Rick Lowe
This post about Ryan Pinder's contradictions got me to thinking a little more about how the political class contradict themselves over the major issues and that prompted another letter to the editor.
Before I get to that, Mr. Pinder found it necessary to blast me (he expects better of me) and say that he did not say those things.
Well here are a couple quotes from his presentation to Parliament.
"As mentioned, as recent as this month, the IMF estimated, and I think conservatively, that our current debt to GDP ratio is 62%, and projected to grow to 69% by 2016."…
"Irresponsible Borrowing – We on this side argue that borrowing for building things, rather than investing in people is wrong and not a progressive policy for the advancement of Bahamians, especially in the current fiscal environment."
"…I believe we should be investing in people, not more money in the ground at this time."
He protests that he did not say borrowed money should be spent on people, yet he did. Mr. Pinder should admit his error and move on. Or if that's what he truly believes, stand by his position.
A sad commentary indeed.
Mr. Pinder has something to offer. He's bright and most of the time brings a, dare I say more mature approach to PLP debate. Point scoring becomes unnecessary when we stick to public policy that would be best for ALL Bahamians.
My letter to the editor follows.
Politics of Contradiciton
A young Opposition Member of Parliament recently blasted the government about the problem the country faces with the ever increasing national debt. He is correct about the borrowing, but as is typical with political hyperbole, he offers no specifics on how to solve the problem or how his party would have handled the world recession.
He then contradicts himself in a newspaper article by asking, "Why invest more borrowed money into the ground, rather than in people?"
Suggesting the country borrow to spend on people refutes his earlier position that the government is borrowing too much.
Of course inconsistencies like this can be found on both sides of the isle when politicians think of little more than sound bites in an attempt to "motivate" their supporters. But this does more harm in the long run, particularly on big issues like the national debt. Repayment of the borrowed money does not discriminate along party lines. Every citizen is responsible for it one way or another so there needs to be some agreement between those in Parliament on a possible resolution.
Dr. Richard Rahn of the CATO Institute pointed out recently that the political class in Canada and Sweden "summon(ed) the political will to make necessary changes in spending, taxing and regulations" to prevent fiscal disaster. Both governing and opposition members there came together in the mid 1990's to make those necessary changes. Surely the political class here can follow their lead?
One thing that is certain, the bigger the government gets, and the more it attempts to "provide", the more citizens have to pay in the form of taxes &/or inflation. Either way a lower standard of living results because nothing is free.
Members of Parliament know this, but in some cases, it appears the hope of short term political gain is more important than future generations.
Rick,
You like to take something and twist it to whatever benefit you think you get from it. I never once said that we should be borrowing more money, I am not in favour of additional borrowings. That I have been very clear about. Take the position of investing in people is not the same as taking the position of increased borrowing. Rick, you seem to just want to exist to oppose, oppose anything and everything, while some of us are actually trying to provide a positive contribution to the country. And yes, I do expect more of you.
Ryan, I’m not sure how I’ve twisted your words, but, please explain what you meant by saying not to put borrowed money into the ground but into the people, if I’ve misunderstood you.
I agree, I am negative about governments/politicians taking tax dollars from Bahamians to “invest”. Take your own money and invest it to benefit people!
The burden future generations of Bahamians will have to bear because of cute slogans like yours and other politicians only continues to grow.
Many of you will be collecting your pensions off the rest of the taxpayers while they’ll be paying for the failed policies.
I honestly think you misunderstand the role of government sometimes.
You see it is the citizens that should expect more from you guys, not the other way around. You only want the other guy to be held accountable to what they say and do.
Remember Lowe’s Law? Politician’s spend their careers making laws to keep everyone else accountable and make the average citizen and business play “fair”. Yet, they refuse to hold themselves to the same standards.
And add a few cute slogan’s to make us believe there is something for nothing and carry on.
Right on Rick.I for one am sick of paying taxes for out of control spending & borrowing by successive governments.Right now our taxes are OUT OF CONTROL.I am so glad to hear you holding their feet to the fire they to are out of control.It is past the time that all this petty crap stops & the good of the country comes first.Mr.Pinder knows what he said & now he is the one that is trying to “Twist” his own words.Please keep up the good work.
Dennis – I am not changing anything, I never said to borrow more and that is a fact. If there is any politician out there against further borrowing its me, same goes towards tax reform and policies of economic expansion. Rick is just dead wrong.
Ryan,
How can I be wrong when I’m quoting your words?
You said, instead of spending borrowed money, and putting it into the ground, put it into people.
You were referring to $80 million being borrowed for repairs to the water mains as I recall.
Your point was instead of repairing the water mains with it, “invest” it in people.
It’s borrowed money that taxpayers are responsible for if you have your druthers to “invest” it in people or the government “invests’ it in infrastructure.
As a taxpayer, I would like you to explain what you mean by investing it in people please?
Rick and Dennis, you’ll have to take some pity on Ryan, after all he is a lawyer.
Ryan, you are not being misquoted.Say what you mean & mean what you say, that’s all I’m asking & let the chips fall where they may.
What he probably meant by investing it in people is continuing or restarting the ‘disastrous’ govt. guranteed student loan program, where a majority of those who have recieved it didn’t even finish their degree and are not and have no intention of paying the money back to the govt. or should i say to the Bahamian taxpayer you and me who are fitting gigantic taxes to pay for it all. I think it will be interesting to see if luck has it that the PLP wins the election if they will really put an end to the borrowing by govt. from all the talk you would imagine they would, but we know better than to trust politicians, what is convenient to oppose whilst in opposition is probably even more convenient to do if you get in power and that goes for all parties, i may add.
Then if that’s what he meant to say, he should have said that.As far as the PLP goes, they are the champions of borrowing & mis-spending of funds in my opinion & God help us all if they even think they would be re-elected,we most certainly would be in the crapper then.