There has to be a whole host of changes to make things better not just a single fix.
To start we should abolish debt-based currency. This move alone will create a huge paradigm shift in the way the country and government operates and save us billions in unnecessary interest payments to international banks. Better yet reverse things completely and make the banks pay us interest if they wish to loan money using the fractional reserve system.
Second we should bring the salaries, expenses and pensions of the politicians in line with the average Joe. An independent board of citizens to set their wages. Greater oversight and revision of expenses again by an independent board of citizens. Cancel the gold plated pensions for 2 terms and force them into defined contribution plans like they are forcing on the general public so they only get what they put in. The sooner we take away control of their own wages and benefits the sooner they will worry about doing a good job for the citizens.
Third we need to simplify and even out the tax code. A straight 15% flat tax on all earnings. No loopholes, no deductions, same rate for money earned overseas and used to fund a life in Canada. The only exemption from the source deduction is for any single person or any family that is less than $6000 above the poverty line based on the size of the family.
Fourth is to do away with free trade. Prior to the imposition of income taxes 90% of government revenue came from customs duties and excise tariffs with absolutely no negative impact on the economy. As a net exporter there is no reason for us to allow all our good jobs to be shipped overseas so we can they buy crappy products back at triple what they are really worth so CEOs can make multiple millions a year. I'm not saying return to the 90% of revenue but let's get it back up from the less than 5% it has become.
Last is to reduce spending. Enough with all the special interest pork-barrel projects and departments. Start with full funding for essential services and if there is extra money pay off the debt then spend it on programs that effect the most citizens. We do not need to spend billions on stuff that benefits less than 1% of the population or worse only benefits the richest 1%
These are of course just places to start. I'm sure all of these could be refined and adjusted and a lot more could be added to ensure we don't get into this predicament again like a constitutional amendment forbidding a deficit budget except for time of national disaster or legally declared war.
Just waiting with anticipation when he legalizes street/recreational drugs - Just hope no one I know dies on account of it.
Those people would most likely die from drugs whether they are illegal or not. Addicts manage to get their fix today, what makes you think keeping drugs illegal will change that?
