Federal Taxes

[cybercoma]

Taking into consideration what you pay in federal income tax and GST, do you feel you get your money's worth from our government? A simple yes or no...feel free to explain why in the thread.

[Leafless]

Taking into consideration what you pay in federal income tax and GST, do you feel you get your money's worth from our government? A simple yes or no...feel free to explain why in the thread.

One example:

The gas tax is suppose to build and maintain roadways.

No, the gas tax is not doing what it was designed to do.

http://www.taxpayer.com/main/news.php?news_id=2295

[jdobbin]

Yes. There is always room for improvement but given the overall services of the government, we get what we pay for.

[Melanie_]

Our taxes are high, but I'm happy with the services I get for them. I'm also happy with the social safety net I contribute to for those who are not as fortunate. I know there are many on this board who say they would rather pay lower taxes and then decide whether or not they want to make private contributions to independent charities as opposed to government programs. I'd rather have a broad range of accessible services available to all, rather than a pay as you go system available only to those who can afford it or who are lucky enough to tap in to someone's generosity.

[jbg]

Any "free" service invariably has higher than optimal demand for it. This includes health care. Since health care is apparently free, it has to be overused.

Thus, by definition, Canadian taxpayers cannot possibly be getting their money's worth for their taxes.

[jdobbin]

Any "free" service invariably has higher than optimal demand for it. This includes health care. Since health care is apparently free, it has to be overused.

Thus, by definition, Canadian taxpayers cannot possibly be getting their money's worth for their taxes.

Isn't the military a free service? Wouldn't it be better if it were privatized?

[jbg]

Any "free" service invariably has higher than optimal demand for it. This includes health care. Since health care is apparently free, it has to be overused.

Thus, by definition, Canadian taxpayers cannot possibly be getting their money's worth for their taxes.

Isn't the military a free service? Wouldn't it be better if it were privatized?

There are the precedent of mercenaries. That being said, I do believe that one of the main legitimate functions of government is possession of a monopoly of th eright to use violence. That implies a public military and police.

Their use is not available to private people and thus the "tragedy of the commons" problem plaguing Canadian medicine does not exist.

[jdobbin]

There are the precedent of mercenaries. That being said, I do believe that one of the main legitimate functions of government is possession of a monopoly of th eright to use violence. That implies a public military and police.

Their use is not available to private people and thus the "tragedy of the commons" problem plaguing Canadian medicine does not exist.

I don't think I understand the last sentence.

[jbg]

There are the precedent of mercenaries. That being said, I do believe that one of the main legitimate functions of government is possession of a monopoly of th eright to use violence. That implies a public military and police.

Their use is not available to private people and thus the "tragedy of the commons" problem plaguing Canadian medicine does not exist.

I don't think I understand the last sentence.

The "tragedy of the commons" refers initially to what happens to free grazing land that can be used by any cattle owner. Basically, it gets denuded.

Does that help?

[jdobbin]

The "tragedy of the commons" refers initially to what happens to free grazing land that can be used by any cattle owner. Basically, it gets denuded.

Does that help?

How should taxes be collected if it is just for military and police. Sales tax, income, property?

[jbg]

The "tragedy of the commons" refers initially to what happens to free grazing land that can be used by any cattle owner. Basically, it gets denuded.

Does that help?

How should taxes be collected if it is just for military and police. Sales tax, income, property?

That's not government's only purpose. Government should also do what it does better than other organizations.

[jdobbin]

That's not government's only purpose. Government should also do what it does better than other organizations.

Would health care fall into that category?

[jbg]

That's not government's only purpose. Government should also do what it does better than other organizations.

Would health care fall into that category?

Not necessarily. There have to be some incentives built in not to overuse the system, and also to encourage doctors not to move a few hundred km. south.

[jdobbin]

Not necessarily. There have to be some incentives built in not to overuse the system, and also to encourage doctors not to move a few hundred km. south.

There has been a restoration of money to the health system people are awaiting the latest stats to see if the flow of doctors south is comtinuing.

There has been a flow of doctors and nurses back in recent years because many nurse in the U.S. recieve lower wages that Canadian nurse. Doctors return in some cases because the cost of liability makes their practice too costly.

[Renegade]

If you measure getting your money's worth by the services you get relative to what you pay in taxes, almost every working middle-class taxpayer is being ripped off. Why?

1. Your taxes subidize payments to those who pay little or no taxes. (children, seniors collecting OAS, welfare recepients, etc)

2. Your taxes pay for programs you probably don't want but have no choice but to pay for.

3. Our progressive income tax system means that if you earn a decent salary you overpay for even those services you do get.

Frankly most of the federal services provided to me, I could get for less if I bought them privately, assuming I wanted them at all.

So where does this money collected in taxes go, if not for services? It goes to income-redistribution (transfers of wealth) and overhead. Is it worth the price to me? Definately not.

[geoffrey]

Your right Renegade, most taxation in Canada is based on the transfer of wealth principal, about equality.

And that's simply wrong. If you want money, work for it, there are too many disincentives created by our tax the working, to pay the lazy, idealism that is profoundly popular here in Canada.

Everyone isn't equal, why should we pretend they are?

[Hicksey]

No.

I am tired of waiting months for the health care I am forced to pay for off every paycheque. I am tired of driving on over-crowded, rough and uneven roads. I am tired of hearing the endless pleading to conserve electricity because we refuse to expand our grid and production to keep up with demand. I am tired of seeing one level of government running huge surpluses and still getting taxed more and having services reduced because others are running deficits, when the surplus should really go to pay those shortcomings. And most of all I am tired of watching the idiots that mismanage our tax dollars continually vote themselves raises they have not earned in the slightest.

Think about it. The government is little more than an investment broker. If you gave the money you do to the government, to an investment broker, would you be happy with the return you get on your money? In essence we give the government our money and ask them to invest it in the ways that benefit us most. I submit, that if your investment broker kept coming back to you asking for more money to maintain an investment whose value to you was continually shrinking, most of us would fire him really quick. Why do we tolerate this from our government?