tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post1896355178021403110..comments2024-03-26T07:56:17.955-07:00Comments on The South Fraser Blog: TaxingNathan Pachalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-16087383463513224362011-04-02T09:01:07.904-07:002011-04-02T09:01:07.904-07:00Interesting. Property Tax is an interesting tool t...Interesting. Property Tax is an interesting tool to keep as well and I didn't talk at all about removing that. In fact, transit funding and other funding it is probably be funded with property tax because it is the most stable source of funding in Metro Vancouver.Nathan Pachalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-69181521587263817282011-04-01T11:36:08.975-07:002011-04-01T11:36:08.975-07:00He cites this just-released book, which I haven...He cites this just-released book, which I haven't yet read:<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520269675/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=washingtonpost-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520269675<br /><br />"Taxing the Poor demonstrates how sales taxes intended to replace the missing revenue--taxes that at first glance appear fair--actually punish the poor and exacerbate the very conditions that drove them into poverty in the first place. "Gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199565530341153011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-37125755087322369392011-04-01T11:32:26.091-07:002011-04-01T11:32:26.091-07:00A relevant post on taxation in the US:
http://www...A relevant post on taxation in the US:<br /><br />http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-chait/86132/how-conservatives-tax-the-poorGabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199565530341153011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-21319304345484830672011-03-31T21:46:29.787-07:002011-03-31T21:46:29.787-07:00Gabriel, I agree with you that income tax is progr...Gabriel, I agree with you that income tax is progressive and consumption taxes are regressive. In the real world, we are likely to always see income tax in Canada, but moving more towards consumption taxes allows more flexible in encouraging people to make smart choices.Nathan Pachalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-16028024534318112922011-03-31T21:09:46.468-07:002011-03-31T21:09:46.468-07:00That some things are exempt from consumption taxes...That some things are exempt from consumption taxes doesn't change the fact that the taxes are regressive, having a higher impact on people with lower incomes. Of course it helps that necessities are exempt, but those things that are taxed will impact lower-income people more. And "don't consume" is not a satisfactory answer.<br /><br />Income taxes are progressive, and arguably fairer, because people pay according to ability. <br /><br />I'm not arguing against the HST, by the way. I support it. I was countering Nathan's claim that economists are somehow against income taxes. There is no such consensus. And Nathan, yes, the income taxes were introduced for WWI but they are very much with us today.Gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199565530341153011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-29579523831585655122011-03-27T11:59:40.682-07:002011-03-27T11:59:40.682-07:00There were several high profile economists at this...There were several high profile economists at this year's Surrey Economic Forum. All supported the HST and each had unique reasons why they did. <br /><br />Unlike income tax, HST is fair. Don't want to pay? Don't consume. Te argument that it unfairly impacts the poor is illogical at best because necessities of life are HST exempt and if you are poor, you get an HST cheque from e government. <br /><br />This argument sounds like when Carol James got up during question period and went on and on about her poor friend who owned a small book store in Victoria and how this HST would be putting her out of business. Then the Finance Minister rose to explain that books are exempt from HST!Joe Zaccariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01575719277280796183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-56142517635174622712011-03-25T23:54:34.737-07:002011-03-25T23:54:34.737-07:00Income tax is based on ability to pay.
Consumptio...Income tax is based on ability to pay.<br /><br />Consumption taxes are regressive because as income rises the percentage of income spent goes down.<br /><br />I like to see sales tax applied to any house that isn't your primary residence. I'd make sure that non-resident tax was applied to foreign visitors too.<br /><br />Tax all the people using real estate as an investment and maybe the rest of us wouldn't have to live 40km from work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-84842075922927887482011-03-24T13:12:57.654-07:002011-03-24T13:12:57.654-07:00With consumption taxes, there are ways to make sur...With consumption taxes, there are ways to make sure that those who are least well-off can get rebates. If you look GST/HST basic groceries and other basic items are already exempt from tax. Also, those who are most in need are probably not paying income tax right now anyway, so there won't been much change. As far as Income Tax in Canada. It was introduced to pay for the World Wars (I learned that in Social Studies in grade 11)Nathan Pachalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-25540589623156536852011-03-24T12:07:06.293-07:002011-03-24T12:07:06.293-07:00Also not sure what you mean by "we haven’t ev...Also not sure what you mean by "we haven’t even had income tax in Canada for a century." I don't see any way that that is true.Gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199565530341153011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-60947286047212709462011-03-24T11:56:47.293-07:002011-03-24T11:56:47.293-07:00I doubt that "any economist worth his weight&...I doubt that "any economist worth his weight" would agree with you, though some would. Consumption taxes tend to be regressive, while income taxes are progressive. A society that collects taxes primarily through consumption/sales taxes is placing the burden on its least well-off.Gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199565530341153011noreply@blogger.com