Taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society. If you prefer to be free from what you define as "theft" (a completely inaccurate description), then move to Somalia, their government won't "steal" any of your money in taxes.
Spoken like a true idiot. Explain to me how that works exactly? Canada has higher taxes. Does that mean Canada is more civilized? Why don't you just go right away and say what you really mean? That, "taxes" are not the price "we" pay t live in a civilized society, but that "taxes for the rich" are the price "they" pay for "you" to live in a civilized society in a state sanctioned theft of wealth. That way, you can at least be only an ass-wipe and an idiot, instead of an ass-wipe, an idiot and a LIAR. If you're gonna take the rich's money, at least have the honesty and common decency of saying "I'm taking your money."
It's a matter of perspective; how you identify yourself. People tend to associate themselves into groups that ensure their security. My family, my clan, my town etc. I think most Americans identify themselves as Americans. As a member of a group you are expected to to conform to some group norms, like taxes that promote the greater good. To deny the group norms is to dissociate from the group security. One would be scorned, ostracized, an outlaw, subhuman, a target. Participate as a citizen with empathy and good will or GTFO.
This is one of the most idiotic responses to a supposed "idiot" I have ever seen. Is Canada more civilized? Probably. Is Canada more fiscally responsible? Most definitely.
Why do you say Canada is "probably" more civilized? They have less freedom of speech (not the only measure but certainly one): http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2008/06/13/f-rfa-macdonald.html
Everyone pays taxes in every country. They just call it different things and have different rules for it. Even in Somalia.
pssh--- don't bring that weak stuff in here. if you're going to make Canada vs US that arbitrary--- Higher average life expectancy, lower infant mortality rate, lower maternal mortality rate, lower percentage of GDP spent on healthcare (I can't quite puzzle it out myself---OH WAIT SINGLE PAYER), lower homicide per 100000 rate, lower robbery per 100000 rate, lower CO2 emissions per capita, lower gender inequality index, much lower percentage of deficit as GDP and a projected balanced budget in 2015. I don't think that means Canada is a better country or is more civilized, but I would rather think the figures would command respect from so-called "fiscal conservatives", considering how Canada's fiscal situation is one of the most stable in the world. Somehow, we also manage to spend less on healthcare, and with the Harper government, have gotten all pro-military and "tough on crime." Seriously, I find it hilarious when fiscal conservatives deride Canada, when basically, this country should be their ideal.
We made them. We're taking their money and running away with it. marginal curves of utility, laffer curve disproved, Rawls is our system. Thank you, come again!
Is freedom of speech the only standard for civilization? You'd really have to take all factors into account.
Wierd belief systems always have used cult like phrases. The cult like Randyan equation of taxation with theft is frequently used. It seems so like the way "clear" and other words are used by Scientologists. The taxation is theft always reminds me of the "peace is war" and other sayings in "Animal Farm".
"state sanctioned theft of wealth" hahaha i knew it. The alleged big brained rational economist dude is deep into the cult of mindless free marketism/ Ayn Rand/ the puerile social policy of Milton Friedman etc. hahahah.
Only two of those deal with civility (homicide rate and robbery rate). What's Canada's debt per capita/ per household compared to the US (I have no idea)? I think the US is expected to be around $50,000 - $90,000. Canada's economy is the glorious wonder you make it out to be: http://www.unitednorthamerica.org/simdiff.htm
the only standard for civilization is to accept the invisible hand of the market also known as God's will if one is a believer.
'invisible hand' refers to the peoples' will, not God's will. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invisible_hand
I lost my post the first time around because I didn't stay logged in. Let's try again. So in other words, either conform or GTFO? And here I thought the nation valued individual freedom. Boy was I wrong there. Fantastic. LMAO. Have you been to Canada? Do you KNOW their fiscal policy other than the random tripe fed you by the Democrats? Do you know that you're talking to someone that actually lived there? Do you have even the REMOTEST IDEA Canada's fiscal budgetary history? Did you know that following Canada's post war boom (which did last a bit longer than the US), it has been moving from one fiscal disaster to another since the 70's, culminating in the disastrous 80's and 90's along with massive budget deficit and national debt? Did you know what it wasn't until the Canadian government finallhy decided (under the Jean Chretien Liberals, no less) that it needed (and did) cut everything from the gold-plated health care, UI and other welfare (made much more stringent, qualification-wise), education, public employees, CPP/OAS, just about everything to finally bring the Canadian budget into line and into a surplus (the rise in commodity prices thanks to China is also huge, but that's another story). Some of those cuts I agree with, others (such as education) I didn't. Did you know the last time Ontario, the economic centre of Canada had anything close to a balanced budget was under Mike Harris (a Conservative and an ass); and this was after the disastrous Bob Rae (a Socialist and one helluva nice guy) years? Of course, Mike Harris was vellified (though admitted for more than just that reason) for delivering on his campaign promise: BALANCE THE BUGET. Turns out people don't really want their politicians to say what they mean (or more importantly, mean what they say). As was Jean Chretien. If I remember correctly (I may be wrong), quite a few CUPE's made ads with Jean Chretien's head in a bull's eye. So is Canada more fiscally responsible? Absolutely. Even a Liberal knows it can't keep spending money without it catching up to you. So the next time you open your trap, at least bother to know what the hell you're talking about; or go try to bait some tool like basso. Finally, did you know that despite all that fiscal responsibility, the CPP/OAS and to a lesser extent OHIP in Ontrario, are facing insolvency? I've already addressed (though I don't know why) this moronic drivel in another thread: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=201651&page=6 As I mentioned in that thread: So you've compare arguably the most influential and most repected economist of the 20th Century to Ron Paul. A cultist. Ayn Rand. What's next, LMAO? Newt Gingrich? Did you know that Milton Friedman was what one would consider a "humanist." As a matter of fact, did you know he was a Keynesian before he saw the error of his ways? I've already addressed in the other thread, the fact that Friedman was against SS not because he thought it transfered wealth from the wealthy to the poor/middle class (as you implied), but that he was against it because he thought (due to better life style and health care, leading to longer life expectancy) it transfered wealth from the lower/middle class to the upper class, at which point you beat a hasty retreat. Even GladiatorRowdy dabbled in some pseudo-economics. You just took your potshot and ran, after your argument (or lack there of) hass been flushed down the toilet, along with your head. And finally, my godness, am I the only one to notice the irony of "Vanity" Fair taking a potshot at the rich? Hilarious. Truly a comedy of epic proportions.
Not arbitrary at all. It was off the top of my head. Stephen Harper is a joke. Support public health insurance. Canada's per capita emission is around 12/13th in the world. Congratulations on beating up on a cripple (the US). If a country only one person, the homicide rate would be...? Of course, one would hope he doesn't commit suicide. Increased population density increases homocide risk. And Canada is the drug-abuse capital of the world, even worse than Germany and the US. Canada has a lower budget deficit and it's pretty obvious why. It's heading in the right direction. Its national debt as a percentage of GDP (deficit as well) and spending (which was WAY WORSE than the US) topped out in 1996/1997, thanks to Jean Chretien. Even in the early Bush years, the US had a lower national debt level. Then it went from being wrong place to being even in a far worse place because it headed in the wrong direction. Lastly but most importantly, Canada's has some obvious strength and some glaring weakness. Cherry-picking your facts doesn't help you make your point.
The bottom line is that taxes benefit the rich just as much as they benefit anyone else. Imagine if we had a society with no taxes, and as a result, no goods and services available for anyone who isn't rich enough to pay for them. How long do you think that tiny percentage of the population controlling all the wealth would be able to hold off the hordes of angry people who have absolutely no incentive not to bash in the heads of their wealthy overlords? The system we have now actually works brilliantly for rich people. They pay out some fraction of their money that is small enough that it doesn't really cause any lifestyle change. That money goes to providing just enough security to the average Joe that he's afraid to risk giving it up. In return, the rich are protected from the masses. That doesn't really sound like theft to me.
well, that's more than that one random case study you dragged out to "prove" Canadians disregard freedom of speech, which is patently false. Bring me hard stats. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Freedom_Index Seems to indicate we are only one place behind the US on this. If that's your arbitrary definition of civilization, well then---
