"Trump Will Lose the Election" Say People Who Were Not Asked

It's a good thing, therefore, that they cannot vote:

Most Canadians are expecting U.S. President Donald Trump will make a full recovery from his COVID-19 diagnosis, but will still lose the election to Joe Biden on Nov. 3.

A large majority of Canadians also believe that Trump’s cavalier attitude toward wearing a mask contributed to him getting the disease, the poll by Maru/Blue Public Opinion found. If Trump does make a full recovery, the poll found most Canadians believe it will encourage Americans to downplay the severity of the virus.

 

(Sidebar: this infection.)

 

Already on the road to recovery, all Trump has to do is remind people that, unlike what some patronising nobodies have to say (or not say), Americans really do have things good. The economy, despite the global house arrest, is doing quite well and discontent over the manufactured discontent is growing and pushing people towards Trump.

 

One cannot be as optimistic for Canada:

According to U.S. data, a booming stock market and a series of fiscal and monetary stimulus efforts pushed the wealth of American households to the highest level ever in the second quarter of this year, in spite of a huge drop in the previous quarter when the novel coronavirus sent global asset values plunging.

For the second quarter of 2020, U.S. household wealth grew at a 6.8 per cent rate. Household wealth in Canada, meanwhile, rose by a less sparkling 4.9 per cent, according to data from National Bank Senior Economist Marc Pinsonneault in Montreal.

** 

Cabinet’s parliamentary secretary for finance last night called income inequality a plague in Canada. The Liberal MP appeared to express support for a federal inheritance tax abolished by Parliament forty-eight years ago: “We will not be afraid.” 

 

(Sidebar: will you be afraid to start with Justin? Are Canadians plagued with millions of dollars in inheritance?)

**

Minister Freeland talks a good game about “inclusive growth” but the Liberals’ spending plans are all about redistribution, not growth. The promise to create one million jobs relies on government spending to boost the economy. There is no plan to encourage private investment or job creation directly. If anything, huge new federal spending will crowd out private investment as companies realize how big a tax bill they could be hit with if they sink capital into Canada.

The investment shortfall is a major problem for a country currently falling behind in competitiveness. Pre-pandemic Canada already had a poor private investment record, with real spending dropping since 2014 in every sector except real estate. Not surprisingly, productivity has also flat-lined since then, which will eventually crimp wages.

** 

Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland yesterday said it “would not be prudent” to guess this year’s deficit. Senators questioned whether the budget shortfall would surpass $400 billion: “I understand the importance of brake and gas pedals.”

 

(Sidebar: I don't think that you do, Chrystia. Aren't you, as a public servant, accountable to the public?) 

**

Legislators yesterday for the first time rejected cabinet’s demand for quick passage of a pandemic relief bill into law. The protest followed complaints billions have been borrowed without full scrutiny: “The money has to be paid back.” 

** 

The Canada Revenue Agency yesterday named a longtime Liberal appointee as $145,000-a year Taxpayers’ Ombudsman. MPs have questioned the usefulness of the office: “The ombudsman is not on the taxpayer’s side.”

 

(Sidebar: is the story-teller on our side? Is this the same agency that won't answer calls but will fill out God knows what on your income tax return?)

**

New $2,000-a month pandemic benefits for jobless workers will be paid by October 19 after the Senate approved a $51.2 billion relief bill. Senators questioned the Prime Minister’s assurance that Parliament took on debt so Canadians didn’t have to: “What does that even mean?”

 

(Sidebar: the same as the "learning experience" did for people who had nothing whatsoever to do with his piggish behaviour. It's the false martyrdom of robber barons who gladly waste money and will flee as soon as it is all gone.)

So, please, tell tasteless jokes about Trump's greatly exaggerated demise. 

He will still win in November and that will be good for a country that embraces economic and social failure while its American neighbours do not.