tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post2101873746950655861..comments2023-10-14T05:50:19.314-04:00Comments on Making Sense with Nicholls: Pork PowerGerry Nichollshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10496716615185797501noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-67811851462119076122009-09-15T16:00:04.621-04:002009-09-15T16:00:04.621-04:00Gerry,
Pork chop...that's good. I'll res...Gerry,<br /><br />Pork chop...that's good. I'll research it, but 308 is a lot of ridings to go through. Enjoy your blog very much, even if my political leanings differ from your own. I've started a blog aggegator called Canada's Best Political Blogs and I've included your's. <br /><br />Any suggestions for other worthy and well written Tory blogs would be appreciated...the only other right leaning one I have listed is The Politic. <br /><br />If you want to check it out here's the URL:<br /><br />http://canadasbestpoliticalblogs.feedcluster.com/Gordie Canukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11889201338151732092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-75084891455865189412009-09-15T09:31:51.152-04:002009-09-15T09:31:51.152-04:00Gerry:
It may be rich. There is some argument the...Gerry:<br /><br />It may be rich. There is some argument there. I don't know what the exact right amount would be and no one could ever agree anyway.<br /><br />But even then, I stand by my view that it would be better to give them a very good rich pension sooner but one that grows a lot slower than the market.<br /><br />We want a variety of people representing us, from all walks of life and background. Primary among those, I think, the kind of people we want are ones that have had some significant life experience - worked out there in the real world for a good long part of their lives - have paid taxes, have had kids, have used our hospitals, seen a few changes of government, have shown some demonstrable success in their field, are well past the stage of "finding themselves". <br /><br />That kind of person is almost by definition in their 40s to 50s. That is their prime earning years or the most critical time for someone trying to generate income for retirement, theirs and their spouses, or are facing the crunch of university costs for their kids, or are now in charge of the family farm upon which his or her parents rely as much as his or her kids.<br /><br />I think if we want the best and the brightest, the most generous and selfless, we have to make it so they are no financially hit and they don't think their families will be financially hit.Ted Bettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223729391428982448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-37493120459433557682009-09-15T08:50:45.895-04:002009-09-15T08:50:45.895-04:00Ted, I have no problem with MPs having a pension, ...Ted, I have no problem with MPs having a pension, it's just the one they enjoy right now is so out of wack with what's available in the private sector. Simply put, it's too rich.<br /><br />Gord, I can't find a list online, but it would just be a matter of checking out those MPs who were first elected in 2004 or later. Actually, back in 1997 when I was at the National Citizens Coalition, we ran a campaign which did exactly that, it targeted MPs who were about to qualify for pensions -- we called it Operation Pork Chop!Gerry Nichollshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10496716615185797501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-7217746013099300452009-09-15T00:52:18.172-04:002009-09-15T00:52:18.172-04:00Ted, I beg to differ. Try paying new MP's mu...Ted, I beg to differ. Try paying new MP's much larger salaries which decrease with each re-election, and scrap their pensions completely. Citizens should be encouraged to put their lives on hold while they serve in government, but not for too long. A retiring or defeated Conservative, and most Liberals, would then return to earning a living, while NDPee and Blech MP's would deservedly be out in the cold.Dollopshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04619266685624836383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-26502658835196456172009-09-14T22:39:39.864-04:002009-09-14T22:39:39.864-04:00Is there a list of their names somewhere on the we...Is there a list of their names somewhere on the web? I'd love to see a campaign/movement organized to see all of them denied (if another election is shortly forthcoming)...regardless of political affiliation.Gordie Canukhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11889201338151732092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-83861507998296497652009-09-14T20:28:18.377-04:002009-09-14T20:28:18.377-04:00I enjoy your posts, Gerry. It is nice and refreshi...I enjoy your posts, Gerry. It is nice and refreshing to read someone who remains a conservative when all around have become, well, exactly what you should have expected from a lifelong politician like Harper and those who follow and support him.<br /><br />But on MP salaries and pensions, I will have to disagree with you. I think that not only are MPs underpaid - and we see the result in the quality of the MPs - but that they deserve a gold plated pension plan (albeit relatively small when compared to private pension plans).<br /><br />My reasoning is this: the life of an MP is volatile, they could run and not win, win and then lose in the next election, fight like hell over an issue of public and personal importance win and then lose. Tough luck? Sure, but who is going to choose to give up a secure job that pays for their family and provides for their retirement? The pension in particular is important to ensure that good citizens would not suffer longterm financial harm to themselves, their spouses and their family from serving Canadians.<br /><br />If anything, I would reverse it. Make it easier to qualify, but then more quickly cap it or have only a moderate growth over time. Both measures would ensure that the incentive to stay longer would not be there and would not provide an incentive to hold on too long. Salaries should be increased too.Ted Bettshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06223729391428982448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17859678.post-43242091393507725652009-09-14T18:05:14.656-04:002009-09-14T18:05:14.656-04:00When my local council meets, one of the first orde...When my local council meets, one of the first order of business is for members to declare any pecuniary interest on any agenda item. I guess our MPs don't have the same requirement. Jack Layton is interested in preserving his pension!Ken S from Ramarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16983894655094943569noreply@blogger.com