Federal budget surplus

phobiaphobe · 08-09-2005, 6:59 PM

Damn the Liberals piss me off.

They just announced that they "miscalculated" (ie sandbagged) on their budget and that now they will have a surplus for 2005 of over 8 billion. THis has been the recurring theme for the past 4 or 5 years.

They're only in a surplus because they're overtaxing the **** out of us! Meanwhile their supporters in Ontario applaud the great job they're doing to somehow generate these surpluses and will re-elect them in spite of their obnoxious waste and corruption.

Here in Alberta we've had surplus budgets for years from our colossal oil and gas revenues, but guess what? Klein (conservative) used it to pay off our debt. We are debt-free. A government that's debt free? WTF?

I am 23 years old, by no means wealthy and I only take home 67% of what I make. What am I getting in return for all of this tax? Certainly not the protection of a respectable armed forces. Nope, my tax dollars go to service (yes just pay the interest on) the federal debt, while the Libs gloat about their big surplus, a good chunk of which will be embezzled straight into their pockets. What doesn't go to debt servicing will pay some asshole's welfare or employment insurance, or maybe a few more trips around the world for our new Governor General and her private jet.

Klein for PM (ya I wish)

DUX · 08-09-2005, 7:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Damn the Liberals piss me off.

They just announced that they "miscalculated" (ie sandbagged) on their budget and that now they will have a surplus for 2005 of over 8 billion. THis has been the recurring theme for the past 4 or 5 years.

They're only in a surplus because they're overtaxing the **** out of us! Meanwhile their supporters in Ontario applaud the great job they're doing to somehow generate these surpluses and will re-elect them in spite of their obnoxious waste and corruption.

Here in Alberta we've had surplus budgets for years from our colossal oil and gas revenues, but guess what? Klein (conservative) used it to pay off our debt. We are debt-free. A government that's debt free? WTF?

I am 23 years old, by no means wealthy and I only take home 67% of what I make. What am I getting in return for all of this tax? Certainly not the protection of a respectable armed forces. Nope, my tax dollars go to service (yes just pay the interest on) the federal debt, while the Libs gloat about their big surplus, a good chunk of which will be embezzled straight into their pockets. What doesn't go to debt servicing will pay some asshole's welfare or employment insurance, or maybe a few more trips around the world for our new Governor General and her private jet.

Klein for PM (ya I wish)

Just to make you feel better. In some cases the surplus has to be spent (read wasted) before the end of the fiscal year in order to justify asking for the same or larger budget the next year.

phobiaphobe · 08-09-2005, 7:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DUX

Just to make you feel better. In some cases the surplus has to be spent (read wasted) before the end of the fiscal year in order to justify asking for the same or larger budget the next year.

Ya the municipal road crews do that all the time by creating un-needed projects.

The surplus that the feds are reporting must be what's left after they've wasted as much as possible.

Belch · 08-09-2005, 7:20 PM

67% must be nice. I come out at the end of the year with closer to 50%

oldfogey · 08-10-2005, 5:04 AM

Repaying debt produces lower taxes in the future. Less taxes now means higher taxes tomorrow.

Since you're 23, higher taxes now is painful, but you, more than most, will benefit from lower taxes tomorrow. Young people should always be happy if the current government is repaying debt.

phobiaphobe · 08-10-2005, 9:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldfogey

Repaying debt produces lower taxes in the future. Less taxes now means higher taxes tomorrow.

Since you're 23, higher taxes now is painful, but you, more than most, will benefit from lower taxes tomorrow. Young people should always be happy if the current government is repaying debt.

Yes I am happy about it. My provincial goverment has paid all of its debt. It's the feds that I'm bitching about.

jaim · 08-11-2005, 4:59 AM

Try this on for size. The U.S. government has just signed a 300 Billion (with a B) federal roads budget. Most of which won't be used for federal roads but by pet projects in each state. So my drive to work will still be bumpy as hell. But the bicycle path will be really nice.

Smitty929RR · 08-16-2005, 8:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

Damn the Liberals piss me off.

They just announced that they "miscalculated" (ie sandbagged) on their budget and that now they will have a surplus for 2005 of over 8 billion. THis has been the recurring theme for the past 4 or 5 years.

They're only in a surplus because they're overtaxing the **** out of us! Meanwhile their supporters in Ontario applaud the great job they're doing to somehow generate these surpluses and will re-elect them in spite of their obnoxious waste and corruption.

Here in Alberta we've had surplus budgets for years from our colossal oil and gas revenues, but guess what? Klein (conservative) used it to pay off our debt. We are debt-free. A government that's debt free? WTF?

I am 23 years old, by no means wealthy and I only take home 67% of what I make. What am I getting in return for all of this tax? Certainly not the protection of a respectable armed forces. Nope, my tax dollars go to service (yes just pay the interest on) the federal debt, while the Libs gloat about their big surplus, a good chunk of which will be embezzled straight into their pockets. What doesn't go to debt servicing will pay some asshole's welfare or employment insurance, or maybe a few more trips around the world for our new Governor General and her private jet.

Klein for PM (ya I wish)

Do they have different parties in Canada. I thought that "liberal" was a term the Bush camp used to generalize oposition to their plan. Even though in the US liberals account for a very small % of the voters it is thrown about wildly.

phobiaphobe · 08-17-2005, 10:25 AM

We don't have euphemisms like "Republican" or "Democrat" or "Ralph Nader".

Our major parties are the "Liberal Party" the "Conservative Party" the "New Democratic Party (socialist union thugs) and the "Parti Quebecois" (separatists)

luvtolean · 08-17-2005, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

I am 23 years old, by no means wealthy and I only take home 67% of what I make.

Must be nice. I wish I took home 67%.

Quote:

What am I getting in return for all of this tax?

Your "free" healthcare of course. I just read that the Canadian healthcare system costs $9k/yr per citizen. All this for the right to wait in line and hope to God you aren't real sick....otherwise you will die or, if you're lucky, only be crippled, while you wait.

I envy any state with leaders that are able to pay off the debt in their province (or state). In California we came out of the boom years of the 90's and 2000 damn near bankrupt and in enormous debt.

phobiaphobe · 08-17-2005, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Must be nice. I wish I took home 67%.

Your "free" healthcare of course. I just read that the Canadian healthcare system costs $9k/yr per citizen. All this for the right to wait in line and hope to God you aren't real sick....otherwise you will die or, if you're lucky, only be crippled, while you wait.

I envy any state with leaders that are able to pay off the debt in their province (or state). In California we came out of the boom years of the 90's and 2000 damn near bankrupt and in enormous debt.

Our free healthcare is a joke. I haven't seen a doctor in several years. When I get sick, I just wait it out and count on my free immune system to do the job. It's not worth trying to get into a clinic.

THe Federal Health Minister (L) was in Edmonton yesterday mouthing off about how "a private system wouldn't work for Canadians". The conservative alberta legislature has been trying to create a hybrid system that might actually work and is being villified in Ottawa. The PM was recently quoted as saying "A two-tiered system? Nobody wants that." Oh really Mr. Dithers! Are you certain? Who have you talked to?

Meanwhile, the system here is deperate for doctors and nurses because everyone's going to the US where they can make real money.

I'm mad.

phobiaphobe · 08-17-2005, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Must be nice. I wish I took home 67%.

....

That's just what comes directly off my paycheque. That's not counting the 7% federal goods and services tax, 40-odd percent tax on fuel, user fees for everything, capital gains tax, and many others. When the smoke clears I probably send closer to 50-55% of my earnings to the government.

luvtolean · 08-17-2005, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

That's just what comes directly off my paycheque.

Yes, I was only talking about what comes from my paycheck too.

In that same article it mentioned in Canada it is illegal to have private healthcare, so if you have money, and you don't want to wait, you have to come down to the US. (like family of mine has done)

phobiaphobe · 08-17-2005, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Yes, I was only talking about what comes from my paycheck too...

Ok moneybags. I'll trade you my salary and taxes for your salary and taxes.

luvtolean · 08-17-2005, 12:35 PM

"moneybags"

I wish that applied!

phobiaphobe · 08-17-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvtolean

...
In that same article it mentioned in Canada it is illegal to have private healthcare, so if you have money, and you don't want to wait, you have to come down to the US. (like family of mine has done)

Like our hypocrite multi-millionaire PM does on a regular basis.