| There are instinctive behaviors that had real
survival benefit when people roamed in small hunter-gatherer bands. Fear
of the dark and the desire to be part of a group was necessary when people
were threatened by large hungry predators.
But as societies grew and external predators were
replaced by internal predators some instinctual behavior became
detrimental. For example...
There is one characteristic we Canadians share
with all humans. Maybe more
than one, but certainly this one. We love to give money to
people that don’t need it.
The urge to give fortunes to those with fortunes
is so universal it must be part of our genetic code. When a society, any
society, begins to accumulate surpluses, we thrust those surpluses upon a
tiny fraction of the population.
From Babylon to Versailles, from the Pharaohs to
the Rockefellers, the burden of wealth has been borne by the few.
Our government says the really
rich tax filers total about one hundred thousand. The same population as Thunder
Bay.
But Wealthytowners are different. Average
income over 600,000, average income tax, over 200,000. 20 billion from
that small city.
In return, the
Wealthytowners get some goodies.
ReallyRich folks can use foundations and trusts, tax expenditures
and transfer pricing. There’s
interest on government paper and
savings on capital gains. Not
to mention no estate or wealth taxes. Off shore banking helps as do
RRSP’s. Add these perks to
current tax cuts and Wealthytowners win the lottery every year. More than
a million bucks each. 5
dollars for every dollar paid in income taxes.
That 5 dollar figure reminds me.
That is what Treaty Indians get each year in return for their land.
We could televise a joint ceremony.
As the Status Indians file by and receive their five dollars the
really rich could file by and get their million.
Every Canadian could feel proud that we honor one
of the oldest traditions of the human race. We give
large amounts of money to those who don’t need it......And small
amounts to those who do.
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