afransen
Senior Member
Who cares what the polls say?
Canada's New Government, for one. Harper has commissioned twice as many as governments in recent memory.
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Who cares what the polls say?
Bah... things are a bit more complicated. Without the GST, consumption would have been even higher, most likely. I think the change in values hasn't helped. We've been raised on a steady diet of 'borrow-to-consume-without-a-plan-to-repay'.
Where you even born when the GST was introduced?
Really? You know this for a fact? You're only recourse in arguing your position is that "things are more complicated." That's not an argument, but an uninformed excuse. Don't go by the assumed truthiness of what your gut tells you makes sense.
In the end, consumer debt is higher today than when the GST was introduced. The GST is a successful generator of revenue only because people spend money on goods and services. In no way was the tax introduced to lower consumer spending. The Conservative government of the time had every interest in growing the economy; why you would believe they were interested in curbing spending and economic growth is left unexplained.
Where you even born when the GST was introduced?
Economic theory dictates that that is true. I haven't the expertise or the resources to attempt to verify that hypothesis. Ask an economist.
I never claimed the tax was introduced to decrease consumer spending. I know that is a matter of pragmatic politics. You continue to confuse the motive and the effect of the GST. Like I said, don't take my word for it! Ask an expert.
Now you're catching on. Sales taxes reduce consumption and increase savings, which in Canada (for instance) are at catastrophically low levels.
Economic theory dictates that that is true. I haven't the expertise or the resources to attempt to verify that hypothesis. Ask an economist.
Evidence please. Preferably from an economist... I think you might have a hard time finding a credible source.
You are the one who asserted that the GST was brought in as a means to reduce consumer spending.
I agree with the idea of a carbon tax. It is a tax that reduces tax revenues in other areas and places it on behaviors that hurt the environment. The concept is fairly simple.
If you get more income via your work, yet you have to spend a little more via fuel, that at least gives you the choice of purchasing a fuel that is more environmentally friendly. With the income tax, you simply pay the tax no questions. I could care less if the entire revenue ends up funding general services, the concept of the carbon tax is a good one.
The entire idea of a carbon tax is that with the higher price, it will create incentives for people to purchase green technology, hence creating demand for an otherwise more expensive energy service. In terms of the economy, this helps create markets for green energy, and these new industries create tons of new jobs that are better for the environment as we transition from oil and carbon technologies. Great idea, simple concept.
Both Canada and the United States will have been a follower on this issue, but its time at least part of North America embraces the future.
The entire idea of a carbon tax is that with the higher price, it will create incentives for people to purchase green technology
Implement a tax on a general good that is bad for the environment