Jet Gorgon

That it does, strengthen the tax base. That's a crock about the med coverge, Hootad. The unions crippled the cos with wage demands and total bennies, like pension plans.

Well, Hootad, if the gov didn't bail them out, what would happen to all the taxpayers' money in those institutions?

What "deficit"? Taxes in Canada have remained steady. Meanwhile, property values continue to increase across the country and the economy is still growing. Why do you insist the US, with it's legions of poor, tax breaks for the rich, and gargantuan debt, has a better system?
It doesn't. It's a crap system.
How about posting some actual data for a change.[/quote]

Did I say Canada, specifically, but as I did say, why hoard a surplus? You want to talk Canada, OK. Why a surplus when the healthcare system is feked (you know it is; not enough docs and nurses who are underpaid and split to private clinics or the US, overcrowding and underfunded hospitals, continued cancellations of operations, etc). How abut the homeless, incentives to self-employed folks, more funding for the police, schools, libraries. What are they saving it for? A takeover of the US? Churn that money back into the economy. Building up infrastructure? Sure, Hootad, you know what political connections you need in Canada to get a gov contract? Well, I do coz I know people in the forestry and construction industries. Alot of those tax dollars get shifted into contractor backpockets, too.

The main reason Canada is flush with cash is our natural resources (oh, maybe the gov is saving the $ for the day we run out). Funny, too, our utilities bills are higher than in the States -- because Canada gets more $ for our power from places like California where energy demands are much higher. So, they charge us more for what's left.

I wrote a letter to a local paper awhile back about how the city gov squandered its casino tax income.

I was much amused by the "City announces latest round of casino cash recipients" article.
As you noted, the city's press release states that "the funding will support a mix of capital asset purchases that directly contribute to diversity in arts, culture, heritage, amateur sport and community safety."
I was wondering where XX Business Improvement Association's $21,500 of decorative banners fits in there -- culture, heritage, or community safety? I thought biz assns got together, planned improvements to make their shopping areas more snazzy, paid for these upgrades, and then everyone involved wrote off the expenses.
And how about the XX Festival Society: $22,278 for children's inflatables? I hope that's not for twist and tie balloon animals like Sparky the Clown makes at kids parties.
My other favourite was $1,500 for XX Community Association's reader board. That must be a really nice board.
So, there were 59 applications for grants, and 29 were granted. Wonder what the 30 other ones were asking for."

So tell me Hootad, why does Canada hog a fiscal surplus? And why does it need to keep interest rates high, basically slowly strangling our exporters? I imagine the automakers who came across the border are in a flummox now that the loonie is strong. They should have stayed in the US, kicked out the fekin unions and got on with it.

And, please also tell me why consumer goods prices are so much more expensive in Canada than they are in the States (even before the loonie strengthened)? Why is local wine so expensive (I can buy a great chablis for $5 in Seattle, but it costs $15 or more for a BC wine.) Even Canadian beer is cheaper in the States. And how about local produce prices? Even in the summer they are two or three times higher than local stuff in the States.

You've been brainwashed really well, Hootad. Spoonfed Canadian crap by the leftie papers and happy to succumb to whatever the gov tells you to do. You sure you lived and worked overseas?