Freedom 75: How will we confront increasing costs, among many other things?

To many Canadians, perhaps especially to Londoners, Freedom 55 is a familiar phrase or concept.

Freedom 55 Financial, a division of London Life, once heavily promoted a financial plan that would lead to a hippy-happy retirement at age 55. I don’t know if the plan is promoted as heavily today, with TV ads and such. Maybe Freedom 55 has gone the way of the dodo.

And maybe, over the next 10 years or so, Canadians will have to get their heads around Freedom 65, since market and economic growth isn’t as bullish today as it was back in the day Freedom 55 was all the rage.


Freedom 75 may even have to be considered (the trend is in that direction in France and Great Britain), since rising costs to many things associated with our (once?) lovely and somewhat loony lifestyle are continually coming into play or coming home to bite is on our ever-expanding hinder parts.

What to do?

Get fighting mad? Rail at the government? Call for tax cuts or freezes?

We know that is already happening. (News article by B. MacLeod, London Free Press)

How effective will be those trends, we’ll have to wait and see.

Mr. MacLeod says the following, of interest to me at least:

“In the U.S., some Tea Party candidates see taxes as virtually unpatriotic, but tax freezes are the Canadian compromise. Yet few who suggest them are able to come up with concrete ways to address increasing costs.”


I try to see taxes in a more positive light. As a necessity. To bring benefits to myself and others. To maintain a strong community.

I also think that while we argue for the next 40 years about what a fair taxation level is for individuals (in say 30 - 40 wage categories), and small businesses and giant corporations, we should spend just as much energy addressing other important matters.

For example:

Concrete ways to address increasing costs

Ways to develop and maintain happiness (in spite of the above)

What aspects of modern, civilized society (if we actually can describe our society that way) must we work hardest to preserve and protect from total mistrust? Arts, democratic government, sports, the environment, the economy?


["Oak leaf floating on an old mill pond": photos GH]

The list could become quite long. But even with the three items above, I think it’s plain to see that increasing costs, which includes taxes to some degree, is not or should not be our main focus in life.

I personally would want to strive for more happiness in my life, and yesterday, while standing next to an old mill pond camera in hand, I was quite aware that certain things are much more important than “increasing costs” and “tax cuts” and “demanding my rights.”

At any rate, if Freedom 75 becomes the new normal, how can we best enjoy life all the same?

***

Is happiness connected to red jubes jubes?

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Please click here to see more photos from the old mill pond.

.