- Corktown Paint-by-Numbers Party - August 19, 2017, at Church of the Ascension, 258 John St S, Hamilton, ON L8N 2C9
- 4 Upcoming Events...
Recent Articles
- Festival of Friends: The Good, the Bad, and the Uglyby Ryan Barath, published August 09, 2017 in Commentary
(3 comments)
- Open Letter: LRT Privatization is Privatizationby Eric Tuck, published August 09, 2017 in Opinion
(8 comments)
- Seeing Hamilton Through Fresh Eyesby Michelle Martin, published August 04, 2017 in Belonging
(0 comments)
- Ministry Approves Hamilton LRT Environmental Reportby Ryan McGreal, published August 03, 2017 in Special Report: Light Rail
(13 comments)
- Transportation Lessons for Hamilton from Ottawaby Jason Allen, published August 01, 2017 in Special Report: Transit
(5 comments)
- Welfare Diary 26 Years Later, Part 4: Through a Teenaged Lens Refocusedby Karl Andrus, published July 31, 2017 in Special Report: A Welfare Diary
(2 comments)
- Welfare Diary 26 Years Later, Part 3: Welfare Diary Revisitedby Karl Andrus, published July 31, 2017 in Special Report: A Welfare Diary
(0 comments)
- Welfare Diary 26 Years Later, Part 2: A Welfare Diaryby Karl Andrus, published July 31, 2017 in Special Report: A Welfare Diary
(0 comments)
- Welfare Diary 26 Years Later, Part 1: A Reflectionby Karl Andrus, published July 31, 2017 in Special Report: A Welfare Diary
(0 comments)
- Hamilton's Core is Ground Zero for Changeby Ryan Barath, published July 31, 2017 in Commentary
(0 comments)
- Anti-LRT Fearmongering Targets Overhead Wiresby Chris Drew, published July 31, 2017 in Special Report: Light Rail
(3 comments)
- Hamilton Bike Share Launches Everybody Rides Initiative With New Bikesby Ryan McGreal, published July 28, 2017 in Special Report: Cycling
(7 comments)
- The Halifax Department of Silly Walksby Sean Marshall, published July 28, 2017 in Special Report: Walkable Streets
(0 comments)
- Can You Close Down City Hall?by Mark Robbins, published July 27, 2017 in Commentary
(13 comments)
- After the Flood: Uncertain Future for Global Climate Refugeesby Paul Weinberg, published July 24, 2017 in Special Report: Climate Change
(1 comment)
- Dear Drivers of Hamiltonby Frances Murray, published July 24, 2017 in Commentary
(6 comments)
- No Loitering: A Rapid Tour of the Mountain Browby Mark Fenton, published July 21, 2017 in Photo Essay
(2 comments)
- Tell the Government to Ratify Bill 26by Doreen Nicoll, published July 20, 2017 in Healing Gaia
(1 comment)
- Beg Buttons Removed at Young and Jamesby Kevin Love, published July 20, 2017 in Eyes on the Street
(6 comments)
- Ten Things Council Must Do Before Operating LRTby Dan Jelly, published July 05, 2017 in Special Report: Light Rail
(16 comments)
Article Archives
Blog Archives
Site Tools
Feeds
By A Smith (anonymous) | Posted March 04, 2012 at 23:20:16 in reply to Comment 74998
Here is something that will blow your mind...
From 1990Q3-1995Q3, Canadian real GDP averaged 1.75%.
Since that time, we have focused on being lean and mean. Low deficits, low welfare and corporate tax cuts.
What have these changes done for economic growth. Well, since 2000, real GDP has averaged only 1.57%. It gets better, from 2005-2011, real GDP averaged only 0.89%.
Meanwhile, we have more people accessing food-banks and record household debt.
In the U.S., the story is similar. From 1990-95, prior to welfare reform, real GDP averaged 2.62%. Since 2000, it has averaged only 1.78%. And from 2005, it has managed only 0.89%.
You said this a while back...
"that's because morality is not, and should not I think, be part of economic decision-making. "
Okay, then how about pragmatism?
If it can be seen that higher welfare leads to better GDP growth (and likely lower health costs), isn't that a good reason to help the poor?
Permalink | Context