Buffet Is Absolutely Right

He’s right, the RICH do need to pay more in taxes, and NO, it won’t stop investment, it won’t dry up new ideas.  Just how many of the fat rich cats, actually are investing in our Infrastructure?

It is nothing but a Conservative Public Relations gimmick, that uses fear to make us think that if we tax the wealthy, as we are taxed, that somehow we are all going to be living in cardboard boxes.

Fact is, it is that giveaway to the Rich, that is at the heart of our economic problems. By constantly giving those who have the most, more breaks, it is the rest who wind up paying more.  And for less.

Like honestly, tell me what new advances in sustainable fuels has come from all the BILLIONS in tax cuts, the Oil Industry has received?  Anything?

So what if the wealthy have one less mansion to keep in mothballs, or one less new Mercedes? Does it really matter if they have one less private airplane to fly them around?

Harper needs a reality check, as do all Conservatives. The gap between the Have’s and the Have Not’s is widening, and that has been proven to always lead to Revolution. 

Hell, just ask the Romanoff’s, or the French Aristocrats. How about the Cuban’s?  Anyone remember Castro?

Ya know, I have my dream too. I want to be in that class, where money isn’t an issue. Sure having a few billion would be nice, but have you thought about how you’d manage it?

Today’s wealthy buy luxury yachts, airplanes, and Mansions all over the place, but what does that contribute to our society? It employs maybe a few people, at slightly higher than minimum wage salary, but what else does it accomplish?

Does it keep one single factory working full shifts, to put out new cars, new washing machines, new television sets?

Does it keep thousands employed at high paying jobs in the tech industry?

Does it keep shipyards working, to replace aging cargo vessels or does it simply insure that the luxury suites on huge Cruise ships are filled?

Does it put food on my table?

NO, it doesn’t, and that is simply because the majority of today’s wealthy aren’t looking to invest in our infrastructure, but in securing more money through profits. That means manipulating the stock market, in buying up companies then downsizing them to make them more money.

The elite of our society need a wake up call, a reality check.  And we, the people need one ourselves, so we’ll stop electing fools like Stephen Harper/

Bob Rae Liberal Interim Leader

So does that mean that he’s it for the next 18 to 24 months?

How effective of a leader will he be for the Liberal Party, but perhaps more importantly, how will he bring the Liberals back from extinction?  Can they be competitive in the next Federal Election, or will they be the party that disappears, as Harper pushes us towards a two party system?

The arguement of not funding the political parties, publicly, is that it will allow the people to choose which party is worthy of their cash, but that is theory.  Reality is, a political party not publicly funded, will need to align itself with some special interest group, that has the money to bankroll their efforts.

That simply doesn’t bode well for people. It transfers power from us, to special interest groups, and let’s be honest. Those groups will support a party, providing they get what they want. In short, it is a SELL OFF.  It doesn’t weaken the political parties, but strengthens big business interests. It weakens, the ability of those disadvantaged, from having a clear voice.

It does weaken the system, not enhance it.

Bob Rae, a former NDP Premier, has his job cut out for him. He has to provide a public face, to a party in disarray, that has left its roots over the last five or so years. Paul Martin did a huge disservice to the Liberal Party, by being its leader.

The Liberal Party was a blend of business and people. It was a middle of the road Party, that appealed to many Canadians, not because it was only for this, or opposed to that, but because it was willing to reach a middle ground.  It was that spirit that gave us National Health, and that alone has helped set this country apart, from our giant neighbour to the south.

We are facing tough economic times ahead, and the so called Global Market concept, endorsed by our Prime Minister and his mentor Brian Mulroney, and his hero George W. Bush, is not working. It has led to several world recessions, that is far from over.

Both Bob Rae and Jack Layton have a huge task ahead of them. There is little that can keep Harper in check now, which means that in four years or so, we will be facing a totally different Country, than we have had since Confederation. Our rights, as individuals are already being trampled on, and it will only get worse, so what will Bob Rae do?

Or does it even matter?

The die has been cast, so does it really matter what us poor folks, us Middle Class people think, as we have lost the war against Corporate Control? Are we moving to a society like depicted in the Dune Series, where Corporate Rule dominated the Galaxies?

Prices are rising, and our Government has no problem with that. To Harper, the Market determines the price, and if we can’t afford it, well, we are just shit out of luck. Can Bob Rae bring any leverage to bear, to curtail or slow down the Conservative Agenda?

Be interesting to see, as well it be interesting to see who steps up, to try and take the golden ring, and become the Next Liberal Permanent Leader?   Justin Trudeau? Someone else? Ken Dryden?

Are You Priveleged Enough to be in the Bullseye

Are you won of the lucky ones, who earn enough money, to qualify for all these tax cuts, being pledged to you, by our various political parties?

• Can you afford to spend $500 for some fitness program?
• How about spending $35,000 to build an in-law suite to look after your elderly parent(s)?
• Maybe you can afford to renovate your home, to make it more energy effecient, by throwing $5,000 or even $13,500 into the home?
• Got a spare $10,000 to put into a TFSA?

See, I keep hearing about all these big breaks we are going to get, if we vote for Larry, Curly, & Moe, but honestly, who are they really appealing to?

The mean average income, to define Middle Class says you need to earn (as a family) around the $50,000 a year mark.   Most of Herr Harper’s tax cuts, only give you the maximum credit, if you earn well over $70,000.   So there goes the majority of the Middle Class.

But what about all those people who don’t reach even that Middle Class status?

And somehow, I think that is a growing segment of our society, than we may want to admit. With all the high paying jobs being shipped overseas, thanks to Harper’s Free Trade deals, and his drive to create only minimum wage jobs, and not even at Full Time, it has to add large numbers to the Low Income Class.  ( In other words, the Poor )

I’d love to own my own home. Hell I’d love to be able to put $5,000 into a TFSA, never mind $10,000.  I’d love to be able to afford to contemplate spending $500 to get fit. Instead, as it stands now, that $500 won’t even cover the cost of two months Hydro bill.

So are our Political Parties even looking at us, that truly hidden segment of our Society, and I think, our fast growing one?

In a practicle manner too, why aren’t they focusing on those who earn less than the mean average for Middle Class?  Why are they always looking towards those who can afford to send their kids to college, who can afford to go to Private Schools, and not to those who can’t?

Who needs it more, those who earn $70,000 or those who struggle at minimum wage?

Another thing to consider, is who is going to need to buy more of the big ticket items?

We get by with a washing machine that is at least 8 or 9 years old, The dryer is at least 15 years old, and the fridge we have upstairs, ( ours ) is at least 20 years old.  Our car is 1977, but who can afford a new one?

We don’t own, we rent.

So tell me, doesn’t it make sense to get those who earn minimum wages, who struggle to pay $300 a month electric bills, who can least afford to pour $100 into a gas tank to get to work, or pay $2.50 each way on a bus, the means to get ahead?

Those who NEED the most, are the ones who are going to SPEND THE MOST.  It is common sense, isn’t it?  IF you need to get out of the renter’s endless trap, IF you need the new washing machine, dryer, refrigerator, your are the one who will buy them, out of necessity, not out of want.

IF you want people to save more, for their old age, then they have to have something to save.  Those who already do have that kind of money, either do it, or don’t, out of simple greed, selfishness.  So how is pandering to their needs, better for our society, better for our Country?

I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO CARE ABOUT US, THE ONES WITH THE LEAST.

ANYONE BUT THE UNCARING HARPER CONSERVATIVES

Just Who Are the Middle Class Everyone is Wooing

Stephen Harper uses it, Michael Ignatieff uses it, even Jack Layton does, but just who are those wonderful Middle Class folks, our political buffoons are reaching out to?  Is it you, or me?  Are they the one’s I think they are, or are they some unseen creature that only comes out on election day, to cast their vote?

Who are the Middle Class?

Interesting note, that the recent proposal by Harper, the tax splitting would best benefit the Middle Class, yet in a study, it shows that it would actually help those the most, who earn more than $71,000.00 in pre tax income.    Nice huh, so just how many Canadians fall into that category?   Should be lots, right, as those are the Middle Class…   right?

According to Stats Canada, the average household income, pre tax income that is, falls in around $58,500.00 

Well if the majority are in that area ( boy I am jealous, wish we were close to that, but hell, we are way below that ) then just how does Mr. Harper’s tax splitting benefit the majority?  I mean you would think a bona fide Economist would at least know how many people are in what income bracket, wouldn’t you?

A lot of Ivory Tower folks comment on the Middle Class. Anyone remember Mr. Independent Lou Dobbs? He was always harping on the Middle Class in the USA, but he sure pulls down a lot more income than any middle class person I know.  Guess it’s no different up here. I mean for some reason, Harper thinks our Middle Class are those who earn closer to a hundred grand a year, than the fifty grand they actually do.  ( Think he’s hoping they can get more credit, to raise their income to the level where his tax cuts can help? )

Now I am not some fancy Professor of Economics, not an Ecnomist, or even a Politician. I just do my best to get by, to buy the food we need, to keep Mom in diapers and pills, with a roof over our head, and heat during the cold days.  My wife, David, works on fixing VW’s at a shop, while I do what I can online.  All I know is, that I don’t see people who earn $70,000.00 a year needing a new washing machine, dryer, or refrigerator.  I know I do, because it’ll help cut down on my $300 a month hydro bill.

I know that people like my Mother, 93 years old and on a fixed income, needs to have something more than she gets, if she was to afford her medications, her food, and home, without support from David & Myself.  Without us, she would need to choose, between being warm, or eating, between being clean or having her medicines.

Perhaps instead of worrying about what defines the Middle Class, we should be thinking more about how we can make life affordable for those who earn the least.  I am stuck at home, because Mom needs 24/7 care. It doesn’t pay squat, let alone even minimum wage. And that is okay for me. After all she is my mother.

Point is, if business wants to make money, to sell its goods, perhaps the solution isn’t to give people who already have that stuff, more money, more tax cuts, but to give some real help to those who actually need the stuff.

Our washing machine is about 8 years old, and the dryer has to be from the sixties ( not really, but I am certain it is at least 15 years old. ) so we are the one’s who need new ones. Not a person who got a pair last year, and are going to go grab another new pair to match the new color they painted their laundry room.

Put the money in the hands of the people who need it. They are the ones who will buy big ticket items.  A tax cut is useless if you don’t make the necessary money to qualify in the first place.  I know I sure as hell don’t.

How about you?

Wished We Earned Fifty Grand A Year

Gotta love our Stevie Boy.

If David & I were to every earn $50,000.00  a year, combined, we’d get to save about $1,300.00 in taxes.   Now that is the carrot that the Harper Conservatives are dangling in front of our dwindling Middle Class.

Sound Good?       wait for the hook now…

It will only take effect, if the budget is balanced.  Under Jim Flaherty, we can expect that supposedly around 2015.   In about 4 ( four ) years from now.

Now I don’t know, but what happens if the budget is balanced in 2015, then in 2016 we have another economic melt down?  Will that lovely little tax cut get the axe too?

Course there is one other tiny problem, that doesn’t seem to get much attention.  That is the Fifty Grand itself. Given how so many high paying jobs are being lost, replaced by minimum wage jobs, who is gonna be left to max out that little tax goodie?

At $10 an hour, working a full 40 hours, for all 52 weeks, a person will earn ( before taxes ) $20,800.00   So if both David & I get a $10 an hour job, work the full week, every week, we’ll only have $41,600.00 combined family income.

Gee, guess we won’t qualify for that $1300 tax cut, does it?

If Mr. Harper truly cared about us, the people, then perhaps he’d spend more time trying to create high paying jobs, instead of helping to ship them to Indonesia, India, China, or anywhere but in Canada.    Then, his tax cuts might actually help someone.