Canada Customs

I just got a parcel from the US, and a bill from Canada Customs for 15.00. The Item was worth 40 dollars but Canada Customs charged me sales tax of 5.00 and charged me a further service charge of 10 dollars to process my 5 dollar sales tax charge.

Does that make sense at all? Charging me to charge me? What is wrong with these people?

I can't believe this is even legal. Not that that matters, they will do it anyway, this government never let a little thing like legality stop them.

There has been an acceleration in the turning away from traditional values in this country, not by people so much as by government. The wholesale adoption of fascist methods is becoming a hallmark of the Conservative government. This is typical of the sneaky way they collect revenue to make up for the cash they throw at corporations and banks. They are transferring the tax load from a balanced loading to one carried on the backs of the poor and shrinking middle class. All done behind our backs of course.

Perhaps next year Customs will add another fee, they will demand a service charge on the service charge on the sales tax... that makes as much sense as anything they do.

Seatbelt Fines

What a load of crap.

Seatbelt fines.

Restraint systems in all cars are redundant. There is air bags on all cars now. The use of seatbelts is entirely useless, except its easy to detect by police and so makes it a lovely way to fine drivers. Its a form of automobile tax disguised as something useful.

Fines here are 240 dollars, far higher than needed as a deterrent. Perfect as income for the city. No one will ever say anything against it as its portrayed as a "safety" thing. In reality its a "bullshit" thing.

If you could find one way to discredit cops and make them hated by all  -  this would be it. By all means, police, throw away your credibility and become the enemy... your stupid enough to do it then your stupid enough to reap what you sow.

Is it just me or is bullshit becoming the new normal?

Bankers

Its an axiom that people get better at anything they do. Golfers get better the more they golf, for example. Anyone improves at their job the longer they are at it - except bankers. In an apparent exception to the rule, bankers are getting worse and worse at their work, to the point where they soon will bring the world economies down.

Is this really an exception to the rule? Or are bankers actually getting better at what they do, but their goals are not what we think they are. Only the few who are running things know the answer to this question but the effects of their policies are obvious to all.

Perhaps its not related, but one of the best ways to grab power is to first bring about a collapse of a system, then move in to replace it with self-serving policies.