Live Small: Pt 2 The Money is Still Out There

In Pt 1 The Money is Still Out There I said the following:

“In summary, the money seems to be out there to pay down debt, but I think the majority of Canadians would say ‘no’ to attacking it head on.”

We will satisfy our appetites and stomach in hundreds of excessive ways but, for some reason, cannot find the stomach to tackle debt.

I’ve suggested an increase in corporate and personal taxes to the tune of 1/4 of one per cent to create a small revenue stream to fight our debt but I’m 100 per cent sure 85 per cent of Canadians and political parties would oppose the idea.

Why?


["I'd like to see airports less busy"]

Even though individuals and families and our various levels of governments are deeper in debt than ever in the past, many, if not most, Canadians are dramatically adverse to even the slightest of tax increases and governments can barely breathe the word without experiencing a drop in the polls.

Many of us are big and pouty and spoiled and when things don’t go our way, as they have economically and financially in the last 30 - 40 years, we push back.

It’s now in our blood and many of us are always ready to shove - hard.

Case in point:

Monday thru Friday, the federal Conservative government, knee deep in debt, is obviously looking at ways to create revenue streams.

In order to appease corporate moguls and the over-burdened and tax weary citizenry - as we’ve been known to call ourselves - not one word is being said, even in hushed tones (which would be akin to shoving a sharp stick into ear of an already disgruntled pig), about raising taxes.

(As far as I know, only the federal Liberals have mouthed the word ‘tax’ recently, as in ‘if in power, we would delay the next, proposed corporate tax reduction’).


["Governments will try not to sink"]

Instead of creating a revenue stream, however, our government found a clever way to simply reduce one of its costs.

I.e., it will soon stop paying airport policing costs. Costs will be shifted or transferred to airports.

Today, airports began to push back.

"The government should pay for safety, not us," said one airport official.

(Get used to the term ‘push back.’ I’m going to use it every chance I get from Monday to Friday).

One day soon, airport safety will be added to the ticket price to Hawaii and subtracted as a line in a government ledger.

In other words, the traveller will pay for their safe flight, and not the general taxpaying public.

(Be prepared for the push back from air travellers in about 3 minutes).

If it all sounds like a shell game to you, you might be right. But for certain, it’s an old game.

Federal Liberals downloaded many traditional costs to the provinces in the 1990s, the only time in the last 50 - 60 years that federal debt actually decreased.

Maybe the Conservatives are now playing from the Liberal handbook?

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If governments cannot increase revenue streams then look forward to a decrease in services to which many have grown accustomed.

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