I was an Atomic Robot Jungle Vixen!

As an Albertan I'm supposed to feel bad for the plight of our cattle ranchers who are being devastated by the American ban on our beef due to the Mad Cow disease found in a cow here. I do feel bad, but that is somewhat tempered by the fact that these are good rural folk who most likely vote Progressive Conservative in provincial elections, and Conservative federally.
One of the things that appeal to these voters is the idea of personal responsibility and they tend to hate welfare, a provincial responsibility. The amount people receive on welfare in Alberta, one of the richest provinces in Confederation, hasn't increased in years, possibly over a decade, and is harder to get on now than it used to. While it was the Liberals who have cut back on federal Employment Insurance (formerly Unemployment Insurance), conservatives didn't raise a stink because it's yet another taxpayer handout to people who should learn to save and need to get jobs. I'm sure we're all familiar with conservative economics.
Which brings me back to cattle ranchers. These are fine outstanding rugged individuals with fine outstanding conservative values. And what's the first thing they do when financial hardship rears its ugly head? Go running for government handouts just like those lazy good-for-nothing laid off factory workers! What, they don't save for a rainy day? They can't get off their asses and get a new job? No, they want MY tax dollars to pay for their shortsightedness!
It's hard to feel sympathy for people who will elect politicians who feel no sympathy for people in need.

posted by Tabby at 9/19/2004 07:10:00 p.m.

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