Joined: This month
Posts: 501
the 97 cent cost of democracy - current Federal debate
12/6/2008 at 2:48 AM
I decided not to get into the current political debate, as I disagree with the coalition and the suspension of Parliament.
But will state that, regardless of it's later withdrawal, the initial start to this National fiasco, was the inclusion of the removal of the Political Party Funding.
That is a fact that can not be debated nor denied by anyone here at eBrandon.
What happened after that is now history, and creating new history...I leave that debate to you all.
But as I thought, to remain on the sidelines, that my main reason for staying out of the debate, was the sole belief that we, as Canadians, and the Government had more pressing issues to address at this time.
That being the economy and the general well being of the people, as we live our day to day lives, in these tough economic times and recession.
All consideration aside, for the developments that happened, I still believe that the 97 cent per Canadian paled in comparison to the following figures.... these were the more pressing concerns and issues that everyone in Parliament should have been addressing...
Alas, we all had to push these HUGE figures aside and fight instead, over 97 cents!!!
That makes me sad and discouraged as a Canadian....I will vote, as I always do, in the next election, that will be my voice and debate. Again, I will live with the results, but probably no better off.
It truly is the survival of the fittest and every man (woman and child) for himself...
taken from Stats Canada and other websites
Federal Political funding annual cost
$30 million
97 cent cost per Canadian per year
$2.22 per household per year
debt/interest
$480 Billion current Federal Debt
$15,000 current Federal debt per individual
$65,000 interest on Federal debt per minute
$34 billion interest on debt per year
$1096 interest costs per Canadian per year
$2518 interest costs per household per year
$718 Billion current National (municipal/Prov/Fed.) Debt
$22,000 current National debt per individual
$97,250 interest on National debt per minute
$51 billion interest on debt per year
$1645 interest costs per Canadian per year
$3923 interest costs per household per year
$752 Billion current Canadian Consumer Debt
$25,000 current consumer debt per person
$55,704 current consumer debt per household
interest rates vary - approx $75 billion
economy in recession...
TSX value
TSX Composite Index 13,833 Dec31/2007
TSX Composite Index 8,059 Dec 5/2008
loss 42% of value
net market value 2.29 Trillion Oct/2007
net market value 1.74 Trillion Oct/2008
(loss $550 billion)
$17,742 loss per Canadian
$40,750 loss per household
House prices
August/2007 avg $315,000
August/2007 avg $290,000
(loss $25,000 )
housing starts
2006 - 227,395
2007 - 209,500
2008 - 195,500 (estimate CMHC)
average Canadian mortgage $130,000
approx 13.5 households in Canada
55% of households are single houses
35% are renters
10% are semi-detached or row housing
2% of households are under the age of 24
14% of households are between 25-34
17% of households are over the age of 65
$20,000 average debt of graduating university student for a 3 year degree only. BA BSc without profession
jobs/Wages
2 jobs per minute lost since election (72,000 jobs lost in Canada in November, CTVtoronto news Dec 5/2008)
107,000 new jobs in September/2008 , 97,000 were part-time
avg full time wage Nov/07 Nov/08
men $23.71 $24.41
women $19.68 $20.77
full time $23.38 $24.35
part time $14.29 $15.04
avg wage increase 4.1%
inflation 2.6% Oct/07 - Oct/08
Stats Canada - expected costs of living in Canada
35%-50% of income on housing
12.5% of income on food
10% of income on clothes
25-35% of income for deductions
82.5% - 107.5% of income
(NOT including transportation i.e. car/fuel/insurance, considered optional consideration as per your income level)
Pretty scary when you think we have all of this drama and yes, strife, over 97 cents.
Proudly Canadian, eh!