[jn_12]

Yet we probably have more complains about the TTC than ever. A perfect example of throwing money at something doesn't always solve the problem. We need a disciplined work force and Mr. Miller have proven over and over again he is not capable of delivering that. We also need a disciplined fiscal policy and Mr. Miller have proven over and over again he is not capable of delivering that either. Having said that, I would rate him above the guy who would never raise taxes and then gave us a premium.

More importantly, 34% of the city is so angry that they would even vote Mr. Ford in. That's just scary.

I also feel Rob Ford would be a destructive force. However, it's about time we stand up to the unions. And to be honest, the best thing the government can do is to uphold the law and then stay out of working folks' ways (and wallets). Rob Ford is a child and would at least bring back some common sense into the government. I am not so sure about him as the mayor though. A leader and a henchman requires different qualities. I think Mr. Ford would make a good waste fighter, but not so much as the leader of a mega-city. That's why I am still an undecided voter.

You have to also remember we live in a completely different news/media world than even 5 years ago. The supposed "more complaints about the TTC than ever before" probably isn't true. It's just way easier to get things like compromizing images out into the world. People have always slept on the job or done a crossword puzzle, or whatever, it's just now with smart phones and twitter and 24 hour news it's incredibly easy for something small to become huge. It's far too easy for anything negative to blow up, and to me, this is the reason people are hyper-sensitive about the current political landscape in this city.

Umm no. Whether you like it or not most people will remember the tax increases and new taxes under Miller...nothing else

Oh my God, not taxes?!?! If taxes are the worst thing you can attach to Miller, considering everything that got done over 7 years, then I'd say he did quite well. By the way, we live in one of the richest cities in one of the richest countries in the world. We can afford not only the taxes Miller started, but even more. In fact, I'd rather we were paying more. Nothing should ever not be done because of financial issues. We have the means to do anything we need to get done. It's just that people like you seem to have caught the American fever whereby all taxes are bad and nothing good can come of them. It's a real shame.

I seriously think in 20 years people won't care about the taxes they paid during this era. Instead, I think they'd be pretty impressed to see what got done (and me and nfitz provided a pretty good basic list)

Yeah but how much is that is really due to Miller himself? Do we know?

Well, how much of the TTC's customer service issues have to do with him? You can't cherry pick which things count and which don't. My point (and nfitz's point) is that while he was leading this city a hell of a lot got done. I think you should ask, how much of that stuff gets done without Miller? I'd wager a pretty significant amount.

 

[EnviroTO]

Umm no. Whether you like it or not most people will remember the tax increases and new taxes under Miller...nothing else

I don't think so. The next mayor will also have tax increases and Miller's tax increases will quickly be forgotten. It seems to me that costs to do things in this city are rising above national inflation and that the taxes will continue to go up. Since property taxes are not measured against a fixed percentage of property values but rather measured in the increase of taxes on a property of fixed value the taxes will always go up and as soon as someone delivers no increase they are going to be forced to play catch-up.

 

[nfitz]

Umm no. Whether you like it or not most people will remember the tax increases and new taxes under Miller...nothing else

Tax increases? Taxes have increased in every 905 city as well; many faster than Toronto, and most are higher than Toronto. The actual tax rates are lower than they were when Miller came in, taxes haven't even increased as fast as land values.

I'm sure that Miller can be faulted for a few things (letting that food cart thing spiral out of control for example), but tax increases? Come one ... really ...

 

[archanfel]

You have to also remember we live in a completely different news/media world than even 5 years ago. The supposed "more complaints about the TTC than ever before" probably isn't true. It's just way easier to get things like compromizing images out into the world. People have always slept on the job or done a crossword puzzle, or whatever, it's just now with smart phones and twitter and 24 hour news it's incredibly easy for something small to become huge. It's far too easy for anything negative to blow up, and to me, this is the reason people are hyper-sensitive about the current political landscape in this city.

Oh my God, not taxes?!?! If taxes are the worst thing you can attach to Miller, considering everything that got done over 7 years, then I'd say he did quite well. By the way, we live in one of the richest cities in one of the richest countries in the world. We can afford not only the taxes Miller started, but even more. In fact, I'd rather we were paying more. Nothing should ever not be done because of financial issues. We have the means to do anything we need to get done. It's just that people like you seem to have caught the American fever whereby all taxes are bad and nothing good can come of them. It's a real shame.

I seriously think in 20 years people won't care about the taxes they paid during this era. Instead, I think they'd be pretty impressed to see what got done (and me and nfitz provided a pretty good basic list)

Well, how much of the TTC's customer service issues have to do with him? You can't cherry pick which things count and which don't. My point (and nfitz's point) is that while he was leading this city a hell of a lot got done. I think you should ask, how much of that stuff gets done without Miller? I'd wager a pretty significant amount.

You can't expect voters to wait 20 years to may or may not recoup the taxes paid today. If you really believe in a city run by the unions, you guys can donate to Mr. Miller to balance the budget. Why should someone who does not share your vision pay the taxes? So there are two choices for these people, move out of TO or drive the lefties out of the office. The 905 area experienced a population and economic boom over the last decade. Now, people are trying the second route. I'd rather they pick a libertarian who is not a child, but what can you do?

 

[GraphicMatt]

Haha, good luck finding a libertarian who's not a child.

 

[archanfel]

Tax increases? Taxes have increased in every 905 city as well; many faster than Toronto, and most are higher than Toronto. The actual tax rates are lower than they were when Miller came in, taxes haven't even increased as fast as land values.

I'm sure that Miller can be faulted for a few things (letting that food cart thing spiral out of control for example), but tax increases? Come one ... really ...

Yes, really. Vehicle taxes, land transfer taxes, bag taxes. That's not counting property tax increases way above inflation every year. Land values boom and bust. Can we expect a tax reduction if Toronto's housing market crashes?

 

[archanfel]

Haha, good luck finding a libertarian who's not a child.

Haha, so we are having a child leading the poll. You happy now?

 

[nfitz]

Yes, really. Vehicle taxes, land transfer taxes, bag taxes. That's not counting property tax increases way above inflation every year. Land values boom and bust. Can we expect a tax reduction if Toronto's housing market crashes?

Oh, $60 a year for a car; come on, who is whiney enough to complain about that, other than people who will vote for a wife-beating racist bigot? Tack that on to the property tax and we are still paying else than in 905.

2.9% is way above inflation? Slightly above inflation ... and much of that is the decision to transfer commercial property tax increases to residential ... you think Ford would end that program (well actually, I think the man's intelligence is so under average, that he doesn't even understand the program).

 

[archanfel]

Oh, $60 a year for a car; come on, who is whiney enough to complain about that, other than people who will vote for a wife-beating racist bigot? Tack that on to the property tax and we are still paying else than in 905.

2.9% is way above inflation? Slightly above inflation ... and much of that is the decision to transfer commercial property tax increases to residential ... you think Ford would end that program (well actually, I think the man's intelligence is so under average, that he doesn't even understand the program).

If you are so rich, could you send me $60 a year please? Better yet, could each of you send me $60 a year? I would be rich in no time.

Oh, 2.9% sounds so much better than 3%. Keep spinning it that way and see how many home owners are buying.

You guys have been calling Ford names for how long now? And where did his numbers go over that period? Give it a rest.

 

[Justin10000]

If you cannot afford $60 a year, you should not be driving.

 

[jn_12]

I actually haven't called Ford a single name. Feel free to go through my posts if you want.

You can't expect voters to wait 20 years to may or may not recoup the taxes paid today. If you really believe in a city run by the unions, you guys can donate to Mr. Miller to balance the budget. Why should someone who does not share your vision pay the taxes? So there are two choices for these people, move out of TO or drive the lefties out of the office. The 905 area experienced a population and economic boom over the last decade. Now, people are trying the second route. I'd rather they pick a libertarian who is not a child, but what can you do?

I never said people should recoup the taxes paid today. Since when do people get out what they put in? We live in Canada, a socialist country. People are expected to pay taxes and often the money they put in doesn't make it back to them in the form of services. In fact it usually goes to people you've never met! And because of that we have created a pretty awesome society.

I also don't think you really understand what a libertarian is. None of the 905 is libertarian, so I'm not sure what kind of model you're hoping for. Really, if you want a libertarian you must be someone who is pro-user fees and pro-road tolls (essentially just other forms of taxation, only going to a private entity). You probably also don't think the police (the biggest portion of the city's budget) should be a public service (why should your tax dollars go to protecting someone else?). Something tells me you and the rest of the 905 aren't big fans of those ideas. If you're going to use a brand of politics as a description of your beliefs, it's probably best that you understand what you're talking about.

 

[archanfel]

If you cannot afford $60 a year, you should not be driving.

What I can afford and what I am willing to pay are two different things. I can afford a lot of things, but I choose to be fiscally responsible.

 

[adma]

Libertrollians are the dreary strangling kudzu vine of web forums. And like strangle vines, they should be cut down and incinerated, lest they pollinate and spread.

 

[archanfel]

I actually haven't called Ford a single name. Feel free to go through my posts if you want.


I never said people should recoup the taxes paid today. Since when do people get out what they put in? We live in Canada, a socialist country. People are expected to pay taxes and often the money they put in doesn't make it back to them in the form of services. In fact it usually goes to people you've never met! And because of that we have created a pretty awesome society.

I also don't think you really understand what a libertarian is. None of the 905 is libertarian, so I'm not sure what kind of model you're hoping for. Really, if you want a libertarian you must be someone who is pro-user fees and pro-road tolls (essentially just other forms of taxation, only going to a private entity). You probably also don't think the police (the biggest portion of the city's budget) should be a public service (why should your tax dollars go to protecting someone else?). Something tells me you and the rest of the 905 aren't big fans of those ideas. If you're going to use a brand of politics as a description of your beliefs, it's probably best that you understand what you're talking about.

Yes, I am pro-user fees and pro road tolls, as long as they lower my taxes. I think we should only have consumption taxes rather than income taxes. I also would like a private police force paid by the community and evaluated every year by the community. There should be several security companies competing for the city's contract. The police force should be funded by forced labour in prisons although a separate company should control the prisons to avoid conflict of interests.

See, I know exactly what I am talking about. Rob Ford is a communist to me.

Seriously though, you are right, Canada is a socialist country and for good reasons. All we can hope for is a somewhat less left government that is not so pro-union and anti-car.

 

[Asterix]

I also would like a private police force paid by the community and evaluated every year by the community. There should be several security companies competing for the city's contract.

And just what is the going rate for companies like Xe Services (formerly known as Blackwater)? Yeah, looks like sure-fire cost reduction possibility. I presume you'd also be agreeing to exempt their employees from any responsibilities for their actions, just like all their other contracts.

The police force should be funded by forced labour in prisons although a separate company should control the prisons to avoid conflict of interests.

Can you run that accounting by me again? What kind of cash flow is being produced by forced labour prisons, let alone enough to fund a Blackwater style police force?