Its a little off the topic of the thread but since some seem to want to discuss taxes on here lets take a look at them.
Before the introduction of income tax the govt generated 95% of its revenues from customs & excise taxes (including sales tax and various surcharges). After the introduction of the personal income tax (and the war effort was paid for) the govt still got 90% of its revenue from C&E. It was right around this time that some businessmen realized that they could donate to (buy) the politicians and exert influence over policy. Within a few years and at the cost of about $1 million to businesses through donations and lobby the C&E taxes were reduced and the personal income tax was increased so the govt revenues were now derived at about 70/30. It did not take long for business to realize how much they had to gain from further lobbying and corporate donations so the level of businesses interfering with the government of the people was increased even more and steadily the ratio changed until around the 70's when it was about 60/40. This is really when the corporate mentality really took over and millions each year were spent to influence politicians and policy including such things as free trade and corporate subsidies. By the year 2000 and at a cost of over $1 billion in the last 20 years the Candian govt revenues reached a ratio of 5/95 and have remained close to that since with no signs of changing. So here we are with the people, who are supposed to be represented by the govt, bearing 95% of the burden and the businesses, who don't have a vote, paying only 5% of the cost of running our country.
So if you all want to talk about tax policy start with some major reforms to shift the burden back where it started and quit arguing over a few bucks here and there. It is the taxation of commerce that paid to run the world for hundreds of years and in less than 1 century 95% of the burden has shifted to individuals and allowed for record profits to become the norm of the day while more and more people and families move into poverty or struggle to make ends meet.
Before the introduction of income tax the govt generated 95% of its revenues from customs & excise taxes (including sales tax and various surcharges). After the introduction of the personal income tax (and the war effort was paid for) the govt still got 90% of its revenue from C&E. It was right around this time that some businessmen realized that they could donate to (buy) the politicians and exert influence over policy. Within a few years and at the cost of about $1 million to businesses through donations and lobby the C&E taxes were reduced and the personal income tax was increased so the govt revenues were now derived at about 70/30. It did not take long for business to realize how much they had to gain from further lobbying and corporate donations so the level of businesses interfering with the government of the people was increased even more and steadily the ratio changed until around the 70's when it was about 60/40. This is really when the corporate mentality really took over and millions each year were spent to influence politicians and policy including such things as free trade and corporate subsidies. By the year 2000 and at a cost of over $1 billion in the last 20 years the Candian govt revenues reached a ratio of 5/95 and have remained close to that since with no signs of changing. So here we are with the people, who are supposed to be represented by the govt, bearing 95% of the burden and the businesses, who don't have a vote, paying only 5% of the cost of running our country.
So if you all want to talk about tax policy start with some major reforms to shift the burden back where it started and quit arguing over a few bucks here and there. It is the taxation of commerce that paid to run the world for hundreds of years and in less than 1 century 95% of the burden has shifted to individuals and allowed for record profits to become the norm of the day while more and more people and families move into poverty or struggle to make ends meet.
