THE FRINGE

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Who’s stupid?

It is fashionable to sneer at the stupidity of government and politicians but if you want to see some real losers, we might look in the mirror.

What is the public urging the Canadian government to do? Reduce taxes.

I predict taxes will be reduced and the effect on government revenues will be minuscule.

These so-called stupid politicians have discovered you and I can be gulled into paying ever higher hidden taxes while supporting governments that reduce upfront taxes on income and sales. Leading the way among the hidden taxes are those on gambling.

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Every time you pull a lever in a casino you are paying taxes.

If you defy the odds and win a lottery prize, you pay taxes on your luxury car, your new Tommy Hilfiger pants, your trip to Mexico.

Canadians spend billions on gambling and, inevitably, most of them lose. Governments support casinos and lotteries because they can be taxed and there is practically no political fallout from the voting public.

This time of year the T-slips arrive, citing our annual income and indicating what we’ll have to pay in tax next April.

This causes us to squirm because what goes out stays out.

On the other hand, we think, if we buy a 6-49 ticket we have one chance in several million of getting some money back.

However, if we want disaster relief from floods, ice storms, low farm prices, or more grants for education and medicare financing, money for government has to come from somewhere. We need good, well-financed government, but if we’re going to force bureaucrats to out-smart us in order to get adequate funding, they have the time and the will to do it.