First off, I can’t imagine a world where I would vote for Harper. There are a number of reasons why he will not get my vote, but to be honest, one of the biggest ones is the use of Attack Ads. I hate them. Its ridiculous. He spends all his effort saying how “bad” everyone else is, and little to no effort saying why he is the “good” one. Come on grow up. This is ridiculous.

So I guess, this post is actually directed at all the other leaders. I know that most of what I am about to post is really just a pipe-dream. I am a realist, and know that you need money for this stuff, but if even a small portion of the following could be put into place, it would certainly be a good thing.

Free Recreation

Forget the current tax write-off limit of $500 for recreational programs for kids. Instead fund these recreational programs and make them free! In reality, this could potentially save money in prevention of health issues. There are obesity problems across North America and Canada is no stranger. If Kids could enjoy sports programs, gym memberships, pool passes, etc for free, they would be more active and healthier Canadians. This would ultimately promote a life-long healthy lifestyle which in turn would help eliminate some (not all) future health issues, saving the healthcare system money in the long run.

Environmental Subsidies

The Environment is a hot topic these days. There needs to be better funding for people to do environmentally friendly things. Big government rebates or tax write-0ffs for things like the purchase of hybrid and electric cars, solar panels, solar hot water systems, and other products that can lessen the strain on the environment. There are some programs for some of these things, but they aren’t good enough – they are no where near good enough to convince someone to go this route on these merits alone.

While you’re at it, why not also extend this to things like bicycles and bus passes. These would help keep people out of there cars for there commute. Free mass transit would certainly convince some people to leave there cars at home.

Right now there is absolutely NO financial incentive to be environmentally conscience, and without that financial push, many people just won’t do it.

Legal Marajuana

First I want to say I am NOT a pot smoker, never have been and never will be. BUT, those who smoke pot are going to do it anyways. Period. And this fuels crime related to smuggling, grow ops, etc. It also costs taxpayers millions upon millions in law enforcement.

Just legalize it already. Then tax the shit out of it. Not only will this SAVE money from the removed policing costs, it will be a huge revenue stream in tax dollars. Then use those dollars to further fund health care or education, or some other worthwhile cause.

0% Interest on Student Loans

Why is it that we have interest on Student Loans? There are several countries out there that grant student loans at 0% interest. One complaint people have is that Canadian talent moves south of the boarder for employment. Not all, but at least some of this, would be due to the insane student loan debt that they need to pay off. A 0% interest rate on these loans would help lessen the burden slightly, keeping some of these people here.

This would also help improve the pruchasing power of recent graduates, which helps to stimulate the economy, so indirectly, the government would still get much of this money via other taxes (HST for example).  We would also have a system with slightly fewer bankruptcies, fewer people needing government assistance etc.

Well, thats it for my rants for now. I will put a Part 2 out there soon!

As someone who had numerous hip surgeries as a child, if it weren’t for the health care system here in Canada my parents would have been bankrupt, I would have ended up in a wheelchair, or both. BUT Because of our health care, I walk round just like everyone else with a small limp – people I have known for years sometimes notice it and say “Oh, did you hurt your foot?”

I believe the United States is the only developed nation in the world that has seen medical bankruptcies. Lives destroyed, and people die because they can’t afford to seek medical treatment.

Here in Canada I can walk into any emergency room knowing that no matter how bit or small my problem, I will be treated fairly, properly, and for free!

Sure I pay for this indirectly with my tax dollars, but its the best tax dollars I’ve ever spent.

This is largely why I am so extremely confused why so many American’s are against Health Care. I can see politicians being against it as it costs money, and I can see private hospitals against it as it would put an end to the $100 cotton swab, but for those working class citizens, why on earth would you not want this?

Please, if you are an American and you are reading this, leave me a comment and help me understand why you would not want health care. Honestly, in the end it doesn’t impact me. I’m covered, but I still don’t understand.

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Okay here is my rant for the day.

I am sick and tired of calling businesses and having the automated system ask me for an account number, phone number, or any other piece of information, only to finally reach a real person and have them ask me for the same thing. If your automated system asks me for it, that should be it. Why are you asking me twice? If the live agent can’t see the info I enter into the automated system, WHY DOES IT ASK ME FOR IT?

Yesterday I had to call both Bell and a government office. Both systems asked me for info (one was my phone number, the other my social insurance number) and in both cases, I had to repeat the info to the live agent.

I told my wife that I was going to bitch about this in my blog today and her comment to me was:

“I don’t even bother, I just hit ‘star, star, pound, star, zero, star, pound’ till I eventually get a real person.”

I think I will have to take up that technique cause it seems to work for her.

There are some companies out there who do the job a bit better though. For instance, when I call Mazda to book my car in for servicing, their call display pulls up my account info before they answer the phone.  They usually answer “Hi Scott, calling to schedule servicing?” or some other comment relevant to my account. I like that, makes believe that they remember me and care (even if it is an illusion).

Not too long ago the provincial Government announce the launch of the HST (Harmonized sales tax) which is to be put into place later this year. This tax came as a surprise to most, and for the vast majority, most people are seriously ticked off about it.

The new HST will also show all restaurant bills jump up from the previous 5% tax up to 12% tax. That’s an additional 7% on all food purchased in restaurants.

People are fed up.

A petition has been started at www.NoMealTax.ca . I urge you to visit the site, and if you agree, sign the petition. As of the writing of this article 164,315 people have signed the petition so far.

The Swine Flu, Bird Flu, and many others. All just a government conspiracy. Sure these viruses exist, but why? They are all created by the drug companies for profit. These drug companies, working along side the government create viruses and their vaccines right along with them. They then release the virus, and when the public is good and scared, they release the vaccine and rake in the money. The viruses act as a biological weapon against countries that can not afford the vaccine.

They use the viruses not only as a form of mass profit, and it works.

Okay, I don’t really believe this, although I do admit it may be possible. I was reading recently in Discover magazine about a battle with who “owns” the rights to the H5N1 (bird flu). Biological material as intellectual property is a hot issue, and has been around for a while. Indonesia is fighting for the rights – it’s a rather confusing battle, and one that you can read about on page 40 of the December issue of Discover.

But when reading the article, it got me thinking, that while they most likely do not do this, what is stopping these multi-billion-dollar drug companies from creating a virus or disease, and the cure at the same time, then infecting a bunch of people and selling them the cure for profit. The technology is certainly there, and while this is probably not happening, it is also certainly far from impossible.

If you were given two options which would you pick:

1. Get shot with a hand gun
2. Get shot with a taser

If you like me, you’d probably pick the tazer, granted, neither would be much fun. With the options of bullet ripping through my body, with an end result most likely being death, compared to being electrocuted with the end result most likely being life – I pick taser!.

I am so entirely sick of people complaining about the use of tasers – its all over the news these days, but tasers are a good thing. Look at all the criminals who have been stopped dead in their tracks with a taser, who otherwise would have been shot and likely killed… hmm… criminals killed, perhaps that isn’t such a bad thing?

When an officer is in danger, and he tazes someone to stop the attack, he gets criticized over its use. Now, what are the alternatives… He could do nothing and let the criminal attack and maybe kill him, or he could fire a bullet in his ass.

Hello people! Tasers, while they have their risks etc, are far more human than shooting someone.

The next time you hear about someone being tazed and want to complain, ask yourself, what if that were a bullet.

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P.S. I am not sure if it is “taSer” or “taZer”. Pretty sure its taSer, although I see it being used both ways. Which version do you use?

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It seems odd to me. The Canadian government spends countless funds on so called “free” health care. The truth is, no, it is not free. Cheap yes, but free – no. I pay $108 a month for my wife, daughter and I, in MSP (Medical Service Plan) premiums. This is mandatory. In exchange I can walk into any hospital in Canada and be treated without having to ever EVER pull out my credit card.

I admit, that $108/month is a good deal when it all boils down to it.. I am not trying to knock the system, but it certainly is not free.

But I think that that MSP premiums could be eliminated if the medical system could cut costs. Probably the biggest way to cut costs would be to reduce the number of patients. You can reduce the number of patients by having a healthier society. If you want a healthier society, why not offer tax breaks for things that can improve overall health: recreational programs, gym memberships, etc, and tax the crap out of things that are bad for you; Candy, fast food, alcohol, smokes (I know booze and cig’s are taxed like crazy as it is, but tax them more, and make it harder and harder to smoke – I hate that stuff soooo much)

If the government allowed you to write off anything that would improve your health, the money they lose in taxes would be far outweighed by the money they save in health care costs.

Okay, I am not an American, but I do know that there are 50 US States. (Aren’t there?). Just the other day I was writing about how Americans know next to nothing about Canadian Geography, so why is it possible that I, a Canadian, know something about US geography that even US President Barack Obama Doesnt know?

Here in this video, he claims to have visited 57 US States… Hmm… 57?

(Now I realize that this is an old video, it isnt exactly fresh news, but today was the first time I had seen it.)

(To be fair, I think he meant to say 47 States, but hes a politician, and everyone points this kinda stuff out – don’t they?)

Ahh, its tax time again, and what a great time to put out a little blog post about taxes. I don’t mind paying my taxes – they cover schools, health care, transportation, public safety etc, but what I do wish is that more items were tax deductible.

Sure we can deduct charitable donations, medical expenses, etc, but why can’t we deduct those things that are preventative. The fewer people that use the health care system, the less money the government has to spend on it, therefore, we should be able to write off anything that positively impacts us health wise.

Things like gym memberships, personal trainers, and recreation programs should all be deductible. They all ready are for children, you can write off your kids swimming lessons or soccer practice, but what about us adults?

And then that leads into things that are positive for the environment. If you are planting trees, buying a hybrid car, taking public transit, or buying compact fluorescent light bulbs, this should all be deductible – as should purchasing hybrid and electric vehicles! What about replacing your gas guzzling lawn mower with a reel mower?

The city of Courtenay has just offered to cover 30% of the cost of planting new trees, to help encourage a greener and cleaner city, It would be nice if the federal government would give a little extra cash incentive for everyone to be healthier and greener.