If your Thanksgiving family gatherings are anything like mine, mashed potatoes and gravy are just side dishes to a main course of spirited political debate.

These dinner table discussions are a great opportunity for you to cut through the spin and get to the meat of the matter (so to speak) with family and friends.

In other words, don’t let recent headlines put a damper on dinner. Here are three things everyone at the table should know before dessert.

First, is that you can’t get fixated on the polls. In August 1993, 42 percent of Canadians thought Kim Campbell would make the best Prime Minister. Only half as many said so about Jean Chrétien. We all know how that story finished.

Second, is that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is laying out clear policy alternatives for Canadians. Last month, he delivered major speeches on the economy and foreign affairs. Tuesday, he delivers another major address on the environment in Vancouver. The media is focused on the horse race. You can make sure Canadians hear about Michael’s policy priorities instead. (Read & share Michael’s speeches.)

Third, is that Harper’s failed record is why we have lost confidence in his government.

• An unprecedented $56-billion dollar deficit and no plan to get us out;
• Almost half-a-million jobs lost this year and only 12 percent of infrastructure spending underway as of Sept. 1;
• Ten times more money spent advertising their “Economic Plan” than H1N1 prevention measures;
• A planned $15-billion EI payroll tax that will cost every Canadian worker an additional $630 come tax time.

So sit up straight. Put your elbows on the table. And let your fellow Canadians know that the Liberals will never let Stephen Harper carve up this country’s future.

Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you have much to be thankful for this weekend.

Rocco Rossi
National Director, Liberal Party

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