Cheering for a depression

The Globe and Mail's article on how Harper's musings about an impending depression can only make the economy worse is definitely worth a look. But in tracing the timeline of Harper's constantly-flailing messages on the economy, the article misses what looks to be his most obvious critique of what he's now doing:

Having stoked the fires of regional alienation, Harper went further, accusing Liberal Leader Stephane Dion of "some of the most irresponsible behaviour of a Canadian political leader I've ever seen."

Harper's complaint? Dion's pointed criticism of Conservative economic policy and its impact on a flagging Canadian economy.

"Some Canadians think that in times of economic difficulties, you need to elect a right-wing government - right-wing governments are supposed to be good economic managers in their minds. But it's not true," Dion said Friday in Toronto.

"Each time you have Conservative governments, the economy is not going well. In fact, Tory times are tough times."

Harper, in turn, accused Dion of "trying to drive down confidence in the Canadian economy without foundation - and quite frankly sitting on the sidelines virtually cheering for there to be a recession."

Mind you, Dion didn't actually suggest for a second that a recession couldn't or shouldn't be avoided. Which is in stark contrast to Harper's current message about a depression - now that the Cons have been forced to admit that a recession was already in the works.

Of course, it shouldn't come as much surprise that Harper is downright eager to sow fear about Canada's economy if it'll help to dissuade the democratic coalition from trying to clean up the mess his government has made. But the fact that the Cons are so obviously making matters worse when government leadership is most crucial should make it all the more clear that the coalition offers Canada its best hope to avoid Harper's dire predictions.