. Seriously, now. You aren't this naive.

You really don't address really "why" our taxes are high here, the waste here is a drop in the ocean. Your point that they are high is kind of a fallacy as well. The US has really low taxes comparitively.

I suggest you really look at the budget if you want to see why your taxes are high. Look at the percent of money that really gets to all these people Democrats whine about, and how much is skimmed off in between. Like 40% of the total money in the system never sees private hands, it just recirculates.

You don't have to go to Iraq to find waste like that, you don't even need to leave your state, and it isn't a partisan thing. This doesn't show how abusive Halliburton is, it shows that people have no clue how their abusive governement functions.

Do some "pork" research, and don't spare the Democrats. I think you'll be surprised.

Parliament Hill?

Ohhh, so you are talking about Canadian taxes, well, I'd be upset too. Dunno what Halliburton has to do with it, though.

WIth all the "What's wrong with America" posts lately, one would have to wonder if there isn't a bit of penis envy going around. I mean, how much time do you spend looking over your fense at your neighbor's yard instead of mowing your own?

Typical JoeUser "I've lost the debate" technique; attack the poster, not the article. Weak, weak, weak. I've noticed you do this in other threads too. I don't think Americans can take the heat of criticism, so you lash out with your bitterness at others. Nice. It's gonna get a lot hotter between now and November.

American taxes are much lower than Canadian taxes. What are you talking about?  We're right on the border with canada and have Canadian employees and you guys get sucked dry compared to us.

My health care is quite good. I have an ear infection (still have it) and made an appointment with the doctor at noon and was in to see him by 1:30pm same day (this was yesterday). Was out with a prescription by 2:00pm which I got filled 15 minutes later.  Total cost to me: $15. And though I'm taxed at 33%, that is still less than the 40% tax rate in Canada. Oh and don't forget the $400 Health Premium I would pay (if I lived in Ontario).  It would take me almost 30 trips to the doctor each year to get up to that cost.  And that's all if I live in Ontario, the cheapest place. If I lived in Quebec, it would be much worse (over 50%).

YOur problem David is that you seem to be so blinded in your dislike of the United States that you haven't noticed the glass house that is Canada.

Your entire argument is incredibly weak.  Do you even know what the tax rates are in the United States? Did you bother to research this topic at all?

You didn't even provide any evidence. You just expect us to buy into your argument.

According to this website: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2065/is_4_53/ai_81223341/pg_14 Canada's Government spending represented 46% of its GDP. The US was at 33%.  How can you call that just a few percentage points?

In short:

1) Canada's government seems to spend a LOT more as a percent of GDP than the United States.

2) Canadians pay higher taxes.

3) The typical Canadian pays more for their health insurance than Americans ($400 per year versus <$20 per visit for the typical American). 

The only downside to the American system that I can see is that around 15% of Americans have no insurance.

I am barely middle class econimically. I'm the class that Democrats abuse by calling "low income" though we are all over the poverty level.

I pay right around 400 per month for health insurance. I'd rather pay once for a used car and devote my excess to insurance, but there are people I know people near me who are bleeding heart activists for socialized health care, driving cars I could never afford, and can't afford their own health insurance. They just want other people's taxes to pay for their insurance so they can drive a nicer car. Most of them never pay any taxes, so they never have anything to fear.

That is the kind of thing you are blind to, Dave. You have no idea what contributes to this perceived "poverty", so you are clueless as to how to fix it. You just pass our own self-criticism and ride its authority.

You need to look back at your posts and see who is ugly. You are the one constantly criticising a system you don't contribute to or face the problems of. Butt out or learn how to be a responsible critic.

am barely middle class econimically. I'm the class that Democrats abuse by calling "low income" though we are all over the poverty level. I pay right around 400 per month for health insurance. I'd rather pay once for a used car and devote my excess to insurance, but there are people I know people near me who are bleeding heart activists for socialized health care, driving cars I could never afford, and can't afford their own health insurance. They just want other people's taxes to pay for their insurance so they can drive a nicer car. Most of them never pay any taxes, so they never have anything to fear. That is the kind of thing you are blind to, Dave. You have no idea what contributes to this perceived "poverty", so you are clueless as to how to fix it. You just pass our own self-criticism and ride its authority. You need to look back at your posts and see who is ugly. You are the one constantly criticising a system you don't contribute to or face the problems of. Butt out or learn how to be a responsible critic.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here. But you sure sound mad as hell about something or other. Aw, baby want a bottle? Can't take a little criticism? Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

But you sure sound mad as hell about something or other. Aw, baby want a bottle? Can't take a little criticism? Boo. Hoo. Hoo.

. This from a guy who just wrote an article whose central premise is totally wrong but now claims to apparently have secret information not publicly available that Canadian GDP spending is "far less" than 46%. 

Here is something I found from last year: http://www.fin.gc.ca/wp/2003-05e.html It starts off with this "It is well known that total government spending relative to GDP is higher in Canada than in the United States..."

Apparently this fact wasn't "well known" to David.

I am still waiting for David to provide evidence for his main points:

I mean, the title of his article is "Why your taxes are so high" and so far the data all goes against him.

And then his other premise is that Canada spends only a little more as a % of its GDP but again, the stats don't back him up there.

Every place I go on the net there seems to be a pretty good difference in government involvement per GDP.

Tax as a percent of GDP: USA 28% Canada 37%.  That's a pretty big difference.

And when these things are pointed out to David all we get in response is abuse and ofuscation.

If malpheasance is the main reason for high taxes, Canada must have corruption in bulk. Physician, heal thine own political mess...

Here is something I found from last year: http://www.fin.gc.ca/wp/2003-05e.html It starts off with this "It is well known that total government spending relative to GDP is higher in Canada than in the United States..."

You have reading comprehension difficulties. I wrote: "Canadian govenrments tax and spend only a few % points more than their American counterparts". Executive summary: Canadian governments spend more than American ones. You are echoing what I just said, as if it contradicts your newfound "fact". It doesn't. You are repeating what I just said

You state above that Canada's wonderful system ensures socialized health care for "a little" more tax obligation, but you have no clue what it would take to get socialized health care to work here, you have no idea why people here don't have health insurance.

You make another false assumption that I am in favour of socialized medicine in the USA. I am not. I did not say our system was 'wonderful', that would be another misrepresentation of facts. And I did not suggest our system costs "a little more"; read it again. I can't help it if yoru reading comprehension is that bad. You type way faster than me, I'm having a hard time keeping up and disproving most of your statements.

And when these things are pointed out to David all we get in response is abuse and ofuscation.

I di not abuse you and I did not ofuscate. That's another couple of lies. Please stop lying, lies make baby Jesus cry

This from a guy who just wrote an article whose central premise is totally wrong but now claims to apparently have secret information not publicly available that Canadian GDP spending is "far less" than 46%.

I did notclaim to have secret information not publicly available. That is a lie.

Dave, I really don't expect you to remember what your diatribes are about, since the real point is usually a lot different.

My posts are logical and don't rely on emotions, which means characterizing them as diatribes is false. You guys are the one's who can't make a simple post without the vernacular of vitriol.

how you use an unrelated MSNBC story to jab the US for not having socialized health care

Reading comprehension, again. I only used this as a point of reference. A 6 year old child reading my article would know this post is not about health insurance; it's about how much the "War" on "Terror" costs. $18 billion here, a billion a day there, pretty soon you're taking real money. Please stop hijacking my post with your offtopic "ranting" and "diatribes" about healthcare.

Regardless, Halliburton is NOT why our taxes are "high", and it isn't why you have socialized health care and we don't.

Reading comprehension, again.

Thank you for your comments.

Sales tax? We don't have a national sales tax in the US, so if you are blaming sales tax in the US on Bush and Halliburton you just show your ignorance of the system.

OK, I didn't come anywhere near saying this. Now you're just making stuff up and it looks kinda sad. Some might say pathetic. Give it up.

I'll also enjoy that fact with a healthy dose of irony that the person who triumphs in that statistic

I do not 'triumph' this statistic. That is a lie. Please stop lying on my blog. Thank you

So to recap: A person living in Alberta making $60k (US) per year is taxed at 39% and pays $1056 while the same person living in say..oh how about Texas (Bush's home state) would be taxed at 25%. And I would venture that that person's health care is better (though that's just my opinion).

The Canadian tax system is more complicated than that. Provinces may not directly tax income, it's in the constitution. Tthe 39% figure you are using is a percentage of federal income tax paid, not a percentage of income. Apples and fishes.

For instance, in Alberta Canada, could I make an appoiintment to see a doctor at say noon on a Friday and get in there by 1:30pm and be out by 2pm for a non-emergency visit (Eustacian tube dysfunction -- ETD)? I know you can here since I did and it's no biggie. But can you in Canada? The Canadians I work with that I asked about this say no way in hell.

Please stop ranting off topic. I'd also appreciate it if you would stop lying on my blog. Thanks.