Canadian taxpayers are a docile people.

[August1991]

6 hours ago, Machjo said:

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.

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Disagree, fundamentally.

1. You are discussing the difference between "legal incidence" and "economic incidence". Wikipedia those terms.

2. If you're poor, "you got nottin''"  - most tax collectors ignore poor people. 

3. In a civilised society, I think that everyone should have a stake. However small or large, tall or short, everyone everyone should pay a tax. This Milton Friedman idea of payroll deduction is wrong.

Edited August 8, 2018 by August1991

[Machjo]

16 hours ago, August1991 said:

Disagree, fundamentally.

1. You are discussing the difference between "legal incidence" and "economic incidence". Wikipedia those terms.

2. If you're poor, "you got nottin''"  - most tax collectors ignore poor people. 

3. In a civilised society, I think that everyone should have a stake. However small or large, tall or short, everyone everyone should pay a tax. This Milton Friedman idea of payroll deduction is wrong.

That makes sense. When we lower taxes on the poor and raise them on businesses, the poor then fail to understand the link between the higher business taxes and the cost of goods and services.

Should the poor pay some kind of tax, even if just a low symbolic one, it helps to reinforce the link between social services and their costs and so affects the way they vote.

Alternatively, make basic economics a compulsory course in high school for all.

 

Or both.

[Hates politicians]

On 4/18/2016 at 12:11 PM, Big Guy said:

While airing your views on an anonymous public access board may be therapeutic and will promote some discussion, the effort does little in the way of resolving a personal disagreement with the way we are governed. I suggest it is far more effective if the time you spend on the board is put towards contacting your local municipal, provincial and/or federal representative and share your views with him/her.

I am often surprised at the number of people who have numerous issues with their government but do not know how to, or have ever tried, to contact their rep(s).

And you actually believe a politician gives a rat's ass what you think. They were elected, most likely without a majority vote and don't represent anybody except their leader. So contacting them is a complete waste of time.

[Hates politicians]

On 4/29/2016 at 10:59 AM, Argus said:

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.

The gst added hugely to the cost of everything taxpayers touch. They never lowered the price of anything to reflect the so called removal of the federal tax. They just threw the gst on top

[Hates politicians]

On 4/18/2016 at 6:35 PM, Smallc said:

So you feel that only people who pay net taxes should get a vote? Should money really be the driver of democracy?

Indians don't pay taxes and claim they are not canadian either. They should'nt get to vote either

[August1991]

On 8/8/2018 at 12:25 PM, Machjo said:

That makes sense. When we lower taxes on the poor and raise them on businesses, the poor then fail to understand the link between the higher business taxes and the cost of goods and services.

Should the poor pay some kind of tax, even if just a low symbolic one, it helps to reinforce the link between social services and their costs and so affects the way they vote.

Alternatively, make basic economics a compulsory course in high school for all.

 

Or both.

When imposing criminal sentences, judges often offer a choice: for example, $5000 fine or several weeks behind bars.

Rich people pay the fine; poor people give their time.

======

In a democracy, IMHO, every voter must have some "skin in the game".

 

Edited August 12, 2018 by August1991