[j-monster]

Canada, your options:

Neo-Cons: Balanced budgets and sales tax cuts

Blue Grits: Balanced budgets and income tax cuts

Dippers: Balanced budgets and no tax cuts

TO THE BARRICADES!!

In this election of medicore federal leaders, it's easy to forget how lucky we are. Most countries would kill to fight elections over this stuff. We've got it pretty good folks.

I'll be supporting the party that put us in such an enviable position. They're also the party that realizes Reaganomics and regressive sales tax cuts are as dead as Ronnie himself.

My personal campaign slogan for this election: "moving forward and then moving on." Paul's the best of the lot, but he's a caretaker for the next real leader: Iggy? Garneau? Cauchon? We'll see... I hope.

Harper's mearly taking a page out of Martin's vote buying book, though I believe Harper will actually follow through on his promise.

Income tax cuts are, in my opinion the best way to go, but cutting the GST is something all Canadians can easily see and relate to with every purchase they make.

I think you hit on an essential point there, sherpa. I don't believe for a solitary second that Martin or the Liberals will do anything they have promised. They've rarely delivered in the 12 years they've been in power, why would they start now? Whatever Harper's faults are perceived to be (some of which are true, some aren't), I actually believe that he and the Conservatives will deliver on their promises. And I think that's the key... the announcements the Conservatives have made so far will have appeal to voters, and will take away from the "hidden agenda, scary Tories" fears. When they measure that against the Liberals failures, I believe enough people will change their mind and vote for the Tories. At least I hope so.

And I agree with you as well that income tax cuts are almost always better, but in some ways the cutting GST promise is a brilliant move. Besides the point you made, GST cuts have a real impact on lower and middle-class Canadians. Yes, rich people may enjoy greater dollar savings, but as a percentage of income the benefit to lower and middle-class Canadians is just as important. Even with the GST rebate, an immediate cut is better, due to the time value of money (money now > money later).