Occupy Bay Street (Toronto)

For the people that don't know (or the people who saw some sort of sad excuse for a protest on TV), the crux of the Occupy movement is that 1% of the world essentially decide life for the other 99% and control around 42% of the world's wealth. 


The protest is SUPPOSED to be about inequality...when the real issue is capitalism. There are a bunch of people realizing that capitalism doesn't work. Or that it does, but with an end-life. And we're just unlucky enough to be at the pinnacle of it. The very concept of capitalism is competitive...and with competition comes a wider gap. It's funny 'cause it emphasizes hard work, but the longer a capitalist system goes on, it becomes more about luck. I like capitalism; it's the reason I can have the things that I need an/or want. But I'll admit that it sucks for the people who haven't had much luck in it. After all, that could've been me.

I think it's way too easy for the people who are well-off to say "suck it up and deal with it" 'cause they'd like to think that they deserve to be where they're at, and everyone else just brought it upon themselves. But that's not the way the world works - some people CAN'T help themselves...or if they can, it's not enough to actually fix things. But capitalism's never been about equality - which is what democracy's here for (ie. banks mess up the fancy world we live in and we have he right to protest about it). It's the only check we have against that system, and to be honest, it doesn't seem like we have many other "systems" to try out. Power and wealth differences will always exist because it's at the heart of capitalism. I don't think people realize that for someone to do well, someone else needs to do worse. 

I get what they're protesting, but I'm not sure there's really much that can be done. You can prolong a "failing" system by patching the leaks, but it's eventually gonna end up the same way. Given that, there's 2 ways to take this: accept capitalism and the idea that some people flourish and some are **** out of luck, or move towards a more equality-based system where everyone's doing okay. But that leads to another problem. No one wants to be "okay". Everyone wants to be great. No one wants to be okay because we'd all rather be happy, even if it meant risking that we'd be sad at some point. 


The rebuttal here is that it CAN be fixed - that you need to have regulations in place to control the rich who get greedy, which wrecks the economy for everyone else. But until you can fix people, that **** isn't gonna happen. It's especially NOT gonna happen in a system where the rich call the shots. You can't tell people who are the reason we even had or saw success in the first place what to do. Not even if you're the government (unless you're richer than them).

I saw the protest and it does more damage to the cause than anything else. It's a shame it wasn't better-organized. At the same time, the media's doing a good job of diffusing the issue - they use any chance they can get to bring attention to how disorganized it is, rather than trying to explore the different issues and factions. For such a big city, our version of occupy was such a sad demonstration (or maybe a testament to how we don't have it that bad).

A lot of people say that they're identifying the issue, but not proposing a good fix. Maybe 'cause there isn't one. So basically, hey're bringing attention to how we're all screwed and there's not much that we can do. And that's what I'm trying to do here. Here's to hoping (and in some cases, knowing) that some of you guys (will) make it in to the 1% club. ;)

No vote = No right to complain?

(Written on May 2)
So today's the day and I still can't decide.

I figure that if I really can't pick, I just won't vote. But then I started thinking: if I don't vote, then am I not allowed to bitch for the next couple of years until the next election? It's not like I'm going to stop paying my taxes this year, so surely, I still have the right to care about how well (or horribly) fiscal management goes.

Does my refusal to be a part of the process exclude me from the repercussions (or benefits...if we're lucky. ha). And if it does, then how is that any different from the next guy who votes for the candidate who DOES end up being the most atrocious tax-money spender?

Does democracy still extend to the non-voters? About 40% of Canadian citizens don't vote. So then I started thinking that maybe voting should be mandatory. Several countries do have this - it's illegal not to vote.

 But would this go against the very concept of democracy? How can people be forced to choose? Would the pressures of mandatory voting actually lend more harm to the process (through random and careless voting)?

Just some questions for the mind, I guess.

Peace,

- knowledge

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Is Voter Apathy a Good Sign of a Democracy?

I'm also putting together 2 years worth of textbook picture fails. Hang tight for that one.

Is Voter Apathy A Good Sign Of A Democracy?

On a forum that I frequent, the topic of "who are you voting for" came up, and I decided to post my 2 cents:

"I saw highlights of the debate on cp24. I want Ford in office just for the entertainment value. I couldn't even believe when the guy called out his dead father. I used to follow politics back when I was in high school, but as the years pass, it just seems to confirm that:  - the people are never going to be satisfied with the government - the government's never going to satisfy the people   No, I don't think it's asking too much to manage taxpayer money better...but I have a feeling that it's just never going to happen.   Is there even a point of caring any more? What kind of system leaves us voting not for the best candidate, but for who's gonna screw things up the least? Do campaign promises even mean anything - who's to stop someone from doing a complete 180 once they're actually in office?  I know it's really just [I]called[/I] a democracy, but it seems that I just get more and more indifferent every year - and that worries me"

To which Duster 929 replied:

"I really don't like it when people say we don't really live in a democracy, and that they're apathetic because they think our democracy is a joke.   Voter apathy is a sign of a democracy that works quite well. Voters are apathetic because they don't have particularly large problems. They're relatively comfortable, have enough to keep their time occupied, and don't suffer daily persecution and violence. When a society has MAJOR problems, voters are not apathetic. They're in the streets, first with banners, then with rocks and clubs, and then with explosives. Toronto's problems: public transit isn't very good, taxes are going up by a few percent too much each year, there's a persistent shortfall in the budget that is filled in by more senior levels of government. Heck, even at the national level, it seems our biggest problem is that the government wants shotgun owners to register their weapons.  These are not the problems that many people in the world have. So, don't feel bad about being apathetic, and don't blame it on the fact that the system doesn't work. Be thankful that you can afford to be. Voters aren't apathetic in Afghanistan or Palestine, because they've got real problems, and they rarely even get the chance to vote."

Anyways, my mind = blown. I still don't think it's much of a democracy...but I now have a way to justify my apathy towards things. Whether the happiness of a country hinges on a "democracy" like ours is still something that I'm thinking about...but this is something I would have never considered.


Peace,


- knowledge

HST & Democracy Reform Pt. 2

Now it's time for my hypothetical democracy reform.

I've seen so many people decline to vote because they don't support any of the candidates...and I'm starting to see why.

Instead of deferring your vote, or voting for who you want, how about the option to vote for who you DON'T want. This is a better way of appeasing the masses, and it ensures that ALL minorities do get heard.

After e-mailing the MP in my constituency, I came to a dead end and eventually got ignored after a couple of back-and-forths.

After this, I got no reply. So, I've decided that I'm definitely not voting for the Liberals. I also doubt that I'm going to vote for the Convervatives. That leaves the green or NDP...which aren't strong runners to me, either. I'll most likely withold my vote...but that's because there isn't a good alternative.

I don't understand how voting isn't more necessary. An unheard voice is not a function of democracy because you're opting to silence yourself. That would be fine...if a part of our government wasn't a democracy. The problem with opting for silence is that you make the winner your choice, by default.

No vote is an unheard voice, and I'm sad to say that it seems like the best option.

We seriously need a REAL reform coupled with some public awareness. The problem is that no one gives a shit. And no one ever will, until it's too late and all they can do is jump ship. Ontarians are known for complaining (myself included), but never actually doing anything. I try to, but I'll admit that I don't do enough.

I love living in Toronto, and I hate the slippery slope that we're headed towards, but maybe a move somewhere else is in order when I get older.

It seems that we're not voting for positive progress, we seem to be voting for who will most likely screw us over the least - and if McGuinty's that option, I'm afraid to see what the others would do.


Oh yeah, and the eco tax just got introduced. 

Peace, 


- knowledge

HST & Democracy Reform Pt. 1

Having recently been screwed over YET again by the government (yeah yeah, fuck the government, Anarchy, etc.)...it makes me wonder whether we need a democracy reform.

I'm finally legally old enough to vote, and I'm not even sure if I'm going to exercise my right. Why? Because what choices are there?

It seems that no matter who gets elected, we get screwed over anyways. I do recognize and remember the politicians that have done wonders for Canada, and I really hate to paint politicians with the same brush...but it's getting ridiculous.

The real topic at hand is the HST. I posted a while back about this (click here). For the longest time, McGuinty's been denying that this would negatively affect families. For the longest time, he's been claiming that it's revenue-neutral. Now, he's finally admitted the truth. It WILL hit families. While the tax is arguably negligible, it still contradicts his original promise of not raising taxes.

I was unfortunate enough to tune in to a debate between McGuinty and (opposition of Convervatives), and it was like watching 2 people repeat each other. That wasn't a debate. McGuinty's "think of the children" arguments vs. (oppositions) "you lied" was volleyed over and over again.

If you still don't know what the HST is, it's the Harmonized Sales Tax. Basically, in order to save administration costs (primarily), they've decided to merge the GST and PST into one. Sounds great, in theory...until you realize how it's going to be implemented. (Cost) of reparation packages are being paid for the people who will lose their jobs (that means severance pay to all the employees getting the boot). But it doesn't end there.

My biggest gripe with this tax is that it taxes things that we were previously exempt: 

• Internet access will increase from 5% GST to the full 13% HST
• Airfare, bus & taxi travel origination from Ontario will be taxed HST
• Hairstyling and hair cuts will be taxed HST in Ontario
• Hotel accommodations
• Legal services will be taxed HST (legal aid is HST exempt)
• Natural gas will be subject to harmonized sales tax
• Electricity in Ontario is subject to HST
• Gym memberships will be subject to HST (sports and athletic memberships included)
• Accountants will have to tax you HST in Ontario
• Real estate commission is now taxed HST
• Lawn care, landscaping and snow removal services  
• Gasoline is subject to HST in Ontario
• Heating fuels in Ontario will be taxed HST
• Tobacco will be subject to HST in Ontario
• Quit smoking aids (nicotine gum etc.)
• Newspaper & magazines subscriptions
• Fast food items exceeding $4.00 will be taxed HST
• New houses over $400,000 will be subject to HST tax
• Vitamins will be subject to HST along with natural health products
• Used vehicles sold by private sale

For a lower-class family, it's ALMOST practically revenue-neutral. For a middle-class family, it IS arguably negligible (and I say this loosely, because that depends how you consider an extra $1000 a year in expenses would be), and for an upper-class family, it definitely IS noticeable. The bottom line, is that in all 3 socio-economic classes...it ISN'T exactly as revenue-neutral as McGuinty wants us to think.

The justification behind this (besides saving on admin costs) is that what businesses save will be passed on to the consumer (what's funny is that this seems completely conservative, to begin with). I'm not holding it against them, but why the hell would a business pass on savings to a consumer when it can just make more money? In theory, the HST's great. But in practice, not so much. 

To offset this "apparently" revenue-neutral (read NOT revenue-neutral), McGuinty's going to give ~$1000 in rebates to all families that qualify. The first year WILL be offsetted, more or less, so that it is negligible. But how about the year after that? And the year after that? I highly doubt that the cost of living is going to lower itself, any time soon. When your family opens that cheque from the government, and goes "gee golly, free money from the government! They're so kind!" Remember that it's the taxpayer dollars (essentially a fraction of your money) being given back to you. A bit of a hyperbole, but imagine giving someone a gift card, and them giving it to you in some nice packaging (with a bow, of course) and acting like they're trying to do YOU a favour.

What pisses me off the most is how Ontarians are just bending over, and how ill-informed everyone else is.  I'm not saying "fuck the government", because I do appreciate how it's better than most...but how about some more accountability on their part? God forbid they curb or spend efficiently. Spending the money wisely never seems to be a solution (there are MANY examples of this year alone where the government threw away money (hand sanitizer fiasco, annual budget breakdowns, mass audits, and bridge inspections are just a couple of examples that come to mind off the top of my head). The result of this brainless spending is a need for a bigger budget next year.

The problem IS also within administration. If you don't spend all of the budget, you get less next year. So intead fo re-directing those extra funds, they'll spend on some other crap that they really don't need to...just to maintain the budget. BUT the budget isn't maintained! Instead, they need more money, the following year. That's where you and I come in - the taxpayers that feed this mess.

Fill up tonight, 'cause as of tomorrow...you're getting less gas for the same amount of money. Not only are the truckers going to feel this increase (for every dollar you spend on gas (add 7 cents, or less gas per dollar). And guess who's most likely going to shoulder the increase in gas expenses? Us, the consumers that these trucks deliver to.

It must be a real democracy when you're voting with your wallet.

Peace,

- knowledge