The wrack of Confederation
This wouldn't be happening if Joe Howe had been more resolute in his separatism.
posted by WJM @ 11:51 AM
labradore
"We can't allow things that are inaccurate to stand." — The Word of Our Dan, February 19, 2008.
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Does Nova Scotia have its own airline with many international connections?
Iceland has the world's highest standard of living - higher than Canada's. Would Nova Scotia have the same if Joe Howe had been more resolute in his separatism?
Would Nova Scotia have 1% unemployment if Joe Howe had been more resolute in his separatism?
Would Nova Scotia have been in the top five internationally for nominal gross domestic product per capita and purchasing power parity, if Joe Howe had been more resolute in his separatism?
Would Nova Scotia have the world's second longest average lifespan, as Iceland does, if Joe Howe had been more resolute in his separatism?
Okay... so who is going to be first to tell Stephen that WJM was being facetious?
Whatever Geoff, WJM might have written facetiously but he never takes seriously any suggestion that Iceland is a world-class example when it comes to economic and social management, that is unhindered by unsympathetic federal governments. If he were to acknowledge Iceland's success it might mean there's merit in ideas such as a further decentralized Canada or an independent NL.
It is unhindered by unsympathetic federal governments. That much is true. It also shipped over half its population to North America when times were tough. It closed down countless rural communities in the past 40 years in order to encourage some degree of urbanization, allowing for provision of services and economies of scale. It has never tried to employ ten people for every available fishing job, as we have in this neck of the woods, and in more recent years has completely privatized access to the fishery through individual quotas which are bought and sold on the open market. Stephen, if that is the path that you believe Newfoundland or Nova Scotia should follow, then I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is. Iceland's economic success has absolutely nothing to do with the absence of a federal government. If you're advocating an absence of federalism for us, then again, put your money where your mouth is, and call "un-hindrance" by its proper name. Anyone who truly believes Newfoundland is, or ever would have been financially better off outside of Canada is a stark-raving lunatic.
It also shipped over half its population to North America when times were tough.
What share of their populations have Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador shippied to richer provinces or the US during times of economic turmoil? Newfoundland and Labrador has lost 12% of its population or more ever since the moratorium - in the past 15 years. Why don't you get your Liberal bedmate WJM to make you up a nice pretty graph?
It closed down countless rural communities in the past 40 years in order to encourage some degree of urbanization, allowing for provision of services and economies of scale.
Ever heard of resettlement?
It has never tried to employ ten people for every available fishing job, as we have in this neck of the woods, and in more recent years has completely privatized access to the fishery through individual quotas which are bought and sold on the open market.
Good for Iceland that its fishery wasn't completely destroyed. Also, good for Iceland that Canada wasn't managing its fishery.
Iceland's economic success has absolutely nothing to do with the absence of a federal government.
What does it have to do with then besides being self-determining and having control over foreign and resource policies that directly affect its well-being? Newfoundland and Labrador has never enjoyed control over its own foreign affairs and offshore resources and the result has been severe economic underdevelopment.
Anyone who truly believes Newfoundland is, or ever would have been financially better off outside of Canada is a stark-raving lunatic.
I'd say anyone who thinks Iceland isn't a very worthy example of what smaller jurisdictions might do it left to their own is desperate to ignore this very successful example. That's why WJM HATES the existence of smaller countries like Ireland, and especially Norway and Iceland (who share similar resource-based economies)) - because they highlight possibilities other than being under the thumb of a federal government controlled by a couple of rich and powerful provinces.
As for putting my money where my mouth is I'm not sure what you mean exactly? If you mean political parties there are none in this province worth joining. I consider myself active by staying informed and discussing issues wherever I can - this is an aspect of citizenship. I've joined some advocacy groups that are pushing for change on specific issues. I'm not in a position now to do much else but certainly hope to in the future.
As for you, does being a Liberal Party lackey mean putting your money where your mouth is or do you just enjoy the smug comfort of being part of a powerful clique?
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