Mad Max Missed

No, it's not that I miss him already, which I will when I get round to it. It's the missed opportunity. Coyne had the kernel of a point when he said that Bernier missed an opportunity to present a strong message focussed on Economic growth, free markets and fiscal restraint. Instead he got bogged down in "conspiracy theories" on climate denial and immigration. Now I happen to believe that PPC policies were some of the best I've seen written on all of the issues, including the last two. I stoutly refuse to believe or accept that wanting rational immigration and environmental policies makes you a nazi or a "climate change-denier". 

However, Max undoubtedly allowed himself and others to constantly define himself as just that guy. To use the PM's favourite trope (which was actually Laurier's), there could have been more "sunny ways" from him and a far more disciplined (like a laser) focus on how his policies would undoubtedly help the average, ordinary consumer, also, by chance, voter. 

Let's take a Canadian family of four. They want to go on vacation this year and require airline tickets. The PPC's Open Skies policy would save about ( as an example)  $200 per person on those tickets: total - $800. The family has two cellphones. The deregulation of Telecomms the PPC advocate would save (based on US rates) about $100 per month: $1200. The family drinks milk and eats dairy products, poultry and eggs. The PPC's abolition of the Supply Management system for those products would save by most estimates $500 a year. The PPC's vow to drop tariffs that protect apparel industries can be expected to rake in another $600 per year (for e.g.: $50 a month from savings on clothes buys).

The total savings for a family in one year from Santa Max's proposals: $3100! And that's not even counting the priceless gains for all (including for business in savings on inputs) of better service, better choice, more competitive pricing and more vibrant business (and for dairy) export activity, not to mention a better standard of living and quality of life from these free markets. On top of that, except for the "lost" tariffs that aren't collected anyway, it costs nothing to the taxpayer. The elimination of the capital gains tax Bernier proposed would save many Canadians still more at almost no real loss to the treasury and turbocharge an economy desperately in need of defibrillation.

This one simple example of how his message could have been sold makes me weep at the lost opportunity for us all and makes it hard to feel sorry for Max, flawed trumpet that he is.