You misunderstood or deliberately misstste the Harper situation. That said, Chretien and Martin showed some serious grit in their wrestling of the nation's deficit and debt in the 90's. This came on the heels of Chretien watching his pal, David Longhi in New Zealand drive that country to default.  Chretien realized that could happen in Canada. I was there Chris, in my peak earnings years paying ghastly taxes and surtaxes while health care funding was crushed. I do not ever want to go back there. Do you? We are Chris, we are.