Richest 1% are now wealthier than the rest of the world combined, Oxfam Says

[TOM4CWB]

And when we share our knowledge and wealth...


Burkina Faso attacks prompt 2 Quebec City schools to cancel classes
1/28 CBC 4 hrs ago

Classes are suspended at two Quebec City schools today after staff members were among those killed during a 12-hour siege Friday in Burkina Faso's capital city.

Yves Carrier, a retired principal, his daughter Maude Carrier and Louis Chabot all worked at Cardinal-Roy High School and Jean-de-Brébeuf School.

Three other Quebecers, Yves Carrier's wife Gladys Chamberland and their son Charlelie Carrier, as well as family friend Suzanne Bernier, a retired principal at Saint-Paul-Apôtre School, also were killed after four jihadist attackers linked to al-Qaeda stormed the Splendid Hotel and nearby Cappuccino Café in Ouagadougou.

The six Quebecers were part of a humanitarian mission to help build a school. A total of 28 people were killed by gunmen.

"With deaths like this obviously the impact is huge," said Érick Parent, direction of communications of the Commission scolaire de la Capitale school board.

"It's a real tragedy."

The school board plans to provide extensive psychological support and services to staff and students this coming week.

Parent said the school is working with external organizations to provide additional services to hundreds of students.

"And if there are other needs out there, then you know we will do whatever we have to do," said Parent.

"We won't spare any effort in terms of providing the necessary professional support."

Premier says victims 'loved life'

Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard condemned the attacks, saying in the National Assembly that nothing could justifty the act and loss of life.

"They were Quebecers and citizens of the world. They were liked and appreciated by all," Couillard said. "Like all of us, they loved life and nothing can justify their deaths."

Couillard went on to say that it was necessary to combat what he called "barbaric behaviour" and fight radicalization.

"This attack was an attack on us all," Couillard said.

"We will never accept to fold in front of terrorists."

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/burkina-faso-attacks-prompt-2-quebec-city-schools-to-cancel-classes/ar-BBomtWb?li=AAggv0m

[oneoff]

I have seen very few examples of anything other than disposing of a lifetime of assets acquired through a lifetime of hard work ......quite often when palliative care is imminent.

The rational being that you will receive exactly the same care from the disposal of your own hard earned assets

AS
Having the government look after your brown envelopes and extremely expensive care at government expense ALL your life.

Often it almost appears that the more pragmatic loafers and idlers have had the system figured out several decades prior to the few attempted to for the future (and last years)

On the other hand; maybe none of the above had any additional insight and plans that truly worked out.

One only has to look at how many dissapointed ticket holders particpated in the latest lottery where there were so many actual losers.

[Hamloc]

Chuck2 most economists argue that VATs are the most efficient forms of taxation. The OECD overview of taxes shows that Canada has higher income taxes and a much lower VAT than average. Provincial and municipal taxes are not included, only federal taxes. What this study showes me is that we need to lower income tax and raise our sales tax. France was second highest on taxes and France hasn't had a balanced budget in decades, so high taxes don't balance budgets!

[farmaholic]

tweety, if I had to rely on the money I received from government programs to make my farm profitable, I'd have been out of farming a long time ago. Can I have most of my income tax money back please? It's been a long time since the "jokes" about what's in farmers' mailboxes have been told.

Land can be bought and risk taken growing crops if everyone wants to get in on the guilt.

[chuckChuck]

Hamloc: If you read the fine print the OECD study is all taxes as a percentage of GDP "Tax revenue includes net receipts for all levels of government"

France is only one example of high tax ratios to GDP. What about Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmarck, Germany.

Many of the northern European countries are generally more equitable and have successful free market economies and a higher tax level.

The USA has lower tax rates but does not cover basic health care for all their citizens. So comparing apple to apples is difficult.

The structure of each countries tax system, social programs is quite different I am sure. It would be a challenge to do the analysis.

But the point I made earlier is that most Governments are not directly responsible for increasing inequality.

In fact many of the northern European governments are effective at decreasing inequality with a bigger share of the GDP and a higher standard of living.

Small government does not foster prosperity and equality.

[TOM4CWB]

CC,

What left wing nut baloney book did you get that quote: Gov is not responsible for 'inequality' ?

Famine/floods, earthquakes, are natural problems for the humans on planet earth... greed, arrogance, hate, intolerance, WAR... are a real part of governance... all over this planet. If we chose to work together... and share ... but evil lurks in the shadows [greed, arrogance, hate, intolerance, WAR] someone is always jealous... and is willing to try to take what they did not earn and work/plan to create.

Right CC!

We people ARE the Gov.

Over and out

[vvalk]

Maybe a better example would be to not use assets but income. I bet 1/3 of the people in this country have no assets whatsoever let alone 3rd world countries. At what point especially in Canada is it not your own issue to create assets out of income instead of spending every cent.

[TOM4CWB]

vvalk,

A real and sad threat of the 'internet' age... is that building 'wealth and prosperity' by flipping switches and software/communication systems... is now valued more than anything else in the Dow Jones Industrials. Google/Apple/Microsoft/Facebook[and those who support them]... are 'worth' trillion$$$!!!

How is this possible!

Are these our real productive assets that reduce poverty? Isn't this what has caused the 'Oxfam' wealth inequity?

[sawfly]

yes tom govt. is wholly responsible responsible for the inequality.
in 08 the banks did not fail because
govt. *( working for the 1 %) made the 99 % bail them out .

the 1 % tells your conservative govt.
(and liberals too ) what laws to write.
and how to keep transferring the wealth
to the 1 %

look at every bill Harper, obama and Bush have passed
they all have done exactly that.

even obama care is a forced tax on the 99% to fund the health insurance industry ( the 1 % )
it is not socialist at all.

place the blame where it clearly lies

[Hamloc]

Chuck2 you are correct about the fine print. I was referring to the graph comparing sales tax rates, it shows only the federal GST at 5% and does not include any of the provincial sales tax. I therefore assumed they were not included in the calculation.

I am curious, how many agrivillers are in favour of a 25% sales tax? How many are in favour of raising our taxation level from 30% of GDP to 47% of GDP like Denmark?

[Hamloc]

One other question, if high taxation is the answer why do the provinces in Canada with the highest taxes also have the highest debt?

[fjlip]

Economies need consumer spending to make GDP increase every year/ quarter or all negativity breaks out. Sales taxes hurt consumers when they spend, how can that be a preferred tax. Killing GDP. Income tax is the fairest.

[blackpowder]

Why dont they publish the contribution to gdp the 1% are responsible for??
Farmers today are definitely in the top 10%. Looking at my gross sales and the thin % I live on, I'm supposed to feel guilty? People whose utopia involve perfect equality have jealousy as a root emotion.

[sumdumguy]

Top 1% are what income range?