When did the budget become nothing but a means of Marxist income redistribution? I mean, don't get me wrong. I don't want anyone to starve or freeze to death. I don't want people not having health care. But it bothers me how many people pay nothing and expect these great government services to continue and keep growing. 87% of income taxes are paid by just 20% of taxpayers in the US, and it's probably worse here.
And the rest? They keep voting for parties that offer to give them more stuff, and for more and more income redistribution. Andrea Horvath's platform calls for even more free stuff, and she says she'll 'ask the rich to pay just a little more'. Of course, by 'the rich' she doesn't mean those with limousines. She means doctors, lawyers, small businessmen, and people like me. And she's not the only one. Every budget, every election, people like her and Wynne ask 'the rich' to pay 'just a little more' so that the poor - defined as virtually everyone else, pays nothing. The tax base keeps narrowing as more and more people are removed from it, and these people will then bleat about their poor lot in life and demand more goodies they aren't paying for.
I don't like Ford's promise because it plays into that mentality that you vote for whatever party gives you the most free stuff. But realistically, minimum wage earners pay no taxes now anyway. Once you figure in the basic personal amounts for both federal and Ontario taxes, and basic deductions most lower earners look forward to tax time as the time of year they get a big fat cheque from the government for their refund.