Mr. Speaker, I understand that a government needs a budget to operate. That is perfectly logical and to be expected. We have no objection to that.
We do object to the fact that this government never cut its own operations, costs or spending to the same extent it cut among the poor, the sick, the aged, poor children, in fact all children, and families. This is where the problem lies.
Had the government wanted to set an example and cut its own spending and splendour as it cut among the poor, we would be more inclined to have faith in it and say “You took the right approach, perhaps, to achieve your objectives, which we do not necessarily share”.
Instead, it continued to eat butter by the fistful while it dished out misery to the poor. This is what we criticize. If it wants a fine political career, it is going to have to get these principles into its head. It cannot go on abusing people indefinitely.
At some point, logic and principles are required. And the principles are that you do not do to others what you would not want done to you, and that you do not cut for others what you would not cut for yourself.
If they are guided by this logic, I am prepared to do my bit and say that they have some credibility, but that is a long way off.