.

[ToadBrother]

Stories are now coming out about it in Colorado and it is not pretty. All we need is decriminalization and leave it at that......for now.

Yes, it's horrible. People are making lots of money.

Pot needs to be legalized, pure and simple.

[Big Guy]

Yes, it's horrible. People are making lots of money.

Pot needs to be legalized, pure and simple.

Canada needs the taxes we can get through the legalization of pot. May create an unemployment problem in the drug pusher part of our society.

[angrypenguin]

Canada needs the taxes we can get through the legalization of pot. May create an unemployment problem in the drug pusher part of our society.

We didn't prior to the LPC coming to power. We were just getting along just fine

[ToadBrother]

We didn't prior to the LPC coming to power. We were just getting along just fine

Obviously not, as even tnis fiscal's balanced budget was a phantom produced by asset sales.

[angrypenguin]

Obviously not, as even tnis fiscal's balanced budget was a phantom produced by asset sales.

So by raiding the EI fund you are admitting the LPC did not do the same thing when they were last in power?

[ToadBrother]

We didn't prior to the LPC coming to power. We were just getting along just fine

No we weren't. The balances budget wasn't balanced. Liquidating assets is not revenue

[ReeferMadness]

No we weren't. The balances budget wasn't balanced. Liquidating assets is not revenue

You wouldn't think so. And yet, there are corporate vultures that make huge profits buying businesses and selling them for spare parts.

[ToadBrother]

So by raiding the EI fund you are admitting the LPC did not do the same thing when they were last in power?

I didn't approve of it, but as the EI fund is generated by a payroll tax, it still isn't asset liquidation.

[angrypenguin]

I didn't approve of it, but as the EI fund is generated by a payroll tax, it still isn't asset liquidation.

So now do you agree that EI is a payroll tax? The left seems to think things like EI and CPP are not payroll taxes.

[ToadBrother]

So now do you agree that EI is a payroll tax? The left seems to think things like EI and CPP are not payroll taxes.

I have no idea what certain people may think, and frankly I find you an unreliable judge of what people in those categories may think.

[angrypenguin]

I have no idea what certain people may think, and frankly I find you an unreliable judge of what people in those categories may think.

So now we're resorting to personal attacks?

[ToadBrother]

So now we're resorting to personal attacks?

A statement of fact. If you have some citations that some significant number of people on the left don't consider employers and employees share of EI and CPP premiums as payroll taxes, then by all means provide this data. Otherwise, I would suggest you not speak for other people.

[jacee]

Regulated is decriminalization. Legalization means no regulation, no laws.

Hmmm that's not the way I understand it.

Maybe your categories explain themselves, without the terms "decriminalize" and "legalize" confusing the issue.

I think the most viable course of action is the one that takes production, distribution and profits out of the hands of criminals, provides safe and legal access for adults and protection for children ... like alcohol and tobacco.

I call that legalizing. (Liberal approach)

My understanding of 'decriminalize' is to just remove criminal penalties for possession, but not provide regulation of production and distribution, which thus stay in the hands of criminals, IMO. (NDP approach)

[jacee]

Stories are now coming out about it in Colorado and it is not pretty. All we need is decriminalization and leave it at that......for now.

Evidence please?

[eyeball]

The left seems to think things like EI and CPP are not payroll taxes.

You make a couple of hundred grand a year and you can't tell the difference between a tax, a premium or an investment? You've got to be kidding.

[eyeball]

A statement of fact. If you have some citations that some significant number of people on the left don't consider employers and employees share of EI and CPP premiums as payroll taxes, then by all means provide this data. Otherwise, I would suggest you not speak for other people.

Payroll deductions more accurately describes it.

[Smallc]

Payroll deductions more accurately describes it.

Yeah, taxes they are not (though in the case of EI, it could be argued that it is a tax, seeing as it's often used as one).

[eyeball]

Yeah, taxes they are not (though in the case of EI, it could be argued that it is a tax, seeing as it's often used as one).

It helps when there's so much confusion around what it was to start with.

Note that EI is rarely considered as a direct subsidy to seasonal employers.

[ToadBrother]

Yeah, taxes they are not (though in the case of EI, it could be argued that it is a tax, seeing as it's often used as one).

The difference between "premium" and "tax" is like the difference between "fee" and "tax". At the end of the day, the government collecting money requires Parliament to pass a supply bill. Either that money ends up in general revenue, like income taxes, or it is sequestered, like CPP or EI, but even "taxes" can be sequestered (ie. BC's carbon tax), or only be partially sequestered, and Parliament can at any time alter legislation to reach into sequestered or ring-fenced pots of money like the EI fund.

The real difference is usually between taxes and fees. Taxes almost always require Parliament to approve changes in the rate or policies surrounding collecting and ultimate destination of moneys upon collection, whereas fees are normally administrative, and legislation creating fees normally gives the government far more leeway in the amounts collected (in other words, a fee is an administrative tax).

Edited November 12, 2015 by ToadBrother