The BC Liberals have given the opposition NDP - and voters - plenty of ammunition with which to criticize them.
But it's pretty easy to sit back and complain when you don't have to come up with a plan of your own.
Except, of course, the NDP may just have to do that in the not too distant future.
NDP leader Adrian Dix and finance critic Bruce Ralston slammed Mike de Jong's budget this week, even though it borrowed a couple of the New Democrats' own ideas.
But have we heard squat about what the NDP would do instead to guide the economy? That's an easy one - the answer is no.
Pinning the New Dems down on an election platform has been as slippery as chasing a greased pig.
Sitting back and keeping their mouths shut worked in the NDP's favour while the Liberals floundered. But they will have to present an action plan of their own if they hope to form the next government.
All we've got so far is non-commital ducking and weaving from Dix: "We're going to review this . . . we'll have to assess the situation."
But, from their criticism, one can guess what Ralston and Dix have up their sleeves.
They don't believe the budget is balanced and only commit to balancing it "over the economic cycle." Read that to mean more deficits.
They say health care, education, social services and the environment deserve more money. Read that to mean more tax increases and hefty raises for their unionized buddies.
Let's see an NDP platform, then real choices can be made.
- Managing Editor
Jon Manchester