Seniors Travel

We work 44.8 % of the year to pay our taxes
© by Mike Keenan

Dear Mr. Retired Person, I read about the proposed Carbon Tax. Do you support this tax? Just wondering.
Clark, St. Catharines

Dear Clark,
      I am not sure about the carbon tax Clark; however, under both Liberals and Conservatives, we have been afflicted with 55 separate kinds of taxes which, to assist your memory, I will outline as follows: Accounts Receivable Tax, Building Permit Tax, Capital Gains Tax, CDL license Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Court Fines (indirect taxes), Auto Emission Tests (indirect), Dog License Tax, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax(FUTA), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel permit tax, Gasoline Tax, Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Revenue Canada IRS Interest Charges (Tax On Top Of Tax), Revenue Canada Penalties (Tax On Top Of Tax), Liquor Tax, Local Income Tax, Luxury Taxes, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Septic Permit Tax, Service Charge Taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Taxes,(Truckers), Sales Taxes, Recreational Vehicle Tax, Road Toll Booth Taxes Thank You 406 Highway), School Tax, Provincial Income Tax, Unemployment Tax, Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax, Telephone Federal And Local Surcharge Taxes, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring And Non-Recurring Charges Tax, Telephone And Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Toll Bridge Taxes, Toll Tunnel Taxes, Traffic Fines (Indirect Taxation), Trailer Registration Tax, Utility Taxes, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax and GST on everything, including your funeral.
      None of these taxes existed 100 years ago. How did our nation survive? We had absolutely no national debt, one of the largest middle classes in the world and women were able to stay home to raise children.
      Remember Clark, that there are more indirect taxes that I did not mention. For example, when you ride in an elevator while staying at a hotel, not only do you pay a municipal and federal and provincial hotel tax (great to have so many layers of government, eh Clark! Oops, I forgot Regional government.) but you also get to help pay for the elevator license and inspection, the same way that you help pay for licenses and inspections for all other goods and services. Tax Freedom Day is the first day of the year in which a nation as a whole has theoretically earned enough income to fund its annual tax burden.
      India enjoys the shortest tax burden taking a mere 74 days which amounts to 20% of the calendar year falling on March 14. The United States is next at 113 days or 30.8% of the year, ending on April 23. Canada follows Estonia, 114 days, South Africa 132 days, Hungary 140 days, New Zealand 141 days, Slovakia, 142 days, Brazil, 147 days, Lithuania, 150 days, United Kingdom, 153 days, Belgium, 161 days, Czech Republic, 161 days and Croatia, 164 days. We collectively work a full 165 days of the year, that's a whopping 44.8% and do not finish paying for our taxes until June 14. January, February, March, April, May and half of June! So, you ask how I feel about another tax.
      It gets better. When retired, you depend upon a fixed income. Lucky ones have a COLA or cost of living clause, but the way I see inflation with the huge rise in energy, food and transportation services, I might move to Tahiti where I would save at least on clothes. Of course, with global warming, more and more seniors will opt to move into nudist colonies.