A taxing situation

The constant call for cutting taxes that is used to troll for votes on the right -- along with more police and less gay pride -- tends to reverberate well among a number of the better off, especially those who feel victimized by having to contribute to the communal pot. It seems this group will always find and support a simplistic and bombastic candidate for mayor, as long as the mantra of less taxes and less government is first and foremost.  It would seem to be the only criteria that counts.

It puzzles me as to why some folks chose to live in Toronto while at the same time actively trying to dismantle what makes this city a worthy address. 

What are the benefits of being a city dweller? Step out your door and look around.  First and foremost, the diversity of languages, colours, dress and class. I remember old Toronto, having spent a year here in 1968: how terribly white and plain and stuffy and cold after the streets and sights of Montreal.  I couldn't wait to leave.  Now I can't imagine living anywhere else.

And then there are the summers, the public concerts, the celebrations, the book fairs, the arts, the joy of meeting new people, hearing new music, watching good documentaries.  And the food, every possible taste, every exotic spice, if you can afford to eat, you are in the best place in the world to do so.

The different neighbourhoods, the public offerings of individual gardeners, the glorious trees, the relatively clean sidewalks and streets, the parks, big and small, the lake and yes, even the streetcars all enhance our lives. 

We put our garbage out on the curb, and a truck comes and takes it away.  We bring our children to day care, and there are staff there to welcome them. Restaurants are inspected, our water is monitored, our drive home kept safe by patrol cars, and our lives protected by firefighters. Living in community means sharing, it's pooling and growing our tax dollars so that we have big buying power, to keep our transit running,  our garbage collected, our food safe.

We can't go back to having a city in constant turmoil, to having a populist for mayor who appeals to greed and the "I'm alright Jack" mentality of gated communities and gated lives. Toronto deserves better, we all deserve better. 

So ask yourself, what's this city worth? 

Preserve the gains Toronto has made.  Speak up for the city.  Speak out for good government, and our need to ensure it has the funds to govern well.

About Pat Capponi

Comments

[michael creek]

Yes Toronto is a great city and Pat is right the things we need to keep our city running smooth and to capture our attention can vary from block to block. After almost 16 years of living in this amazing city i find and see new things on a daily bases. It cost alot of money to run a city like ours from police to fireman, to the guy or gal who is whipping around the city on one of those sweeper trucks. The thousand of city workers who pour their soul often into their work to make Toronto a home, a world class city. Sure we sometimes think that we are getting hosed for services but when we pay together thru taxes we all get to share in the benifits. When did we forget that taxes are a way that we can get things done together build and keep the services that we need. Have we learned nothing from our past mistakes tax cuts are a dead end street with no lights, no sidewalks, no joy. We have to look no futher than the recent GST tax cut which has contrubuted almost 25 percent of the debt that is being carried by the federal goverment this is compounded over years and all that lost revenue is gone. We sure could use that money to fix so many of the problems that often need money to fix. What we need is an honest and fair discussion around taxes and what type of city, province and country we want to build. All that talk about tax cuts creating jobs and making the economy grow means little if your living in a town or city that is falling apart.

[michelle]

Pat you didnt like my comparison of City and Art I thouhgt it was quite good oh well I will try agagin mn

[Pat Capponi]

Michelle, haven't seen the comparison of city and art...

[Michelle Nelson]

I apologize.I must not have entered it correctly and appreciate the opportunity to try again.
I had compared the beautiful city of Toronto to the Mona Lisa.

Mona Lisa has swirls of choas and colour within her hair, She maintains a balance between light and dark in her cloak, Her precence within the foreground is as mysterious now as her sly smile was once so long ago. She must be kept at the right tempature,with moisture and light.She must be minded with the most up-to-date security and she must look forward ,as we do beyond the un-even horizon. The Mona Lisa is a rare and beautiful thing ,as is The city of Toronto. The balance within the Mozaic of poor and wealthy, sick and healthy, light and dark ,love and hate. So how much is a city worth ? How much is the safety of its people,of the children. Of safe food and water. I believe a City such as Toronto is a priceless work of art. It took years of planning hard work ,blood sweet and tears. Toronto is as beautiful as any DaVinci . More so, As it live's and breaths and for now it is in your charge. So take care of her, The city needs your love ,and for now your money. Say yes to taxs pay them with pride and know that the money is going to better your life and those around you. Revale in the beauty that you have created.

[Pat Capponi]

nicely said and nicely done. Thanks.