Either way, those NOT working in the oil business won’t see a dime of any profit, our wallets are paying for their profits. I don’t consider the Epstein war and resulting higher costs in every area a “win” when they had ZERO plan to fix their incompetence. But of course, all the oligarchs getting rich off the war is EXACTLY her game, isn’t it?
Don't Poilievre it up that's funny. They are both thoroughly unlikeable ideological husks. However, PP doesn't have any chips on the oil price roulette table to bet though.
If the stock market is any meter of overall sentiment, it's very negative.
The benefits of any oil booms are much more concentrated now. The skill set required now to work in the oil sands is narrower and more specialized. Those working there better have multi trade certification or useful STEM degrees.
The corporations will gladly harvest additional profits for as long as they last.
Meanwhile it is expensive to live here in the corporate paradise despite the "Alberta Advantage." Last time I checked higher oil prices don't lower inflation.
My theory is that the Alberta Advantage is businesses can pocket the money that would otherwise fund provincial services. It keeps corporate donations heading to political parties at least 🙄
Well that extra spending power has to go somewhere. Every time the public gets an increase in benefits or a break in taxes or fees, the prices go up unfailingly.
Great essay - thumb precisely on the point that rising global oil prices (and concurrent rush of royalty payments into the Alberta govt treasury) will rescue the UCP from the consequences of their gawd-awful execrable policies.
The Leg could be filled with nothing but piles of rotting turnips on the chairs of the UCP party as long as the oil goodies roll in.
You are spot on - how then does the Opposition gain any traction?
We have a political culture of disengagement, passivity and "let it ride" bedded in here the province. Perversely, most Albertans hold themselves above the grubbiness of politics, and leave it to the operatives and bagmen to deliver a robust status quo funded by the pittance of oil royalties.
Dovetailed to that electoral glue is a dominant hostile American-owned RW press that ranges from indifference to implacably hatred to any opposition to the PC/UCP spin, rinse, lies and double-dealing. The UCP and the PCs before them have had multiple moments of such colossal self-owning dumb fuckery that in any other province in the nation would have guaranteed them electoral annihilation.
I don't think we will ever see real politics in this province until the oil is gone. Then, in conditions of real scarcity and stark choice, politics will be necessary robust.
I caught Max Fawcett on Jespersen today; the latter half they talked about Max’s column “Nenshi needs to step up or step down”. I’m not positive I was completely sold but he had some good points.
I viewed both episodes of Jespersons, and the interview with Fawcett and it seems to boil down to talking head preference in communication style from leaders.
Nenshi mentioned a desire to elevate the visibility and depth of his cabinet - certainly Pancholi's "Cut the Bullshit" comments following Smiths announcement. Fair dinkum that, but Fawcett et al do have a good point that Nenshi and the NDP have a golden set of issues right now to take on the UCP and build political capital - particularly Calgary south.
The NDP have to build a narrative that resonates - I think Smith and her party are weakest on the economy, so the NDP have to go after them blowing a boom during the boom.
153 people, children, were killed after a strike on a school in southern Iran.
This was a hard cartoon for me to do. Let me set the record straight on this,”I don’t condone War and the killing children is not funny! The cartoon is to show that psychopaths are profiting from War. To them War is a game and Americans are being played!
And what happens when it costs everybody more to drive their kids to their private school and their mom to her private surgery? Forget buying local produce if lettuce costs $10 just to break even. No carbon tax to yell about this time. Or are we still blaming Notley?
How does Rajan Sawhney get off criticism free for her little jaunt to India when Carney is roundly criticized by the people still concerned by human rights and foreign interference? Different group of Sikhs?
Conservatives are very good at controlling the narrative. It helps that they have pipelines of info moving steadily; Manning Centre/Strong and Free. Western Standard/True North, to Post Media, to the news.
Especially in Alberta, the conservative media bubble is solid. They won’t be pointing fingers at the UCP; ever.
Well, there are budgets (capital & operating) - usually based on earnings & needs - and then there are expenditures. This Smith government rarely connects the two. Earnings are celebrated given the price of O&G. Deficits are - blame Ottawa - which is to distract from the issue of a fuzzy expenditure spreadsheet. The earnings disappear, but on what??? Likely another 'Panel' or referendum. Governance is certainly pricey ... Do we know what Smith and her many ministers get paid???
Either way, those NOT working in the oil business won’t see a dime of any profit, our wallets are paying for their profits. I don’t consider the Epstein war and resulting higher costs in every area a “win” when they had ZERO plan to fix their incompetence. But of course, all the oligarchs getting rich off the war is EXACTLY her game, isn’t it?
That is the appropriate level of anger for this post. I hope the rest of your day is cheerier!
Those were my same thoughts.
Appropriately said
But Dorito Boy and company will be thrilled with the higher oil prices as well!
Don't Poilievre it up that's funny. They are both thoroughly unlikeable ideological husks. However, PP doesn't have any chips on the oil price roulette table to bet though.
If the stock market is any meter of overall sentiment, it's very negative.
The benefits of any oil booms are much more concentrated now. The skill set required now to work in the oil sands is narrower and more specialized. Those working there better have multi trade certification or useful STEM degrees.
The corporations will gladly harvest additional profits for as long as they last.
Meanwhile it is expensive to live here in the corporate paradise despite the "Alberta Advantage." Last time I checked higher oil prices don't lower inflation.
My theory is that the Alberta Advantage is businesses can pocket the money that would otherwise fund provincial services. It keeps corporate donations heading to political parties at least 🙄
Well that extra spending power has to go somewhere. Every time the public gets an increase in benefits or a break in taxes or fees, the prices go up unfailingly.
Great essay - thumb precisely on the point that rising global oil prices (and concurrent rush of royalty payments into the Alberta govt treasury) will rescue the UCP from the consequences of their gawd-awful execrable policies.
The Leg could be filled with nothing but piles of rotting turnips on the chairs of the UCP party as long as the oil goodies roll in.
That’s what the opposition is up against; turnips with royalties.
You are spot on - how then does the Opposition gain any traction?
We have a political culture of disengagement, passivity and "let it ride" bedded in here the province. Perversely, most Albertans hold themselves above the grubbiness of politics, and leave it to the operatives and bagmen to deliver a robust status quo funded by the pittance of oil royalties.
Dovetailed to that electoral glue is a dominant hostile American-owned RW press that ranges from indifference to implacably hatred to any opposition to the PC/UCP spin, rinse, lies and double-dealing. The UCP and the PCs before them have had multiple moments of such colossal self-owning dumb fuckery that in any other province in the nation would have guaranteed them electoral annihilation.
I don't think we will ever see real politics in this province until the oil is gone. Then, in conditions of real scarcity and stark choice, politics will be necessary robust.
I caught Max Fawcett on Jespersen today; the latter half they talked about Max’s column “Nenshi needs to step up or step down”. I’m not positive I was completely sold but he had some good points.
I viewed both episodes of Jespersons, and the interview with Fawcett and it seems to boil down to talking head preference in communication style from leaders.
Nenshi mentioned a desire to elevate the visibility and depth of his cabinet - certainly Pancholi's "Cut the Bullshit" comments following Smiths announcement. Fair dinkum that, but Fawcett et al do have a good point that Nenshi and the NDP have a golden set of issues right now to take on the UCP and build political capital - particularly Calgary south.
The NDP have to build a narrative that resonates - I think Smith and her party are weakest on the economy, so the NDP have to go after them blowing a boom during the boom.
I’m playing with this now. We’ll see if I can come up with something useful :)
“You know you’re dating yourself by quoting a Motown hit from 1970,” said the old man to the probably-not-as-old lady.
By the way, can you point me to a website that charts “blood per barrel?” The ba**ards!
lol — it’s one of the many lines I dance on. Someone told me recently that I had a “young vibe” and we can’t let that go unanswered 😏
153 people, children, were killed after a strike on a school in southern Iran.
This was a hard cartoon for me to do. Let me set the record straight on this,”I don’t condone War and the killing children is not funny! The cartoon is to show that psychopaths are profiting from War. To them War is a game and Americans are being played!
And what happens when it costs everybody more to drive their kids to their private school and their mom to her private surgery? Forget buying local produce if lettuce costs $10 just to break even. No carbon tax to yell about this time. Or are we still blaming Notley?
How does Rajan Sawhney get off criticism free for her little jaunt to India when Carney is roundly criticized by the people still concerned by human rights and foreign interference? Different group of Sikhs?
Conservatives are very good at controlling the narrative. It helps that they have pipelines of info moving steadily; Manning Centre/Strong and Free. Western Standard/True North, to Post Media, to the news.
Especially in Alberta, the conservative media bubble is solid. They won’t be pointing fingers at the UCP; ever.
Well, there are budgets (capital & operating) - usually based on earnings & needs - and then there are expenditures. This Smith government rarely connects the two. Earnings are celebrated given the price of O&G. Deficits are - blame Ottawa - which is to distract from the issue of a fuzzy expenditure spreadsheet. The earnings disappear, but on what??? Likely another 'Panel' or referendum. Governance is certainly pricey ... Do we know what Smith and her many ministers get paid???
“Fascinating, if vomitous” should definitely be a tagline in Alberta political commentary.