January 27, 1992
Honourable Robert Rae,
Premier of Ontario
Room 281
Legislative Building
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A2
Dear Mr. Premier
It is with concern that I
read the enclosed The Globe and Mail January 25th. article entitled, "NDP
stalwarts urge Ontario to drop austerity program."
You certainly need no such
advice.
As individuals, as families,
as businesses, and as institutions we must learn to spend within our means and
it is no different for governments.
Sure it would be nice during
these tough economic times to increase deficit spending as an economic stimulus
but only if we had been able to generate surplus funds during the many
preceding prosperous years, but sadly this is not the case. Deficit spending is
already out of control. We don't need more of it.
Even if increased deficit
spending was the appropriate route at this particular time, the answer is not
to have more "make work" projects but instead the money should be put
back directly into the hands of Ontarians through cash payouts. Let the
citizens decide where the money should be spent, whether it be for homes and
shelter, food, clothing, transportation, or any other desired goods or
services.
Let's get out from under this
fallacious notion that there's such a thing as a "free ride" or a
"free lunch." Let's get back to having what we can afford, spending
within our means. Sure, we won't like it in the short term but we and our
children will like the disastrous alternative far less.
Yours truly
