Play with me a bit here. If the measures and messages in last week’s federal budget were translated into my household, here is what it would be saying and doing.
First, let me set the scene: I would be on the couch, a bit breathless and self-satisfied, because I have done some heavy lifting in recent times. I would be smug that I’ve followed through on my honeymoon and demonstrated that I am a man of words, if not deeds.
The effects of my efforts would need to take hold now, so I would not be interested in doing much more for the time being. It’s a coasting time, and I’m in mañana mode. Rather than listen to any complaints, I would be of the view you should appreciate and commend the early results.
In my household, I would be spreading my resources around over the long haul so as not to further debilitate the bank account today. We’ve been in the hole as long as we’ve been family, and even though we haven’t told them, we know our children are going to be paying down our debts.
Besides, I don’t believe in a one-day burst of initiative that waves a magic wand and rectifies what’s wrong or sets the stage to make things right. That’s for others.
Sure, the house’s plumbing and roof and siding need repair, and there’s a big hole in the driveway. We’ll get to that infrastructure later. It’s not like I don’t see it.
Yes, that person down the block under a tarp at night needs to find shelter, and I am bound to be sympathetic. Let’s talk to the neighbours and get going on that at some stage, once we’ve taken care of ourselves.
Quite agree, we would have been saying for a long time that we could be doing so much better in the house if our children were in decent day care, so let’s start talking about that with partners. Like, next time we see them or the time after.
I would know I promised to look at how we spend in our house on culture. And it’s still a promise. I promise.
I would have heard your concerns about threats to the safety and security of our place. I just haven’t figured out what to do about it. Give me time. So many decisions! It’s not like our neighbours are inflaming tensions or anything. We haven’t heard from that crazy guy down the road for days now.
I’m starting to think, though, that we have to innovate in our professional pursuits to get across the finish line. Those days of a job for life are over. But don’t get me wrong, I’m only starting to think about it. For the time being, let’s just do what we do and take that job as far into life as we can. It’s not like automation is upon us.
You would be right in saying the division of labour in the house is wrong, and I would hope you know my heart is in the right place. More than that, I hope you can live with it.
It’s obvious we’re in such need of nearby transit to get around. Last year you’ll remember I came up with the money. Now I’ve figured out how to apportion it among our various family members. We’re making steps. I can’t wait until it’s all up and running in a decade. It’ll be a beauty, wait and see.
While we’re at it, I think we need to cut waste in the house. I have an idea: let’s agree we will pick three places to start. No rush on which areas and when we’ll address the excess. The decision to pick three is all we need today.
I know we had been intending to take some money from my rich uncle to help our poor cousins, but I’ve had second thoughts.
I know you don’t sense a strategy to make us a stronger place. Just relax, I’ll come back to you on those weighty matters down the road. Talk to me in the fall, when I lay out a vision on the bigger picture.
Quite the household we have, eh?
Kirk LaPointe is Business in Vancouver’s vice-president of audience and business development.
