[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by redforever

Listen Bud, you are barking up the wrong tree. And by the way, using the term parasite is totally offensive. Get off your high horse.

Would these communities be booming without proximity to Calgary? No, they're parasites living off the opportunities provided by Calgary.

I am willing to pay that extra fee only when Calgarians pay for all of the capital expenses for its transit system, and are not subsidized by any provincial or federal tax dollars.

Do you not think that a significant portion of provincial and federal tax dollars come from Calgary?

You are going to have to realize that it is not only you who has paid into Calgary Transit system and as such, it is not only you who should get the benefit of using it.

Hey, I haven't paid into the system. I'm not a Calgary resident.

And for all of you who are thinking every non resident is a parasite, that every non resident is cheap and avoids service user fees, well you are wrong.

Did I say that? No, I didn't. And I don't think anyone else here did either.

First of all, we have lived in the country since 1980 and for almost that whole period of time, my husband owned and operated a business downtown and as such has paid taxes towards Calgary Transit. And contrary to what you might think, he did pay for his parking downtown. He is not the only person in this situation.

And your husband benefited by having customers who had access to his business through public transit.

Second, there are countless people who have moved to the country who have also kept their homes in the city, either for their children to use, or for rental purposes. They pay Calgary taxes too.

Well, for the rental properties it's actually the renters who are paying the taxes indirectly.

I would wager that when you do a breakdown of all these "parasites" who are a burden on your transit system, that there are as many Calgarians you are subsidizing who are riding free on the honor system as there are people in the country getting a so called better deal than you.

Calgarians aren't riding free since their tax dollars pay the bills regardless of whether or not they use transit or abuse the honour system. The only ones who are riding free are the people from parasite communities who abuse the honour system.

Adopting more and higher user fees only increases your burdening bureaucracy, discourages people from using the system, and encourages people to try to beat the system.

So they shouldn't charge people to ride the buses and trains at all then since doing so only increases bureaucracy, discourages people from using the system and encourages people to try to beat the system as demonstrated by all the people who beat the honour system according to you.

Why not make a friendlier system that encourages people to use the system. Provide better bus service or dart service to get people to the C Train stations, adopt a token system to pay, whatever.

Why should the city of Calgary encourage people to live in parasite communities and drain away tax dollars that could be invested in Calgary infrastructure?

When you can say you never step outside of the city of Calgary period, is the day you can call me a parasite.

Well, I haven't called you a parasite so don't get your panties in a bunch.