Taxpayer Subsidy

[Cock Throppled]

I see a lot of people have their knickers in a twist over the temporary taxpayer subsidy recently introduced in BC.

For all those ranting about their tax money being used to fund parties they didn't vote for - you are totally wrong and trying to justify a system of buying politicians that was in place in BC.

Do you think all those corporations were donating to the BC Liberals because they never expected anything in return? And boy, were they rewarded. And did you not notice those donations were tax deuctable? If that isn't a subsidy all of us pay, what is? I never understood why a donation to politicals parties got a better tax break than donations to charities.

The new subsidy is applied per vote received in the last election. No votes - no money. If you voted Liberal in the last election, they'll be getting your donation of $2.50. And indviduals can still donate up to $1200 (I still think that's too high). I'm not sure if that amount is still deductable from taxes. It probably is, but at least the amount has been chiseled down.

I personally don't see the need of the transition funds, but at least they are due to go down every year and then (hopefully) be removed.

In any case, it is still much better than the wide-open, corrupt sytem we had.

 

[wetnose]

Amen. A taxpayer subsidy reminds the politicians they work for us, not the corporations or any other special interests.

 

[Damaged]

The problem I have is that he specifically said he wasn't going to do that pre-election, then he does. He also said it will end in 5 years but left a clause for it to continue. About as elusive as you can get on the matter. Just make the change and skip the taxpayer subsidy.

 

[storm rider]

The problem I have is that he specifically said he wasn't going to do that pre-election, then he does. He also said it will end in 5 years but left a clause for it to continue. About as elusive as you can get on the matter. Just make the change and skip the taxpayer subsidy.

Why would Horgan of the NDP want this in the first place?Because whilst union donations went mainly to the NDP the NDP did not raise as much money as the Lieberals.Conservative minded voters are known for opening their proverbial wallets where as the Left wing Zealots are just plain fucking CHEAP.

Let political parties raise funds as they see fit and what works for them so long as it is ethical and above board.No political party should get a thin fucking dime of tax payer MONEY.....the politicians are wastefull enough when in Government.....as tax payers we sure as shit should not be giving them money to fucking LIE to us on the hustings.

SR

 

[MissingOne]

It's a tricky issue, but I think I favour a taxpayer subsidy, and no donations at all.

The problem with donations is, no matter how low you make the limit, only people with spare cash can donate. Suppose the limit were $500 per person. A wealthy family of five could easily donate $2,500. A low-income family of five probably couldn't even pool their resources and donate $500. The party that appeals to the wealthy would gain much more from donations than the party that appeals to low-income folks.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against wealthy people, and by some measures I might even be one. However, I think all segments of society should be represented by the political system, not just those who can spare some cash to donate.

The issue of which parties qualify for taxpayer subsidies is a tricky one. Using the vote count from the most recent election makes it hard for new parties to get started in the system. I don't know what the answer is, but maybe smarter folks than I can figure something out.

 

[deathreborn]

It's quite apparent that this is where the alliance with the Greens has put forth it's influence. It's being said that Weaver has put his hands all over this and wanted the bill passed this way as it benefits the Greens the most with a big windfall of money that they never would have been able to raise otherwise. Now his next big mission will be to get the referendum on proportional representation set.

 

[CrazedandAbused]

Bang on brother!

This is all about the Greens trying to get the taxpayers to fund their party. Same goes for the NDP. These lefties crave tax payers dollars. They stay up at night dreaming of ways to soak us so they can spend on their pet projects. Just wait until the public sector unions start lining up for their pay offs.

Politics should be about ideas and energizing people to get involved and participate. Not entrenching political organizers by sucking on the government tax payer tit. If you can't get people to donate, that's your fault. Same goes for every charity, institution or business. If you can't get people to support your ideas, why should the tax payer bail you out - or entrench your political background organizers in jobs for life?

I know a few people who gave "big money" to the previous government. Guess what? They didn't want anything specific for it (they already had lots of money and prosperous companies).

What they wanted was to keep the fucking NDP out of power because those guys fucked up the economy - for years - every time they got into power the last 40 years. This time will be even worse with the Job-Hating Greens - who will fight to put everyone out of work so we can preserve their academic utopia.

Donating to a political party or ideology is a freedom of expression issue in my opinion The idiot who said it shouldn't be allowed - and it should be up to the taxpayer to fund a permanent political class to lord over us - might as well go live in Russia or some other socialist system because that kind of thinking will destroy this economy. Just wait and see.

 

[MissingOne]

...The idiot who said it shouldn't be allowed ...

Why thank you! - The Idiot

 

[storm rider]

Bang on brother!

This is all about the Greens trying to get the taxpayers to fund their party. Same goes for the NDP. These lefties crave tax payers dollars. They stay up at night dreaming of ways to soak us so they can spend on their pet projects. Just wait until the public sector unions start lining up for their pay offs.

Politics should be about ideas and energizing people to get involved and participate. Not entrenching political organizers by sucking on the government tax payer tit. If you can't get people to donate, that's your fault. Same goes for every charity, institution or business. If you can't get people to support your ideas, why should the tax payer bail you out - or entrench your political background organizers in jobs for life?

I know a few people who gave "big money" to the previous government. Guess what? They didn't want anything specific for it (they already had lots of money and prosperous companies).

What they wanted was to keep the fucking NDP out of power because those guys fucked up the economy - for years - every time they got into power the last 40 years. This time will be even worse with the Job-Hating Greens - who will fight to put everyone out of work so we can preserve their academic utopia.

Donating to a political party or ideology is a freedom of expression issue in my opinion The idiot who said it shouldn't be allowed - and it should be up to the taxpayer to fund a permanent political class to lord over us - might as well go live in Russia or some other socialist system because that kind of thinking will destroy this economy. Just wait and see.

High fuckin 5 dude...hell I like your thinking.You dont like to be fucked over by Socialists.I totally agree this is the AGENDA of the GREEN/NDP and most especially the GREEN party.Get their hands on tax payer money to enrich their political warchest and yes obviously they will work towards that goal of Proportional Representation based on vote counts and the idea of Participation Trophy politics.....oh the greens got 14% of the votes so they should get 14% of the seats....yet only less than a few of them WON enough seats by the actual vote count to be declared a CLEAR winner.

Why thank you! - The Idiot

So have you started packing your bags yet to move to Russia?You ought to be much more comfortable there in that Socialist Paradise.Instead of hitting Walmart for toilet paper you can line up as it is handed out....same goes for any kind of meat/vegetable/clothing etc.Perhaps you would prefer a more tropical climate for your Socialist lifestyle...maybe you could try Cuba or even Venezueala as they are much nicer and dont have Siberian work camps...lots of food riots though as well as mass unemployment and tons of government corruption where the pigs at the top of the food chain feed at the trough whilst the masses starve.

Socialism is the philosophy of failure,the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.It's inherant nature is the equal sharing of misery....Sir Winston Churchill.

SR

 

[CrazedandAbused]

Why thank you! - The Idiot

Sorry MissingOne. I didn't mean to call you an idiot, but I only knew your first name.

I'm assuming your last name is Brain?

 

[Cock Throppled]

Funny how so many BC Liberals and supporters never saw the tax write-offs of political donations as subsidies. And that cost the taxpayers a lot more than this proposal.

Interesting article - http://vancouversun.com/opinion/col...-of-political-parties-the-norm-in-democracies

 

[storm rider]

Funny how so many BC Liberals and supporters never saw the tax write-offs of political donations as subsidies. And that cost the taxpayers a lot more than this proposal.

Interesting article - http://vancouversun.com/opinion/col...-of-political-parties-the-norm-in-democracies

Well to be forthright and blunt the article you cherry picked supports Socialist thinking/governance.

I am of the mindset that NO tax payer MONEY should be given to ANY political party.Not the BC Liberals(liberal in name only) nor to the NDP(both Federal or Provincial) as well as the same for the Conservatives but most especially towards the GREEN party.

If the rules are tightened with regards to corporate/union/private donations I am fine with that.I am totally against the TAX PAYER forking over money to the politicians that screw us over one way or another.If a person firmly believes in a certain party's doctrine and wishes to donate money to that party to reach the goal of that party being elected that is just fine by me.Personally I have NEVER donated my hard earned money to ANY political party.I support the party with my VOTE in which I think my best interests are looked after.

Looking at the article and the numbers of fundraising money the NDP and GREENS fully support the idea of the TAX PAYER subsidy as they raked in a lot less and they want to level the playing field because they just dont get the contributions compared to Conservative minded voters/donators.

In short....governments in all levels fuck us over.....why should they get paid to do so?

SR

 

[Cock Throppled]

Well, if you didn't like that article, you sure ain't gonna like this one. And note, it was written before the NDP took power in Alberta...http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/11/oil-fund-norway-millionaires_n_4576887.html

 

[storm rider]

Well, if you didn't like that article, you sure ain't gonna like this one. And note, it was written before the NDP took power in Alberta...http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/01/11/oil-fund-norway-millionaires_n_4576887.html

Well first off Norway does not get RAPED like a BITCH to feed EASTERN Canada.....you know...Quebec with it's subsidized child care and university tuition as well as paying for the Maritime Provinces that come up short.Alberta and it's energy sector have been the biggest driver for the Canadian economy since 1997.....get rid of that nasty NEP in the early 1980's and Alberta wouls not have taken a kick in the teeth and gone silent from 1981 to 1997.....if Alberta had not had to send ALL of that largesse to Ottawa to re-distribute to the "have not" Provinces I imagine Alberta's Heritage Fund established under Premiere Lougheed would be just as good if not better.Kick it up to 2017 and the nutbar left coasters who have got the benefits of Alberta's energy sector want to shut down the twinning of an already existing pipeline that would get Canadian energy commodities to market at tidewater.Cant have that "dirty oil" that is already flowing through an existing pipeline to get more capacity..Never heard of a single pipeline leak on the Transmountain pipeline as it exists now.....same as I have never heard of a "disasterous catastrophic" oil spill by an oil tanker in the Burrard Inlet nor off the Left Coast in general.

Those facts dont stop the nut bar hypocrytic protesters though.....they show up at protests via their AUTOMOBILES and say "fossil fuels" are the death of "mother earth" and all the while taking selfies on their I phones which are made out of plastic.....the same people show up at Burnaby Mountain to protest and in their wake leave 10 tons of garbage behind them and they SHIT on the environment to feel self satisfied and righteous about their "just" cause.At the same time the MONEY flows from Alberta via Ottawa to BC for these people who sit on WELFARE or even worse that take money from foreign special interest groups like the Tides Foundation and work AGAINST the development of Canada's National Intrests with regards energy development.


Take away the contribution from Alberta to Canada in general over the last 60 years and Canada would be in the toilet.That is why Alberta does not HAVE a 1 Trillion FUND....because Alberta has had it sucked out of it to PAY for the "have nots"

SR

 

[Ray]

That is why Alberta does not HAVE a 1 Trillion FUND....because Alberta has had it sucked out of it to PAY for the "have nots"

That's not why. Alberta didn't collect royalties from the oil and gas industry like Norway did. Successive governments have allowed the industry to dictate what they would pay for royalties to exploit the natural resources. Same way we're letting Nestle exploit our fresh water reserves.

 

[rlock]

It's a better idea than people realize.

A party gets only as much money as it can attract actual votes.

The idea that every taxpayer is somehow "subsidizing" parties they do not support is ridiculous, factually untrue. By money being tied to vote counts, when you vote you'd only be supporting the same party that you just chose at the ballot box.

Seeking money from donors is the source of most political corruption. Right now, constantly having to go out there and beat the bushes for donors takes up the most time and energy of politicians, and they end up making policies that favour those people who hand them their money, instead of dealing with the concerns of their constituents.

Eliminating corporate and union donations is an absolutely necessary anti-corruption measure.

But the per-vote-subsidies idea is another good idea that can be added after that, to clean the system up even more.

 

[storm rider]

That's not why. Alberta didn't collect royalties from the oil and gas industry like Norway did. Successive governments have allowed the industry to dictate what they would pay for royalties to exploit the natural resources. Same way we're letting Nestle exploit our fresh water reserves.

OK there Mr.Smart Guy......how many BILLIONS has Nestle taken in profits in it's operations in BC and had those BILLIONS siphoned OFF to go to Quebec and the Maritime Provinces?With regard to "fresh water" Canada has the largest source of it.

Alberta has been the economic driver in Canada for the last 20 years.....and all of the benefit of that has been drained and shifted to every other Province.If not for the filthy NEP enacted under the cocksucker pierre trudeau in the early 1980's Canada would be even stronger and more resillient.Now we have Trudeau 2.0 at the helm and he is fucking over Canada even worse than his father did.Makes me wish Justin got wiped out by avalanche whilst snow boarding rather than his brother.....a lot better for the Country in general.

SR

 

[Ray]

had those BILLIONS siphoned OFF to go to Quebec and the Maritime Provinces

You're ok with your fellow Canadians living in squalor and poverty while other parts of the country have a booming economy?
Alberta has not been the economic driver for Canada's economy, Ontario and Quebec have been. Due to the sheer population and the manufacturing industries based there. Newfoundland has been doing quite well with it's oil and gas.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_provinces_and_territories_by_gross_domestic_product