Path: utzoo!censor!becker!ziebmef!stephen From: stephen@ziebmef.uucp (Stephen M. Dunn) Newsgroups: can.general Subject: Re: TAX REVOLT NOW!! Summary: Tweedledee and Tweedledum Keywords: Tweedledee was my frosh name, BTW Message-ID: <1989Aug13.215913.2475@ziebmef.uucp> Date: 14 Aug 89 01:59:10 GMT References: <6758@themepark.UUCP> <6761@ulysses.UUCP> <6763@cognos.UUCP> <28307@watmath.waterloo.edu> <1989Aug13.000459.27775@utzoo.uucp> Reply-To: stephen@ziebmef.UUCP (Stephen M. Dunn) Organization: Ziebmef Public Access Unix, Toronto, Ontario Lines: 44 In article <1989Aug13.000459.27775@utzoo.uucp> henry@utzoo.uucp (Henry Spencer) writes: $In article <28307@watmath.waterloo.edu> rwwetmore@grand.waterloo.edu (Ross Wetmore) writes: $>... Under a regime in which the people have $>no say in their government, it might be justifiable to blame government $>greed for excessive taxation. But in Canada, government policy is a reflection $>of the will of the people, at least as portrayed by the pollsters, pressure $>groups and media which are trying to mould it into their own shape. [...] $ The people really have very little $control over the doings of the government, especially since the two major $parties -- one of which invariably gets in -- are Tweedledee and Tweedledum $and seldom differ in important ways. As usual, Henry's right on target. Look at the recent history of our wonderful deficit. It began its recent life under the guidance of Pierre and John Turner, continued under Joe Who for a little while, went back into Liberal hands, and has recently been "managed" by Brian and Michael. All of them have contributed to its size (perhaps with the exception of Joe, who wasn't in office long enough to do much). Granted, we did have a recession a few years back, and increases in government spending on social programs and decreases in tax revenue are both to be expected and justified during such times. In any case, whatever party comes into power will do so based on a) their campaign promises (which have very little to do with what will actually happen during their term of office) b) how badly the previous government messed up rather than on whether or not they'll actually be the best party to run the country (what a pity ... cynical at my young age :-) Yes, living in Canada has some definite advantages over living in the States (one very important example is health care ... need I say more?). I know very little about their tax system; however, their income tax system certainly sounds a lot more bearable than ours from what I've heard of it. (BTW, what are they doing about their massive deficit? Are they ignoring it, or are they doing something about it and, if so, are they sticking it to the average person as blatantly as our feds are?) -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ! Stephen M. Dunn stephen@ziebmef.UUCP ! DISCLAIMER: Who'd ever ! !---------------------------------------------------! claim such dumb ideas? ! ! I have become comfortably numb ... ! I sure as heck wouldn't !