UP, UP, WAY UP

We´ve seen a lot of budgets introduced.  For the most part, budgets don’t come with many surprises. Property tax increases are pretty much guaranteed, (9.5% last year, 6.9 this next year), and no relief for Torontonians grappling with the ever-increasing price of food, rent, mortgage payments, insurance, and fuel.  

Promises on investment in affordable housing and the TTC, (which, surprisingly, will see no fare increases), even Libraries have been highlighted.  More money for police, as we continue to try and emulate the swagger of policing south of our border.  The only way forward seems to be militarizing the city’s law enforcement, as is every other city in Canada.  I believe that we should be looking for ways to reduce the need for police by studying the root of the problems they are required to face, and then acting accordingly. Police exist because we have problems, and although we will never be in a position to not require any policing at all, there are certainly many areas which would benefit from some much needed and deserved attention.  A happier, more educated society, doesn’t need as many watchdogs.  But it’s just money and growth everyone’s interested in.  Sometimes it’s beneficial to take a step, (or even two), backwards, figure out where one went wrong, and move forward with the corrected approach.  But that’s in a normal world.  We like to throw money at problems, but not always in the right direction.  

  Over the last few decades, the city has been run more for developers, and such, than for the people that make it up.  Hundreds of condos owned by foreign investment sit empty.  People living on the streets, many due to the cutting of mental health budgets, (another issue whose root causes could also stand to be investigated).  

My feeling is that those who control our lives don’t want us to know some of those causes, and, at the same time, we know what many of those are.  We just choose to look the other way because this is all we know.  It’s like religion.  We are brought into it as soon as we’re born, and questioning it is difficult.  All our lives we’ve been taught that if we behave, pass all of our classes, and get a job, we could live a comfortable life.  Look around you.  Tell that to your kids, many of which are still living with you after having done their part.  The system is crumbling.  This is why millionaires are now billionaires and billionaires will soon see the next level.  The more money they hoard, the less there is available for the rest of us.  And remember, they only print more money when it’s to distribute among themselves, definitely not for the likes of us.  But I digress.

  As far as the budget goes, it seems to me that there must be other ways to get operating capital.  There’s always a shortfall, and it’s always the property owners that are called on to pony up.  And let’s not forget that owners who rent out their assets, ultimately pass on those increases to the renters.  A perfect system, as long as you’re not the average person. 

Fiquem bem,

Raul Freitas/MS