Canadian taxpayers are a docile people.

[Argus]

Who said anything about the arts?

That's one of the things he's borrowed all that extra money to spend on.

[Smallc]

That's one of the things he's borrowed all that extra money to spend on.

A miniscule amount.

[Argus]

A miniscule amount.

A billion here, a billion there. Next thing you know you're talking real money.

[Smallc]

A billion here, a billion there. Next thing you know you're talking real money.

A few hundred million dollars a year in a $2T economy. Stop the presses.

[Argus]

A few hundred million dollars a year in a $2T economy. Stop the presses.

You continue to compare apples and oranges in your determination to suggest that taxation is essentially limited only by whatever your party wants to do with other people's money.

Much of what government does is unnecessary. And it does ALL of it inefficiently, often ineffectively, with a huge waste of money.

[Smallc]

You continue to compare apples and oranges in your determination to suggest that taxation is essentially limited only by whatever your party wants to do with other people's money.

Much of what government does is unnecessary. And it does ALL of it inefficiently, often ineffectively, with a huge waste of money.

You keep thinking that your vote counts for more than that of other people. Your priorities are obviously not representative of those of the population at large.

[Argus]

You keep thinking that your vote counts for more than that of other people. Your priorities are obviously not representative of those of the population at large.

That does not make them right or smart.

[Smallc]

That does not make them right or smart.

It's a democracy - they don't have to be right or smart. The people get to decide. Generally, IMO, collectively, they decide well.

[Argus]

It's a democracy - they don't have to be right or smart. The people get to decide. Generally, IMO, collectively, they decide well.

They do? How could they? Most people know little or nothing about political issues today. You must be aware that people like those on this site are a rarity among the general public. Few are paying any real day-to-day attention to what politicians are doing or saying and what goes on on parliament hill. And even in the rare event people pay some attention, do they delve into the background or have the education to understand what is going on? Look at how people hated the GST when it was brought out. It was a perfectly sensible policy and didn't actually add anything to what they were paying. But people were ignorant and didn't get it. The same could be said again and again over things like military purchases or government spending. For the most part, people really don't understand and won't devote the time to gathering the necessary background to do so.

I haven't found it necessary to change my sig for some time, you know. I think it perfectly describes what I think if the public and its opinions.

Edited April 29, 2016 by Argus

[Smallc]

People individual are stupid. The body politic is not.

[eyeball]

People individual are stupid. The body politic is not.

Is this at all scientifically verifiable in any way? It like saying that the individual planks of a boat are rotten but the vessel is sound.

[Bonam]

People individual are stupid. The body politic is not.

I don't agree. In my experience, most individual people are fairly rational, but get them together in groups and you get nothing but stupidity.

[Argus]

People individual are stupid. The body politic is not.

You've got that backward. Individuals can make smart decisions. The ignorant rabble whose major concern is Kim Kardashian's ass and JT's hair do not.

[Smallc]

I don't agree. In my experience, most individual people are fairly rational, but get them together in groups and you get nothing but stupidity.

And yet when they vote, they tend to make okay decisions.

[Bonam]

And yet when they vote, they tend to make okay decisions.

Yeah. That's why Trump is the Republican front runner.

[Smallc]

Yeah. That's why Trump is the Republican front runner.

I don't live in that country. That said, the US has done very well since the introduction of democracy I'd say.

[bush_cheney2004]

I don't live in that country. That said, the US has done very well since the introduction of democracy I'd say.

True....but foreign elections have little to do with "docile Canadian taxpayers".

Maybe this is another Trudeau "definitional" teaching moment.

[Argus]

I don't live in that country. That said, the US has done very well since the introduction of democracy I'd say.

Which of their last half dozen presidents do you think actually deserved to be leader of the world's most powerful nation?

Which of the five remaining contenders for this year's election fills you with enthusiasm at their wisdom and leadership abilities?

[Smallc]

Which of their last half dozen presidents do you think actually deserved to be leader of the world's most powerful nation?

And yet it remains the world's most powerful nation (and Clinton, if you're actually asking).

[Argus]

And yet it remains the world's most powerful nation (and Clinton, if you're actually asking).

Clinton's presidency amounted to almost nothing because it was engulfed in scandal much of the time

He lacked the self-discipline to keep his zipper zipped, and lacked the brains, if he couldn't do that, to at least ensure his affairs were done discretely. He was, in short, a moron.

That you see him as deserving just goes to show had bad the rest have been.

[taxme]

On 4/18/2016 at 3:23 PM, Moonlight Graham said:

Canadians are very docile. We are a very reserved people for the most part, though there are exceptions, like much of Quebec (those people know how to party). Most of us don't like to speak up or make a big fuss for fear of causing a scene. "Peace, order, and good government"...I mean not much of an exciting raison d'etre.. Give Americans credit, they don't take s*** from anybody. I guess that's in our very natures if you compare the different ways both countries gained independence from our imperial overlords.

Docile alright and also very naive and apathetic. I don't think that it has anything to do with "peace, order and good government" though but more to do with being forced to become politically correct and being forced to watch what you say and do that may appear to be fomenting some kind of racism or hatred towards another. We have Human Rights Commissions and hate laws that are there to enforce political correctness and nothing more. If the government does not like what you have to say in regards to someone's race or religion or sex the danger is there that you may be brought up on charges for speaking your own mind. Never mind if there was no intent to promote hatred or violence towards anyone. It doesn't matter anymore. No defense. You are guilty and that is it.

And according to that communist outfit called the Human Rights(wrongs)Commission here in Canada they say that "truth is no defense". What the hell is that suppose to mean? So, is lying acceptable now in court and the truth be dammed? It's getting sad looking in Canada these days and no one seems to care. 

What the hell is going on in Canada? Is Canada being set up to become a communist country where if the commie politicians don't like what you have to say then it will be off to the gulag for you? And why are so many Canadians so docile about this and not speaking out on this anti freedom of speech nonsense? Where are all the the Canadian patriots like me and wanting to expose and talk about this bull chit? Well. 

[taxme]

On 4/17/2016 at 5:58 PM, taxme said:

Are Canadians taxpayer's not the least bit concerned about how their tax dollars are being spent(blown)in most cases. I am talking about most of the programs and agendas like multiculturalism,bilingualism,foreign-aid, and immigration(refugees) that has been foisted on them. Why do they not concern themselves about how their tax dollars are being spent?

We have allowed all the levels of governments to just about tax us out of all of our money, and yet it does not seem to concern them at all. They just accept what ever the governments do with their money without a whimper. Most Canadians will go crazy when an animal is treated incorrectly or when there is a tree planting ceremony they are all there in groves, but yet try to get them to speak up about how their tax dollars are spent, and they are quiet as a mouse. We have a bloated bureaucracy, attacks on freedom of speech, and pretty much taxed to death, and no one says anything.

As you can see, I am concerned about how my tax dollars are being spent(blown)and other than the Canadian Taxpayer's Federation trying to point out how the taxpayer's are being doled out, no one seems to care. Pathetic.

Here is more of your tax dollars at work and examples of how this prime mistake of ours and his priorities as to how to blow your tax dollars: 

1. $2.65 million tax dollars to developing nations to help fight climate change in their countries. 

2. $13 million tax dollars for Vietnamese farmers. 

3. $15 million tax dollars for job training in Africa.

4. $4.25 million tax dollars for infrastructure in Indonesia. 

What the hell is with this nonsense anyway of giving these countries and their people millions upon millions of Canadian tax dollars to people who do not deserve our tax dollars especially when their are so many not so well off Canadians who could use those tax dollars to help make their lives a bit better. Whatever happened to that old saying of "charity begins at home"? 

Look, I have no problem with anyone wanting to use their money to help the rest of the world but leave my tax dollars alone or at least ask me first. There will be more to add to this list later on of how wasteful the government has become when it comes to our tax dollars. This needs to end now. No more foreign aid. Enough already. What say anyone here? Have a comment on this? Surely there must be some members here who cannot agree with this nonsense? Hello. 

[cannuck]

On 4/17/2016 at 8:42 PM, August1991 said:

About 35% of Canadians pay no federal income tax at all; about 30% of Canadians receive a GST refund.

About 30% of the electorate don't listen to a politician who promises to cut taxes since the promise (honest or not) is irrelevant. These voters don't pay any tax.

As they say, such people are choosing how to spend "other people's money".

Taxme:  Sorry to have missed your post - have  been out of the country all summer - great topic though.

Augie:  More than just the non-taxpaying part of the population, we live in such a wealthy country that more or less tax just means more or less of the good life for some, but not financial ruin for the rest.    BUT: the really big factor is allowing government to spend today, but make a different government, and even a different generation pay the bills.  On the revenue side, we can easily fix this by simply eliminating deficit spending.  Once governments are forced to be accountable for THEIR spending, things will change appropriately.

Add to that, the elimination of partisanship and rule-by-special interest.  Not only should ever vote be free, but every  bill should be subject to very public scrutiny and comment (by electronic plebiscite) from the public.   One thing I have seen that is so important is to eliminate what government does now 99% of the time - dispensing special privilege.  When it comes to spending, either EVERY Canadian should be eligible for each and every benefit, or none.   Worked extremely well in New Zealand under Douglas.

The size and cost of our bureaucracy is way beyond reason and totally out of control.  As has been said, much of what government does it has no business in doing.   It should stick to the simple tasks or legislating, regulating and enforcing - and only that at the will and with the comment and direction of the taxpayer.

Finally:  the tax bill that should fluctuate and balance the budget (along with mandatory debt retirement) would be GST and PST - so EVERYONE feels the stupidity and largess of the current governments.  Works for municipal governments now.

Edited July 22, 2018 by cannuck

[Machjo]

On 4/17/2016 at 10:42 PM, August1991 said:

About 35% of Canadians pay no federal income tax at all; about 30% of Canadians receive a GST refund.

About 30% of the electorate don't listen to a politician who promises to cut taxes since the promise (honest or not) is irrelevant. These voters don't pay any tax.

As they say, such people are choosing how to spend "other people's money".

Don't they realize that when we tax businesses, those businesses just pass the cost on to the consumer?

Maybe that's the problem. The poor don't realize that in the end, they're paying taxes too through higher costs for goods and services.

[Machjo]

On 4/28/2016 at 12:13 AM, Smallc said:

A few hundred million dollars a year in a $2T economy. Stop the presses.

A million here and a million there quickly adds up.