tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post1355752169430580987..comments2023-09-22T06:22:50.820-06:00Comments on Ken Chapman: Does the Economist See the Wildrose Alliance For What it Is?kenchapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-82657688126177915702010-03-01T21:56:54.503-07:002010-03-01T21:56:54.503-07:00I was in favour of the whole Reboot concept as pro...I was in favour of the whole Reboot concept as promoted by Ken.<br /><br />But I am very fiscally centred and so I tend to vote PC federally and WAP provincially while I do not hold party memberships.<br /><br />When I see Reboot members continually attack these two parties it alienates me from Reboots' agenda of accountability and transparency with voters.<br /><br />Too bad this partisan crap has to contaminate a good discussion and eliminate a huge cross section of voters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-19843645236238020072010-02-23T22:52:23.554-07:002010-02-23T22:52:23.554-07:00Ken,
I respect your opinions, energy and commitme...Ken,<br /><br />I respect your opinions, energy and commitment to democracy and making Alberta a better province. However, after reading the Economist article and knowing that you were consulted, it makes sense how the entire Libertarian aspect of the Wildrose party was not mentioned.<br /><br />As someone of the Libertarian persuasion, we seem to agree on social issues, however, we disagree at times on economics and starkly disagree on what royalties and our "fair share" should be. <br /><br />You advocate for increasing net royalties and taxes, which I cannot understand, especially on the natural gas front. We have high cost gas and there is so much more tight gas on the market. To compound the problem Alberta has highest marginal effective tax and royalty rates for conventional oil and gas when compared to all other N.A jurisdictions. The bottom line is that with our price sensitive royalty framework we are less competitive at all price levels.<br /><br />This is not my opinion. These are the findings of a report that will be released later this month by highly respected Dr. Jack Mintz of the school of public policy at the u of c. I attended a seminar earlier this month. <br /><br />Our price sensitive regime for both conventional and oil sands accentuates and distorts the macro economic business cycle. It does so by encouraging investments at the peak of the business cycle and discouraging them at the bottom of the cycle. This is because capital costs are deductible. Therefore deductions are larger if you invest at the peak of the cycle when costs are highest and you can deduct this larger amount as you come down the cycle when you are taxed on income with lower prices per barrel or cube. The opposite happens when prices are low which is completely unintuitive and backwards to the action the market is signalling. This is especially troublesome with the oil sands and the increased inflationary pressure it will exert.<br /><br />A flat rate like Norway uses is a simpler and superior royalty regime that maximizes rent collection. The proof is in the size of their savings.<br /><br />It is specifically your position on royalties that i fail to see your logic behind we are a stable producer.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-47388756334533858102010-02-22T07:50:19.325-07:002010-02-22T07:50:19.325-07:00The Economist is known for their balanced coverage...The Economist is known for their balanced coverage. If your remarks didn't make the cut, it may be that they felt you had too much bias. I think you should take that as a reality check on this subject.<br /><br />-John HOBAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-42538604044708492812010-02-21T21:19:32.691-07:002010-02-21T21:19:32.691-07:00I'm really hoping that the Alberta party pushe...I'm really hoping that the Alberta party pushes for the proclaiming of Bill 44. The tories, rather the liberal lite party has delayed implementation and our children are being harmed. Time to move forward with this progressive piece of legislation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-27221372979894521522010-02-20T17:37:16.891-07:002010-02-20T17:37:16.891-07:00A snarky rply might be that progressive is what fe...A snarky rply might be that progressive is what federal Liberals pretend to be when they are seeking election from the left, and then forget about being when they are ruling from the right.<br /><br />You want progressive? Try lookinbg at NDP policies.Holly Stickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01137842937086115228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-29888780170945445242010-02-20T17:16:06.982-07:002010-02-20T17:16:06.982-07:00Thx for the comment Anon @4:50. The question of wh...Thx for the comment Anon @4:50. The question of what is a progressive is fundamental to those who are co-creating the socio-political movement called Reboot Alberta. It is not yet answered but will be a central theme at RebootAlberta 2.0 next weekend when about 130 of us get together in Kananaskis to grapple with the concept in a 21st century Alberta context.<br /><br />May I suggest that you go to www.rebootalberta.org and click on the various papers and postings in the What is a Progressive link. It will give you a sense of what people involved in Reboot Alberta are thinking and feeling.<br /><br />Right now my personal sense of being progressive in a 21st century Alberta is all about a way of thinking, knowing and perhaps beleving. It is not a specific political philosophy or policy stance like a party platform. <br /><br />It is not about being left or right but about how do we move forward and adapt to the new realities we have created ot good and bad. How do we see and get to know that we must live within the limits of nature if we are to survive as a species. <br /><br />The planet is fine. It does not care nor need us, but the reverse is not true. Lots more to talk about but I have to move on. Let me say to put the emerging concept of a New Progressive in a box and label it "Trudeau" is not anything close to comprehensive or insightful enough to help you understand what is being created and conceived in Reboot Alberta. <br /><br />Reboot2.0 next weekend is open to anyone. You might want to join us and see for yourself what is happening. It is quite fascinating.kenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-74120454270271442792010-02-20T16:50:56.360-07:002010-02-20T16:50:56.360-07:00I haven't seen anyone in the Alberta Progressi...I haven't seen anyone in the Alberta Progressive movement outline a specific, coherent explanation of what progressive means to those of you in the "movement". <br /><br />From an outsiders view it seems to be a movement to create a Trudeauesque Alberta; raise taxes, expand government, expand the influence of unions, expand the authority of the human rights commission, eliminate privatization efforts in government, increase spending dramatically, increase the intrusion of government into our lives for the "common good", etc.<br /><br />I don't really see the difference between today's progressives and the Trudeau agenda. Am I mistaken, if so in what ways?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-539100064015728472010-02-20T13:37:28.855-07:002010-02-20T13:37:28.855-07:00I am very pleased to see the ACCOMMODATION of the ...I am very pleased to see the ACCOMMODATION of the Alberta Party to forge an amalgamation with the Renew Alberta initiative. I just hope is is not a short cut to the hard work of party orgainzation on the ground. If they take this opportunity to copy Peter Lougheed's techniques and connect with real people face-to-face ("The Big Listen" as they call it) in all the communities across the province they can make a real difference and be a real difference.<br /><br />Renew is not Reboot. Reboot is only about 3 months old and the Renew guys have been around for about a year. Reboot is about finding and designing a number of ways to revive citizen engagement in politics. Renew is only about a new party.<br /><br />About 35% of the folks invited and attending Reboot1.0 in Red Deer at the end of November saw a new progresssive/moderate/centrist political party as one of the ways to impact change in the Alberta political culture. Anouther 15% wanted to work to change the culture of the different and existing political parties they all belonged to.<br /><br />Another 15% in Reboot are keen on dealing with the democratic deficit and things like deliberative democracy and electoral reform. The final 35% are the civil society people who work in and through the voluntary and not-for-profit and social justice sectors. <br /><br />They are they key to my mind in changing the political culture to a more mature collaborative design model away from an adversarial gamesmanship culture we see dominating the dialogue today. <br /><br />I hope the Renewed Alberta Party will be most influenced by the culture of this sector as it looks for ways to differentiate and improve on the conventional models of politics as ususalkenchapmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11384045981190810115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31415271.post-63241865051033454452010-02-20T13:24:49.183-07:002010-02-20T13:24:49.183-07:00O.K.... what is your reaction to the re-newers (an...O.K.... what is your reaction to the re-newers (and by inference probably the re-booters) moving into the Alberta Party.calgary clipperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01635386817826820826noreply@blogger.com