government spending is definitely not too high in this country. if anything, the raft of social issues we have in front of us indicate that spending is nowhere near what it should be. and, let's be clear here - markets don't solve problems, they just make everything worse.

if there's a dramatic disconnect between revenue and spending, it's because taxes are way too low to cover the spending we need to undertake to balance out inequalities and make everybody's lives liveable.

there's lots of smart ways to raise taxes. we could undo the stupid gst cut that harper did, for starters, and that created a structural deficit that's never really been addressed. we could bring in a transaction tax on internet purchases, to try to adjust to the changes in consumer behaviour. i'm an advocate of an increase in property taxes to help municipalities. corporate taxes have been moving in the wrong direction for decades, and need to be brought back. and, taxes on the wealthy are obscenely low.

if the conservatives really care about the budget deficit, that is what needs to be done - not further cuts in a society that has already been cut to the bone, and is leaking marrow, as it is.