Promosexual Tom
August 30, 2005 · By Peter Rempel
Tom Courchene, the equalization expert who is now advocating the confiscation of Alberta’s wealth in order to soften the consequences of the idiotic fiscal policies of other provincial government and, of course, the federal government, is a difficult man to describe. But I believe I’ve found a way to do so: If there were an intellectual Ed the Sock, he would call Courchene a flaming promosexual. Read Courchene’s describe his own selfless motivations for diving into the debate and tell me that it doesn’t have Lyndsay Lohan all over it:
“This is the beginning of a ‘let those eastern bastards freeze in hell’ type of scenario,” he [Courchene] said. “I guess someone has to say it.”
And that someone is old reliable Tom, fiercely going where he is sure to attract the wrath of Albertan red-necks everywhere. What courage.
I anxiously await the release of Tom’s whole paper. It will make for interesting reading. Because the problem with Ol’ Tom is that of all “public intellectuals,” a phrase the media has dusted off in order to describe Michael Ignatieff. Tom is a smart guy, but the few hints of publicity he receieved in the past prompted him to shift his priorities oh-so-slightly toward public consumption. It’s easy to garner publicity, after all, when you’re controversial. But much more difficult to support one’s assertions.
Does anyone think it is a coincidence that Tom’s paper was released for a full airing in the national media (how many academic papers get that kind of treatment?) a few weeks after Leon Craig’s Alberta separatism manifesto appeared in print and the poll on western separatist was released? How convienent that Tom’s paper coincides with Dalton McGuinty’s new campaign to wrest more money from Albertans to subsidize his irresponsible governance. Suprise suprise.
I wrote an article about this nonsense, exerpt:
“Long story short: the Liberals have been planting absurd anti-Alberta stories in the mainstream media this week because it is The Silly Season and it appears they are floating the trial balloon of an anti-US AND anti-Alberta campaign. Believe it or not folks, sometimes governments, even western democracies, try to influence media coverage, no tinfoil necessary to buy that assertion.
Lauzon and Courchesne’s arguments were nonsensical at face value and should be ridiculed by anyone with Economics 200. Alberta’s revenue is 28% from resources so it is suuuuper obvious that WHEN THE PRICE OF OIL GOES UP TO RECORD LEVELS THERE WILL TEND TO BE A FEW EXTRA BUCKS IN THE ALBERTA COFFERS DUHDUHDUH!
Consti(freaking)tutionally and morally that cash belongs to Albertans, end of story.”
(end excerpt)
I have more on the “Klein Surplus = Martin Surplus” myth at my blog too; it’s important to let you West Of Kenora guys know that what you read in the obsequious Liberal press is not an accurate representation of what us Easterners are thinking. I have seen this Divide And Conquer tactic before and it is called “Let’s you and him fight!”. I urge everyone not to be faked out by this absurd silly season story.
“This is the beginning of a ‘let those eastern bastards freeze in hell’ type of scenario,� he [Courchene] said. “I guess someone has to say it.�
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Uh, last I checked, the saying goes: ‘let those eastern bastards freeze in the DARK.’ I’m a bit perlexed by how anyone freezes in hell, something I thought fire and brimstone were not all that conducive to. But typical, a further demonstration that Central Canada hasn’t a clue.
I guess Albertans are expected to acquiesce to the East even on their bumper stickers now.