit continues to grow and government spending becomes more out of control, you can bet they will blame the opposition, ‘external factors’ and the liberal media. Anyone and anything but themselves.
Gardner is being too nice to the Conservatives. It’s not just Conservative messaging that is at fault here.
I don’t want to overstate things. We have been doing fairly well, particularly relative to the United States. But the government grossly exaggerated how well the economy was doing. And by making it seem as if Canada was uniquely prosperous, the Conservatives led Canadians to believe the cause must be uniquely Canadian – as in, the masterful economic stewardship of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Not that I blame the government for hoodwinking Canadians.
That’s politics. Prime ministers exaggerate the good stuff and take credit for it, while blaming everything that goes wrong on forces beyond our borders. Always have. Always will.
The fault lies with the media. Even a quick look at basic numbers would have revealed that the Conservatives were telling a whopper. But far too many journalists didn’t bother to look at the numbers.
Gardner is absolutely on the mark about the media. What do you expect when that media is in bed with the Conservatives? That’s why columns like this are so rare – and so valuable.
H/T: @BinaBecker
