I'm often out of step with my opinions on taxes. I feel that living in any advanced society, people must purchase a quantity of goods and services. Some are best acquired collectively, such as policing, defense, civil infrastructure and so forth, while other stuff, often of a personal nature such as cars and groceries, are better purchased by individuals for themselves using their own resources. Taxes and public spending are Siamese twins: We'll never get one without the other.
For many, the debate seems to constantly return to the question of where this balance between private and public spending should fall. The observation that in many cases public spending benefits all in a roughly equal measure, but that our current system has a considerable variation in taxes paid by individuals provides much of the spirit and motivation exhibited by the discussion participants.
I, for one, don't see much difference in paying $10,000 in tax plus $5,000 in health insurance and paying $15,000 in tax which covers 'free' health insurance. In this example, the citizen enjoys the same cost and benefits on both sides of the border. The 'parity' disintegrates as tax levels rise to the point where any citizen couldn't possibly enjoy the benefits bestowed upon them by the state in sufficient quantity to justify their tax burden. In Canada, each citizen enjoys roughly $20,000 spent on their behalf: Anyone paying more than this in taxes is being short-changed, while those paying less are laughing.
Unfortunately, our politicians have discovered that the public will re-elect those who promise to deliver benefits without cost; hence feeding our addiction to demanding someone else make the sacrifices on our behalf. We, as voters, have decided to deprive others of more wealth than we are prepared to contribute ourselves, and we continually elect politicians dedicated to this cause. More surprisingly, is that amid the cries of the general public that the government has grown too big and powerful, the same bunch is returned to office at the next election.
I like to rant too.
Cheers, PW. |
