Ontario Budget 2012: Winners, Losers, And Mega-Losers

 1) Let's start with the mega-loser in all of this: Tim Hudak and the PCPO.  Tim could have got something from  the government in exchange for seeing this budget through.  Instead he removed himself from the process 39 minutes in and got nothing.  The other two parties walked  away with tangibles.  Tim walked away with dick.

2) Let's move on to the second biggest loser: Tim Hudak and the 1%.  Are you of the 1%: rich, indigent, a follower of Ayn Rand that thinks the proles should go fuck themselves?  Tim Hudak and the PCPO betrayed you.  Tim was off in the corner somewhere wanking it two-fisted while the NDP and McGuinty Liberals did the hard work of compromise to make this province work.  No reason to blame McGuinty; he's trying to govern.  No reason to blame Horwath; the NDP is about what the NDP is about.  Yo rich dude, its Hudak that let you down!  That 2% surtax could have been 1% if Tim had just been in the room, negotiating on your behalf.  Hate the dorky capitalist before you hate the clever socialist.

3) Let's move on to the smallest winner:  Andrea Horwath.  She got  compromises.  Yada yada yada.

4) But let's conclude with the biggest, most awesome winner:  Dalton McGuinty.  He buys himself a year of free governing.  The economy continues to improve.  His position solidifies.  Hudak and co. go from opposing him on the basis of grand economic philosophies to stalling anti-bullying legislation so as to pander to Catholic radicals and homophobes from their own back-bench.  Tim tried winning on that issue last time, and it flopped.  McGuinty, should he choose to run again at the head of the Ontario Liberals, can probably start looking to rent another hall for his victory banquet.

Dalton McGuinty Is Jesus

..or, at least, not Bob Rae.  But I believe him when he says he won't run.  Which so far gives us for the Liberal Leadership race an allegedly reluctant Bob Rae (banned from competing by the LPoC youth elite) vs. Borys Who?, who is intriguing but way low profile.  Steve, Jeff...where is this Teenage Jesus you seek?

Dalton McGuinty: You Magnificent Bastard, Part II

Perhaps the most significant of the proposed policy shifts would see an easing of the typical beer tent-type stipulation that required beer-drinking patrons or guests to obtain and consume their drinks in a fixed space – typically away from other aspects of the event. With these changes, such attendees at events should have much more freedom to wander with their drinks within the footprint of the event.

One of my few good memories of vacationing in Yuma, Ariz. was the weekend flea-market they held at their greyhound track. I'd wander around with an open beer and a Mexican flat-bread with icing sugar on it, and watch the people selling tasers and switch-blades, or the guy offering tax advice out of the back of his camper. I remember the taser-guy giving me a weird look when I told him they were probably illegal back in my country. And I remember one dude selling old coins trying to convince me that the stars visible on a Greek piece suggested that the ancients had been privy to astronomical knowledge given to them by space aliens. I kid you not. I told him that I'd just got off the plane, not the boat, but I think my brother bought a couple of his ring-shaped coins (like twonies with the center missing) and for years after wore them on a silver chain.

And of course, this was the early 90s, when LA Gear was desperately dumping its lower end runners at flea-markets and swap meets and you could buy a pair for $15.

Ah! The old days!

In any case, Dalton's latest policy initiative will serve to bring rural and urban Ontarion's closer together. Or at least, when the wife wants to go visiting some of those farmers' markets North of Steeles, I won't get quite as bored.

PS. Part I was Family Day.