Quote:
Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe
Canada will always be taxed at a higher rate, to pay for all your more costly social programs. Nothing is free, that's why your taxes are so much higher - including gasoline and diesel fuel. Free healthcare has a price - it's in the fuel costs for one source to collect as a tax.
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There is actually only a 5% disparity in total tax when comparing the average income in Canada and the US. Lower income Canadians are actually taxed less while higher income Canadians are taxed more than their US counterparts.
A middle class American pays about 30% of his income in tax while the same Canadian pays 35%. This is the total tax burden: income, sales, property, etc.
Some additional information. If you exclude the European Union the US is ranked #1 in GDP (Canada is ranked #8) yet when the standard of living using income, life expectancy and education is ranked the US comes in at #12 (Canada ranks #8). Most European countries rank above the US in quality of life.
There is an argument against reducing social programs.
Edit: Interesting to note that Oz ranks #13 in GDP yet ranks #2 in quality of life and standard of living.
The additional cost in taxes on Canadian fuel is used used solely for infrastructure. Municipalities get 10% of that for their infrastructure. Bigger country, less people.