Maybe they've mismanaged the country in recent years, but I still feel like, for what matters to me, they are still the best alternative (or the least worst).
I don't mind them taking from me - it just has to be spent in an efficient manner, which is not synonymous with how Government usually spends its (my) money. I don't mind paying more tax on a % basis than people who have less, but I would also like to enjoy the same tax cuts that lower earners are enjoying, given that I contribute to the economy much more than they do.
We already have a great country; we have universal health care, an amazing welfare net (probably too amazing in some way - I see lots of abuse), abundant natural resources (which we should have managed better, IMO, and built a sovereign wealth fund like Norway for instance), great and affordable education system, good pension system, etc.
I'm not being selfish. I started with nothing and had to work very hard to get where I am. Canada, as it currently is, is a very good land of opportunities, but you have to work hard and even take risks
You want to stimulate the economy? Lower the income tax (progressive, but reduce the gap between top and bottom) and increase consumption tax (and make it even across the board). Canadians are overtaxed; partly one of the reasons why Canada is not a fertile ground for startups and innovation; government not doing enough to lower brain drain or attract new businesses.
This post is just complete and utter nonsense from beginning to end.
1) Remember the very first thing the Conservatives did after taking power? One of the core pillars of their campaign? They cut the GST by two points, even though they knew doing so would blow a massive hole in the budget. The fact they were willfully, knowingly implementing bad fiscal policies from the beginning puts the lie to any claims that their mismanagement has only started in the last couple of years. They've been rotten and flawed from the get-go.
2) I'd like to know what it is you do that makes you so much more valuable to the economy than low-income earners. Honest question: what do you do? If you're going to claim to be such an important part of the economy that you deserve more than your share of benefits, you have to back it up. I'm willing to bet that your job is a lot less valuable to the economy than some person earning minimum wage to do menial labour, but please, share with us what makes you more worthy.
3) You know what pays for universal health care, our amazing welfare net, keeping our natural resources, our great and affordable education system, our good pension system, etc.? Think about it for a second, then let us know how you plan to keep doing all those things by cutting taxes. NOTE: Using discredited bromides imported from the Heritage Institute about lower taxes spurring growth doesn't count as an actual answer.
3a) Please give us evidence of the welfare system being abused? Anecdotes about your friend's friend's aunt's sister-in-law apparently living high off government cheques don't count.
4) Working hard and taking risks is much easier if you have some form of social safety net. A safety net which, we've already established, you're unwilling to pay for.
5) Which is it? Does Canada's high tax regime make it unattractive for foreign businesses, or:
What about TFSA, lower corporate tax rate which has spurned development (and is attracting corporations to establish headquarters in Canada), lower taxes, etc. As a high earner, that's what I am most sensitive about and that's where the conservatives have my vote; reducing my tax bill is my #1 priority.
If you're going to claim something, be consistent. It's not one or the other. We're actually taxed lower than most other G7 countries, so ranting about being overtaxed at all levels makes no sense.
5a) TFSA limits only help people who have a spare $5-10k lying around to throw into savings accounts. That's great you have that much to throw into the bank, but only very high-income earners can afford to do that. Raising TFSA limits only helps the wealthy, like every other Conservative policy.
