The newspaper article points out that the average income for seniors is actually higher than those 18-40 years old yet the younger canadians get no support unless they actually require it.
Why should seniors get special treatment? These are the arguements I've heard in the past:
- because, it's been like this for 50 years and it's my turn. REALLY....thanks your arguement?
- because I've paid taxes for a long time and it's about time I get something back? Some people never worked outside the home or paid any income tax yet still collect so obviously there is no requirement to pay income tax to collect.
- only the poor senior gets OAS. Really, the clawback doesn't start until an individual earns $71,000 a year. Is someone who earns $71K poor?
- it is such a small amount of money that it really isn't that much help anyway. Looking at the numbers from the government, they pay out $32 Billion annually for OAS. Think of how much infrastructure, healthcare and help to other social programs that money could do!
If politicians and the public were to actually think of things from a fairness standpoint this is a no-brainer. Unfortunately, seniors like the "free" money and the politicians see it as a way bribe a huge voting contigent to vote for them.
Perhaps the paper is right, the only way that seniors will look at this topic realistically is if they look at their children and grandchildren and see how much money it is costing their offspring.
Oh, from this site it is clear that the seniors don't care about their offspring, only their winter vacations.......it's sad really.
What is truly sad is the greed and arrogance of a considerable percentage of todays youth.
It's all about me mee meeee, they howl.
I want I want I want.
Let us be blunt, exactly what have the youth of Canada provided the country to date?
After being coddled and cosseted by society for their entire as yet short lives.
Their every need and want provided for.
Mom and Dad working tirelessly away to provide not just security and food but every imaginable electronic toy availble.
And 150 or so channels of crap on the idiot box.
And hey, the new Playstation is available.
Free medical care, dentistry, glasses all provided by the long suffering taxpayer and the good old bank of Mom and Dad.
Free schooling and then heavily subsidized higher education.
A free social safety net to shield them from harm.
Soldiers and police willing to lay down their own lives to protect them.
All taken completely for granted.
As a birthright.
OAS is a !00% taxpayer funded, top up pension scheme that is clawed back by the Federal Government if income is above average.
CPP is a nation wide pension plan completely funded by the individuals who collect it upon retirement.
Whatever you pay into CPP dictates what you get back.
You bust your hump and pay taxes for 40 or 50 years.
You serve society and your family for your entire working life.
And then youth of today decide you don't deserve to retire?
On a pension system that YOU paid for.
Really?
Heres a hint for the young folks.
If you are under 17 and living at home get a part time job and start paying token rent.
Once you graduate from high school get a job.
I suggest something character building.
Miner, fisherman, rig worker, logger, construction worker or even a hired farmhand.
That way after a year or two you learn the true value of a dollar.
And the fresh air and scenery are free.
Complete your education and then immediately go back to work.
Slave like a dog and quickly rise up in the workplace to a high paying position so as to maximize the amount of taxes you pay to society.
Continue on like that for 40 or 50 years or so.
Oh and in your spare time you can raise and care for a family.
And with any luck at all your kids will be selfish, needy and high maintenance.
And then they can explain to you why you don't deserve a pension in your old age.
Oh and by the way.
The maximum a senior can recieve from combined OAS and CPP?
$24,000 a year.
Thats with zero other income or savings.
And assuming they paid the maximum into the system all their lives.
