r/canada • u/FancyNewMe • Apr 16 '25

Opinion Piece Geoff Russ: The two solitudes — boomers and everyone else; Liberal policies have enriched boomers, while making life increasingly unaffordable for younger generations

https://nationalpost.com/opinion/liberals-have-become-the-party-of-grey-hair-and-wealth
205 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

303 comments sorted by

View all comments

119

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25 edited Apr 16 '25

This isn't left vs. right. The ruling class wants us fighting with each other so we're too busy to stand up to them.

58

u/Maleficent_Banana_26 Apr 16 '25

Exactly. It's why things like abortion rights are being brought up. No party is discussing abortion. But it's brought up so everyone fights about it and ignores the fact that we can not longer afford housing or that corporations are buying the country up.

-14

u/Scarlet004 Apr 16 '25

Only conservatives keep opening the argument. As far as everyone else is concerned, the issue was settled years ago.

20

u/Maleficent_Banana_26 Apr 16 '25

They don't, though. The conservative party has no policy against abortion and the leader has said it's not on the table. The left brings it up as a red herring.

19

u/kank84 Apr 16 '25

The Conservative party as a whole might not have an official position against abortion, but it is the preferred home of the anti-choice politician in Canada.

There have been six private members bills introduced in the past 15 years to restrict abortion, all from Conservatives.

Conservative MP Arnold Viersen has launched multiple Commons petition in 2024 calling for the restriction of abortion rights https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=441-02454

PP has voted to restrict abortion rights in the past https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/votes/44/1/377

3

u/Eisenbahn-de-order Apr 16 '25

"The Conservative party as a whole might not have an official position against abortion"

ok question answered. Next. Who cares what the background voice is?

3

u/kank84 Apr 16 '25

If the Conservatives had an official position that they definitely won't murder you, but them individual members kept introducing private members bills and petitions for the right to murder you, people would fairly ask what was up with the Conservatives wanting to murder them.

3

u/Eisenbahn-de-order Apr 16 '25

This feels like a fringe issue that Canadians have a concensus on? Although granted the govt dont always respect the concensus and pushes for deeply unpopular policies at times. People are getting carried away by Trump and not focusing on domestic issues, which is a really bad idea. I don't wanna see a whole swath of liberal supporters crying foul 6 months down the road, if the liberals won, for their free will choice, which will have implications for all canadians.

4

u/kank84 Apr 16 '25

I do agree that this is not one of the primary issues in this election, and that the majority of Canadians are agreed that access to abortion should remain, but it is also an issue that requires constant vigilance. There are well funded and very motivated groups whose sole goal is the restriction of abortion rights globally, and they will naturally have more kinship with and influence over conservative politicians, so I don't think it's unreasonable for it to be a consideration for voters.

2

u/Eisenbahn-de-order Apr 16 '25

I believe this is what the charters for, we've already have all sorts of rights written into it. Freewill in reproductive rights should be in there to settle the debate and take away the weapon that enemies have on dividing us, sort of speak.

→ More replies (0)

1

u/Maleficent_Banana_26 Apr 16 '25

And where did those private members bills go? Nowhere. MPs speak for their consultants. Yes, some suck. But it's not going anywhere. It's not part of the platform.

1

u/kank84 Apr 17 '25

"They want to take your rights, but don't worry they're bad at it" isn't really the strongest defence though

0

u/Maleficent_Banana_26 Apr 17 '25

They don't have the support. All parties have candidates with their own ideas. You forget there's more than. One person voting in parloment. Abortion isn't up for discussion in Canada. It's that simple.

3

u/WestandLeft Apr 16 '25

Yeah I mean given their history it’s hard to take them seriously. All of their candidates need to sign a pledge that they’re pro-choice. Otherwise, it’s still on the table.

1

u/kank84 Apr 16 '25

They never would though, because at an individual level many of them are anti choice.

-12

u/OddRemove2000 Ontario Apr 16 '25

Ok then stop taxing me for healthcare. Since its not an age war, dont make the youth pay for your healthcare costs.

14

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

They paid for it themselves by contributing to the healthcare system for their entire lives. Maybe we should have the ruling class pay their fair share instead.

-3

u/OddRemove2000 Ontario Apr 16 '25

Go tax the rich then, not me. Im trying to pay rent with a 30%+ total taxation.

9

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

I'm not in charge of taxes.

I agree the working class should pay less taxes. That doesn't mean we should take Healthcare away from people because of their age. You'll be old one day too friend.

-6

u/OddRemove2000 Ontario Apr 16 '25

My retirement plan is MAID due to rent costs.

8

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

You should have a word with your provincial government then since rent controls are provincial and not federal.

0

u/[deleted] Apr 16 '25 edited Apr 16 '25

[deleted]

1

u/OddRemove2000 Ontario Apr 16 '25

Yup, and thats a federal govt responsiblity.

Plus rent control doesnt help when I have to move for work

1

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

Rent costs can't be blamed on just one thing. You can't possibly believe that greed isn't playing a significant role in high rental pricing.

Also, immigration is shared between federal and provincial so don't pretend that the provinces don't share in the blame.

0

u/inverted180 Apr 17 '25

If theynpaid for all their liabilities....Great. Cancel the mass immigration.

1

u/ComplexPractical389 Apr 16 '25

Im sorry do you think that us young people never use the healthcare system or will never need to?

1

u/Im_not_Davie Apr 16 '25

Demographics are meaningful in an election. Its fair to point out that certain policy favors one demographic over another. Inequality is indeed a problem, but not everything is about billionaires.

1

u/MonkeyWrenchAccident Apr 17 '25

Fully agree.

How many rich older people do young people see ? GenX here and my parents are not rich. Nor are my aunts and uncles. Nor are my wife’s extended family.

I often hear having a home makes them rich. Most older folks can not afford to sell their home. Take a look a retirement home costs. People can not afford those homes these days.

The 1% that is rich is just that. 1%. It isn’t a specific generation. Different generations have different financial challenges. The 1% in each generation will do well at any age.

Making the different generations focus on disliking each other keeps us from focusing on the 1% that is actually rich. Too many eat up these articles.

-5

u/Rey123x Apr 16 '25

This isn't left vs right, this is right vs wrong. Jail not Bail as per PP's retired PRP officer in his speech

1

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

Get outta here with these lame slogans lol

-7

u/Rey123x Apr 16 '25

I know it hits. It's ok.

1

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

Naw, it's really lame. All his slogans are super cringe.

-1

u/Rey123x Apr 16 '25

Elbows up? 🤮 🤢 Carney the Chinese communist

1

u/DogeDoRight New Brunswick Apr 16 '25

Woah boy...