One mayoral candidate said: "These programs should not be a burden on tax payers, but a government responsibility."
And now, the short version of how taxation works.
Citizens pay taxes to some common pool. That common pool is managed by (in Canada) an elected government. That elected government spends the money on behalf of (and presumably to the benefit of) the citizens. The government is of the citizens; it IS the citizens. And the citizens are the taxpayers.
And that is the tidy little loop.
Even if that candidate meant "civic tax payers" and "another level of government's responsibility" the answer really doesn't show full comprehension of how taxes work. If another level of government is providing funding, it STILL come from our pockets!
Probably won't vote for that one, nor for anyone who doesn't understand the basic concept.
I'm just saying.
2 comments:
Stephen -- even some elected officials don't understand. for example: if we get provincial or federal grants to build something, the politicians are all excited, because now we don't have to pay for it... but wait, they forget about the operating side. If you build something we have to furnish it, light it, heat it and staff it. So we can pay 10 to 20% a year in operating costs.... ergo, our taxes go up. But you already knew that.
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