Yes, I know, you expected a knitting pattern. And, I will post it. But not today.
I am not able to post it tonight as I am highly agitated and, frustrated- feeling as if I need to mobilize.
It is true you know, when you need information, all you need to do is ask the Universe, your guides, angels- whatever you believe in. Ask clearly and directly- then let it manifest itself.
I am deeply troubled by the Canadian Health Coalition Pledge. Not by anything they have done, but because of our Government. Having worked with National organizations and committees on issues of poverty, child care and human rights, I know the solution is so very simple. It angers me that we live in such a wealthy, beautiful country and we see our safety net in health, welfare, pension, employment insurance- desecrated before our eyes.
And Prime Minister Harper is standing there oh so woefully- yes, it is going to cost billions and oh my, just how are we going to fund it! Well, Prime Minister Harper, you may think we are all unsophisticated, easily hoodwinked country bumpkins, but there are many many people in this country that know the truth. The answer is - tax the wealthy and our corporations. Now, before you stop reading in disgust, let me tell you here and now that if you think for one second that the wealthy people and corporations are fairly taxed - you truly are hoodwinked.
So, I stopped fuming and put it out to the Universe- answers please! Then I took my kids off to a used book store as they needed some magazines for projects they were working on. As I lost myself in the miles of books (truly in heaven) I came across Linda McQuaig's book- "Behind Closed Doors- How the Rich Won Control of Canada's Tax System...And Ended Up Richer". Well, I also grabbed her other extremely controversial book of the year (1995) "Shooting the Hippo". Interestingly enough, on the back of the latter book, Conrad Black is quoted as saying " She should be horsewhipped." Hmmmm- definitely need to read! I am familiar with Linda McQuaig's newer books such as in "It's in the Crude, Dude". (Go to your local bookstore-used or new; the library- you will be in for a real education.)
We got home and I could not wait to start reading. Utter and total disbelief! This book was published in 1987. Nothing has changed, in fact it has gotten worse.
What are we hood winked about? How deeply entrenched our government, our money, our lives, our future is with the wealthy and the BIG Corporations. Laws governing our taxes, the investment industry, tax shelters, getting rid of the inheritance tax, increasing the principal residence deduction, no taxes on capital gains, tax subsidies, tax credits and best of all- corporations deferring taxes and simply not paying them at all. Billions of dollars lost. Billions.
What it all boils down to is huge grants being given to corporations and using our tax system/governance as a gigantic ATM machine!!!
Showing posts with label Prime Minister Harper. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prime Minister Harper. Show all posts
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM? PROFIT IS WHAT!
I belong to a list-serv, Alternatives North. I received an email on Monday in regards to BIG PHARMA trying to use the Canada-European Union Free Trade Agreement to get rights that will expand their patent rights and increase drug prices!
So here is the gist of it--- you can see the full article on the National Union of Public and General Employees....
THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE UP OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS AND - FOR US AND OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM! We are talking BILLIONS of dollars people!
The BIG PHARMA are going this route because they know with our current Minority Government, they won't succeed with Canada's Parliament.
And low and behold- two provinces- Quebec and Alberta have already written to the federal government asking them to support the BIG PHARMA demands! What did I say yesterday about big corporations buying our government?
Drug companies are making BILLIONS of dollars in profit. And not taxed much either- in Alberta 10%!
Right now they can get 20 years of patent protection before a generic company can make the same drug at a more affordable price- and- they can extend it 2 more years if they want to squash a generic company. They just have to CLAIM that the generic company is infringing the patent! No proof required.
So here are four things they want, but can't have from the Canadian Gov't but can from the European Union:
"...They want the trade deal to cancel the right of Canadians to have a say in how the drug industry operates.....Our governments need to stand up for the right of Canadians- and for their own right to make democratic decisions. They need to tell the drug companies that they can't go to Europe to get through the back door what would never be agreed to in an open debate in Canada." says Larry Brown, NUPGE Secretary Treasurer.
A public rally has been scheduled for Friday October 29, 2010
to demand Harper halt the negotiations.
What can you do? Call or email your MP- tell them this is not acceptable!
******************Lets look at one of these companies....Pfizer...they had total revenues in 2009 of $50.1 BILLION dollars. (Wikipedia)
and ....
CEO of Pfizer in 2008, Jeffrey B. Kindler earned a total compensation of $14,788,302, which included a base salary of $1,575,000, a cash bonus of $3,000,000, stocks granted of $7,553,015, and options granted of $2,222,026.[3]
This is more than the total budget for North Bay, Ontario, Canada! Our City has 55,000 people!
I mean, come on! Why does he need to make $15 million dollars? What does Pfizer manufacture? According to their 2009 Financial Statements they made a profit of $8 Billion! After tax which I wonder if they really paid...
Well, divide 15 million into 8 Billion- how many years do you think their profits would pay for even our City Budget???
How much money do you need? What about balance! I am not against profit...I am against things like ...
"Canada Regains Tims Bragging Rights- Edmonton Journal, Sept 23, 2009. Canada Will have the Lowest Corporate tax rate in the G7 by 2012"
Really, I mean Really???? Our Canada Pension plan is gone, Employment Insurance is a joke, Poverty is at its all time high, we have a 49.2 billion dollar deficit.. our Health Care system is eroding..... Your plan is not working Mr Harper! Get the other countries together and unite- even the playing field! You want a world economy? Offer a universal corporate tax rate!
I think Gail Vax-Oxlade needs to meet with you Mr. Harper and your Finance Minister. I think she put our, my money! into glass jars and cut up your signature stamp!
It is starting people- take notice, take a stand!
Love and all good things!
The Peaceful Matriarch
So here is the gist of it--- you can see the full article on the National Union of Public and General Employees....
THIS IS GOING TO DRIVE UP OUR HEALTH CARE COSTS AND - FOR US AND OUR NATIONAL SYSTEM! We are talking BILLIONS of dollars people!
The BIG PHARMA are going this route because they know with our current Minority Government, they won't succeed with Canada's Parliament.
And low and behold- two provinces- Quebec and Alberta have already written to the federal government asking them to support the BIG PHARMA demands! What did I say yesterday about big corporations buying our government?
Drug companies are making BILLIONS of dollars in profit. And not taxed much either- in Alberta 10%!
Right now they can get 20 years of patent protection before a generic company can make the same drug at a more affordable price- and- they can extend it 2 more years if they want to squash a generic company. They just have to CLAIM that the generic company is infringing the patent! No proof required.
So here are four things they want, but can't have from the Canadian Gov't but can from the European Union:
- The Right to Infringement turned down- want more free competition time.
- Extension of the patent protection to however long it takes to get the new drug approved in the market.
- Data protection- keep ingredients secret for up to 10 years even if the ingredients do not need patent protection.
- Seizure of drug shipments if the drug company decides the shipment violates a patent right.
"...They want the trade deal to cancel the right of Canadians to have a say in how the drug industry operates.....Our governments need to stand up for the right of Canadians- and for their own right to make democratic decisions. They need to tell the drug companies that they can't go to Europe to get through the back door what would never be agreed to in an open debate in Canada." says Larry Brown, NUPGE Secretary Treasurer.
A public rally has been scheduled for Friday October 29, 2010
to demand Harper halt the negotiations.
What can you do? Call or email your MP- tell them this is not acceptable!
******************Lets look at one of these companies....Pfizer...they had total revenues in 2009 of $50.1 BILLION dollars. (Wikipedia)
and ....
CEO of Pfizer in 2008, Jeffrey B. Kindler earned a total compensation of $14,788,302, which included a base salary of $1,575,000, a cash bonus of $3,000,000, stocks granted of $7,553,015, and options granted of $2,222,026.[3]
This is more than the total budget for North Bay, Ontario, Canada! Our City has 55,000 people!
I mean, come on! Why does he need to make $15 million dollars? What does Pfizer manufacture? According to their 2009 Financial Statements they made a profit of $8 Billion! After tax which I wonder if they really paid...
Well, divide 15 million into 8 Billion- how many years do you think their profits would pay for even our City Budget???
How much money do you need? What about balance! I am not against profit...I am against things like ...
"Canada Regains Tims Bragging Rights- Edmonton Journal, Sept 23, 2009. Canada Will have the Lowest Corporate tax rate in the G7 by 2012"
Really, I mean Really???? Our Canada Pension plan is gone, Employment Insurance is a joke, Poverty is at its all time high, we have a 49.2 billion dollar deficit.. our Health Care system is eroding..... Your plan is not working Mr Harper! Get the other countries together and unite- even the playing field! You want a world economy? Offer a universal corporate tax rate!
I think Gail Vax-Oxlade needs to meet with you Mr. Harper and your Finance Minister. I think she put our, my money! into glass jars and cut up your signature stamp!
It is starting people- take notice, take a stand!
Love and all good things!
The Peaceful Matriarch
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