Dave, Sometimes the new broom doesn't sweep clean but instead just makes a mess of things. If you were to look to your native Scotland (I suspect)after years under the Thatcher government which incidently came into power to sweep clean all that ailed society, you will find a society where the gap between the haves and the have nots has widened instead of shrinking. You will find a country where medical staff work hard and long in outdated facilities using equipment whose best before date has long since past. You will find schools and other public buildings looking the worse for wear as the local authorities do not have the resources due to cut backs in transfer payments from the central government. Due to the vast differences between rich and poor you will also find a country much less caring than it was 25 years ago. Hopefully the new Scottish government can turn this around. That is not a vision that I hope for Canada. Beware of the party that promises the earth, they simply turn into career politicians in the end. Forget also fiscal restraint, just remember that Ronald Rayguns was one of the most conservative governments in years and he increased government spending more than any other president for years while at the same time cutting back programmes that helped the poor. yours Aye Tam the Bam,