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I have no problem with that at all. If you want "free" heatlth care, run by the government, you are free to pay for it in the form of higher prices for goods and services. The same with other percieved "benefits" of government run programs. It's not simply as transparent as sales and use tax in Canada though. There are many hidden corporate taxes and fees that inflate the cost of goods in an effort to send cash to Canadian government coffers that are then taxed again at the consumer purchase level.
I prefer a different situation, where government doesn't steal my earnings in order to provide me with "benefits". In the case of the US, the socialist machine is churning away, but unless they win outright, the US will still have the best medical care, and best economy on the planet. There is no such thing as "free" in government, and if you abdicate responsibility for your own health care, it's cost will snowball, and your care will require the subsidy of others, and be limited in scope. That's pretty much what is happening in Canada, and across western Europe today. I prefer to choose how to spend what I earn, and not earn it, and have someone else decide the best way to spend it through taxation.
Again, to each his own. I live in the US, so Canadian politics don't move me, but I will fight every continuing effort to socialize US healthcare, as that issue does move me.
The Amazon issue seems to be already settled. They don't ship to Canada directly, because the Canadian government sets up roadblocks that cause them to be less than competitive. The same goes for Canon Japan. The reason that their products cost more in Canada isn't that they don't like Canadians. It's that Ottawa adds to the cost of doing business there long before your sales/VAT tax bill is due. Everything is taxed in the end, including other taxes.
What stikes me as funny is that although you declare that it is just and worthwhile to pay more, considering the "benefits" you are awarded by government, and to set up barriers to prevent Canadian residents from taking advantage of free market pricing accross the southern border, many others blame Amazon, Canon, etc. for the difference in landed price for trade products. I admire your stand, as you feel the additional cost is worthwhile, and wish to protect the financial basis for your government. I think you are wrong, but you do champion your position.
How is it then, that the people who blame Amazon and Canon for Canadian prices that are much higher than the daily currency exchange rate can make a reasonable choice in government representation when they don't even understand why a particular item might cost more or less in their country, relative to the cost in another country?
Ivo Silva wrote:
Sometimes they do it for good reason, at times globalization can do more harm than good, if you simply let things evolve without such rules many will get hurt in the process.
You have to impose limits to avoid Amazon killing the local and even web business operating in Canada from the outside (US), what would be the point of having a business operating in Canada, having to follow the Canadian rules, and them some company like Amazon just bypassing all those rules and costs? It just wouldn’t be fair.
If Amazon wants the Canadian market they just have to operate their business to Canada from Canada, and adhere by Canadian rules.
I for one prefer to have a tax system based on what I buy and not what I make like the US has, pay tax on everything I buy, but have a decent and free healthcare system among many other benefits.
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Jim K.
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| Aug 21, 2007 at 03:34 AM |
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