Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
A lot of people simply don't think about the connection between government revenues and government spending. They think governments have virtually unlimited money, and politics is all about getting the most of that money for things you want. How it's paid for doesn't even enter their minds.
I'm not sure this is any more common now than it was in the past. 25 years ago I worked with some older, blue-collar guys who complained endlessly about the taxes they paid (even though they didn't declare half their income), while putting their kids through public school, blithely using and abusing the public health care system for frivolous purposes, and otherwise behaving like entitled Canadians.
But if there is an increase in this sort of attitude, I'd hazard that it's down the normalization of carrying huge debt and subsidizing a consumer lifestyle on credit. My parents' generation dreaded debt. Living beyond your means was considered reckless folly that could only end badly. That stigma around debt and credit has vanished. Canadians used to be more conservative and cautious about money than Americans, but today the reverse is true.
|
100% .... Not many of my friends follow the political scene very closely so whenever we get together, they often ask questions. I try to answer them in a very generic way and often do not associate the party name.
When I mention that one party is more in favor of increased spending on public service and another is looking to cut back, the answer is always to go with the person who is spending. When I throw in that the governments credit card balance is incredibly high, the remark is usually about how much they pay in taxes so they should get these things. I then explain that this is why becoming involved in politics is fun because you get to see where your taxes go, not just see them taken away.
If only there was a way to make a completely unbiased program for grade 12 students to take to understand the basics of government, different sides of the spectrum and what the pros and cons of each side are as well as how it impacts their day to day living.
Each party should have to write the pros list for the other parties
