Thread by @Norlaine

When I see things like this, I feel the need to remind everyone how this stuff works. #cdnpoli 1/18

A very long time ago, think feudalism, taxes were collected that went into the coffers of the local lord, and the monarchy. In exchange, the local lords and the monarch offered protection against invaders, some measure of law and order, and possibly roads. That's it. 2/18

The vast majority of funds and goods collected went into the treasuries of the wealthy and powerful. I think the conservatives are very confused about the fact that this is not how things work anymore. 3/18

They want you to think that your taxes are going into the pockets of government, never to be seen again. Perhaps that is how conservatives would run things. Indeed, examples can be found from the Harper era where public money went to fund pet projects, 4/18

For example, gazebos, fake lakes, billboards in Hungary saying Roma people were not welcome in Canada, Economic Action Plan ads, props and costumes for photo ops, Harper's vanity YouTube channel, flying Harper's car to India, etc, etc... 5/18

Public money, that money collected in taxes (income tax, GST, gas tax, etc) is meant to pay for things for Canadians. Healthcare, education, social programs, roads, etc. We pool our money so that things that benefit our society can be purchased. 6/18

The government administers this money, but it does not belong to the government. It belongs to us. It should be spent on the things that Canadians need. Disaster relief, raising people out of poverty, combatting a global pandemic, all fall into this category as well. 7/18

Conservatives seem to think the money belongs to the government. And they want to penny-pinch and moan as though they were having to spend their own money any time money needs to be spent to address the needs of our society. 8/18

They have their own priorities, like corporate subsidies, self-promotion, and ramping up policing and incarceration (which they think is what their base wants to see), and they do not see services and activities that benefit regular Canadians as high on that list. 9/18

They certainly seem to believe it would be better if government just got entirely out of the business of health care, education, and social programs and let everyone sink or swim on their own. 10/18

This is not how a majority of Canadians feel, however. This pooling of resources allows Canada significant purchasing power which keeps the costs of things like health care down. 11/18

Regarding the previous chart, it must be noted that the US is the only developed OECD country that does not have some form of public healthcare available to all. And their spending is MUCH higher. This is what happens when profit is added to the cost of everything. 12/18

Conservatives want you to think taxes are bad. Very, very bad. "Taxation is theft!" is their mantra. They would prefer that people cope with everything life throws at them alone, and that they live or die based on their abilities and their personal wealth. 13/18

But, most Canadians seem to agree that we want to live in an educated society. We prefer to have publicly funded health care that is accessible to all, even the very poor. We tend to support poverty reduction, helping out our neighbours during crises, 14/18

preventing social ills like crime and addiction (as opposed to the actually very costly single path solution of locking up undesirables), and we realize that as a country we rise or fall together. We understand that our taxes are the price of living in a civil society. 15/18

Through our taxes, things can be accomplished that are impossible if the cost must be borne by individuals. How much would a community have to pitch in to build & staff a school? To build a road? To staff a hospital? 16/18

Conservatives know this. They just don't like it. They try to foster an "every man for himself" attitude. But our successes as a country come from communal action. No matter how hard you think you have worked 2 get where you are, you have relied on publicly financed things. 17/18

From the days when everyone would come and help raise a barn, to now where publicly funded research is making medical breakthroughs, acting together has made things happen. Taxation is NOT theft. Taxation is working together for the benefit of all. 18/18