Incomes taxes up 11.8% in past year

[Montgomery Burns]

Socialist govt still fleecing Canadians

Personal income taxes paid by Canadians to all levels of governments jumped 11.8% over the past year, the fastest rise since 1990, swelling federal government coffers already brimming with oil and gas revenue and taxes from bulging corporate profits.

At the same time, personal incomes rose by only 4.4% year-over-year in the second quarter.

[...] The data support claims by some economists that federal coffers are swelling faster than the Liberal government is acknowledging and that it can afford to cut personal income taxes.

But Paul "we lead the world" Martin is cutting taxes. Doesn't the National Post remember that Paulie said he was raising the personal exemption $100, thereby giving Canadians a $16 tax break? Doesn't the National Post remember how the liberal media immediately parroted Paulie's hailing of this "tax cut?"

A Fox News would have laughed their asses off when Martin said that raising the personal exemption $100 constituted a tax cut, but not Canada's liberal media, and certainly not the state-run, taxpayer-funded, Soviet-style CBC.

After all, running a socialist economy, where private healthcare is illegal (just like in Cuba and North Korea), requires lots of money; our money. Because the average Joe is just too gosh-darned stupid to know what to do with his money. One needs the govt to steal your money, then hold your hand and guide you through life.

That's progressive; that's liberal.

[Cartman]

After all, running a socialist economy, where private healthcare is illegal (just like in Cuba and North Korea), requires lots of money; our money. Because the average Joe is just too gosh-darned stupid to know what to do with his money.

#1. You could define any state as socialist because you are forced to pay for militaries and police forces. Why should I be forced to pay for your protection? Why is it socialist to pay for health care but not the police, our sewers and water etc?

#2. The average Joe often does not know what to do with their money. Many people spend money on drugs, booze, gambling etc. I suspect few people would have saved up for Katrina relief. The only relief I have heard about came from the socialist organization FEMA.

[Canuck E Stan]

"But Paul "we lead the world" Martin is cutting taxes. Doesn't the National Post remember that Paulie said he was raising the personal exemption $100, thereby giving Canadians a $16 tax break? Doesn't the National Post remember how the liberal media immediately parroted Paulie's hailing of this "tax cut?"

Why does a slight tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you thirty cents.

-Peg Bracken

[Montgomery Burns]

After all, running a socialist economy, where private healthcare is illegal (just like in Cuba and North Korea), requires lots of money; our money. Because the average Joe is just too gosh-darned stupid to know what to do with his money.

#1. You could define any state as socialist because you are forced to pay for militaries and police forces. Why should I be forced to pay for your protection? Why is it socialist to pay for health care but not the police, our sewers and water etc?

#2. The average Joe often does not know what to do with their money. Many people spend money on drugs, booze, gambling etc. I suspect few people would have saved up for Katrina relief. The only relief I have heard about came from the socialist organization FEMA.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

#1. Nonsense. The number duty of govt is to protect its citizens from others who wish to do them harm. You are using a strawman argument. Are you suggesting that it is the right of the govt to deny its citizens access to private healthcare, instead suggesting they should die while on Canada's infamously long waiting lists?

#2. Such arrogant elitist thinking. Nobody watches their money more carefully than the person who earns that money with their own toiling. And you better pay attention more. There has been multi-millions given by PRIVATE donors for Katrina relief. Why do some think that only dollar amounts from govt organizations count?

[B. Max]

#2. The average Joe often does not know what to do with their money. Many people spend money on drugs, booze, gambling etc.

That is the thinking of elitists extortionist big government. They know better how to spend your money. Yeah right.

According to information in the topic heading my calculations make it a 7.4% drop in the standard of living.

[Cartman]

Burns and Max.

You can't have it both ways. Either you believe taxes represent elitist thinking (government arrogantly believing it can spend your money better than you can) or not. Let us extend your argument further.

Both my wife and I have sufficient time, skills and desire to home school our kids, so why should we be forced to pay for elementary and secondary education? I am tired of paying for other people's day care services and would like to opt out. The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can. How elitist.

I believe meat is unhealthy and I am against cruelty to animals. Why was I forced to pay for the BSE bailout? The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can. How elitist.

There are many private security firms in Canada that my condo association could hire to locally secure our safety and property better than can the police. The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can. How elitist. I want to opt out.

I am against urban sprawl, so I do not want to subsidize the construction of low density neighborhoods and yet more roads. By all means, let's privatize all roads and pay tolls whenever we drive.

I am not really interested in paying to secure Afghanistan. The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can. How elitist. I want to opt out.

If, in the name of liberty and freedom, we are going to allow people to opt out of health care, then we should be allowed to opt out of ALL government programs. After all, individuals know how to spend their money better than does the government. Should this happen, government will likely become ineffective and anarcho-capitalism may well ensue. Hugo has generated hundreds of posts demonstrating that all social needs can be met without government. If you disagree, then you are the socialists.

[Montgomery Burns]

Cartman,

You really think that Canadians should not have the option of saving their lives by opting for private healthcare?

You are comparing a life and death situation to vegetarianism?

Cut the strawman arguments and be serious.

[B. Max]

Burns and Max.

You can't have it both ways.  Either you believe taxes represent elitist thinking (government arrogantly believing it can spend your money better than you can) or not.  Let us extend your argument further.

Of course that's not what i said. Taxes by themselves don't represent elitist thinking.

Both my wife and I have sufficient time, skills and desire to home school our kids, so why should we be forced to pay for elementary and secondary education?  I am tired of paying for other people's day care services and would like to opt out.  The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can.  How elitist.

I would agree, you should be able to opt out.

I believe meat is unhealthy and I am against cruelty to animals.  Why was I forced to pay for the BSE bailout?  The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can.  How elitist.

Those people paid taxes too, how do you know it was your money.

There are many private security firms in Canada that my condo association could hire to locally secure our safety and property better than can the police. The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can. How elitist. I want to opt out.

Maybe you would call it elitist thinking but i would not. Many places do hire private security.

I am against urban sprawl, so I do not want to subsidize the construction of low density neighborhoods and yet more roads.  By all means, let's privatize all roads and pay tolls whenever we drive.

That's no arguement. At one time those roads and services were paid for by the people who would move in there though higher taxes. Most places now require the cost be added on to the price of the land.

I am not really interested in paying to secure Afghanistan. The state is arrogantly arguing it can spend my money better than I can. How elitist. I want to opt out.

The military is one of the jobs of government. For the security of this country. A job they have not been doing very well. In stead they've been wasting money on things that are none of their business, and running a welfare state.

If, in the name of liberty and freedom, we are going to allow people to opt out of health care, then we should be allowed to opt out of ALL government programs. After all, individuals know how to spend their money better than does the government. Should this happen, government will likely become ineffective and anarcho-capitalism may well ensue. Hugo has generated hundreds of posts demonstrating that all social needs can be met without government. If you disagree, then you are the socialists.

Nonsense. You are the socialist and an excellent example of the slogan, tax me i'm canadian. Just the kind of sheepeople the elitists of big government like to see.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[Cartman]

Nonsense. You are the socialist and an excellent example of the slogan, tax me i'm canadian. Just the kind of sheepeople the elitists of big government like to see.

I already said that government is socialist by nature and definition.

You really think that Canadians should not have the option of saving their lives by opting for private healthcare?

They could always go to the US if their lives are in jeopardy. Rarely do I believe that people wait in line for life saving procedures anyways.

If private medicine were clearly shown in several studies to be more efficient and able to cover everyone in the country, then I would be in favour of it. That has not been the case so far.

[August1991]

Cartman, I like your rhetorical fluorish of taking the extreme-Hugoworld view - only socialists defend any government. Does that make me a socialist if I happen to believe governments should be involved in road-building, defence, education, medical care - maybe even day care.

But, Cartman, take a look at the first post in the following thread or (my personal favourite) take a quick look-see at some of the names on this list.

Then, come back and tell us that you really truly believe that Canadian governments wisely spend all the tax money they receive or borrow now - indeed, those governments need more money.

If the US government can spend $250 million on an Alaskan bridge to nowhere, then God knows what our governments are capable of.

Tony Blair and Bill Clinton kind of get that point but Jack Layton is still living in 1969. In Canada, Stephen Harper seems the only federal politician living in the 21st century.

[Montgomery Burns]

Cartman:

They could always go to the US if their lives are in jeopardy. Rarely do I believe that people wait in line for life saving procedures anyways.

Many are forced to go to the US and spend their money there. However the poor cannot afford to go to get healed in the USA. They can't afford to pay twice (once through Canada's high taxation and then again in the USA).

So they get screwed.

And the people that can afford it also get screwed by having to pay twice for healthcare.

[Cartman]

Many are forced to go to the US and spend their money there. However the poor cannot afford to go to get healed in the USA. They can't afford to pay twice (once through Canada's high taxation and then again in the USA).

I am unclear as to how impoverished people would be aided by private medicine. If they do not have the $ to pay for care in the US, they will not have the $ in Canada. That is, unless you believe that the government should pay for private care. I believe that the public system is good but requires reformation.

August, I just get tired of the term socialist being thrown at people who people believe taxes can solve some social problems. This is not to say that I believe governments always spend money well. I believe that there is much that we can cut. The problem is not taxation because we all agree with that to an extent, it is what the money is spent on. I believe that most of our social programs have value.