Hi Id_Jit.
"The problem with popcorn is that many Albertans feel that that’s about all they get back through Equalization. I presume some of that sentiment is present in Ontario as well"
Of course it is, but I don't see the same level of passion.
"I believe that most Albertans don’t mind all that much that we, per capita, contribute so much to Equalization. What ticks us off, however, is that much of that money is wasted on liberal pie-in-the-sky dreams and a welfare state that entraps its recipients into being servile to the Feds.
Then there’s the outright theft of those tax $$$."
There is no way that I could sit here and say that there were not abuses, nor will I say that I like them. I retired over two years ago, and I can honestly say that I have never received one red cent of government money. That's zero, zip, nada, and you'll have to trust me that I have paid more than my fair share of taxes. I would kill to have your overall tax rates.
On the other hand, I live in what a study determined a few years ago, to be the most depressed area in Ontario. I spent my life in the corporate world and understand the business perspective. I have had many discussions with a provincial employee trying to convince him of the abuses. It took three years before he admitted I was right.
On the other hand, I also see the people in trouble through no fault of their own, and they are up against a brick wall. My personal belief is that we should punish abusers relentlessly, but be much more compassionate to others.
I suspect our biggest disagreement would be in how to fix the problem, you think the answer is Harper, I do not. I'll never forget the Mulroney years, where if I am not mistaken, we had the highest unemployment rate in my lifetime, peaking at around 14%, and there was major corruption imo.
The only thing I am sure of now is that we won't solve the problems on this thread, but I do enjoy discussing it with reasonable people.
I enjoyed travelling to every province and deliberately tried to get a feeling for every area. I came home with the assurance that we are all, for the most part decent people, but often get taken up with the local rhetoric, especially at election time.
But this is Christmas Eve, and I wish you the very best.
Cheers, |
