Do You Take Cognitive Dissonance In Your Morning Coffee?

I came across these two delightfully contradictory passages while perusing National Newswatch this morning:

- Stéphane Dion doesn't have "a plan." He is "making it up in response to the latest news, or the latest change in the stock market." (So says Stephen Harper.)

- Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is recognizing that Canadian families are suffering “dramatic losses” because of the global financial crisis, and is promising to take measures that will ensure borrowers have good access to credit.

What is Jim Flaherty doing if not making it up in response to the latest news (global finacial crisis) and the latest changes in the stock market (Canadian families are suffering dramatic losses).

Once your neuropathways have returned to optimal functioning, I'd appreciate it if someone could square this circle for me.