Despite its obvious shortcomings, I have never questioned that Obama’s healthcare plan is a major step forward for the United States, since it takes a positive step toward moving American healthcare from a privilege to a right. This is exactly why I was horrified to see the new proposal by the Quebec government on provincial …
Category Archives: Taxes
Economic Stimulus Package
Americans who filed federal taxes got a $600 rebate this year. <a href=”http://www.slate.com/id/2192361/” target=”_blank”>As this article in Slate explains</a>, it is a spectacularly stupid idea; as most tax rebates are, it’s basically a form of bribery-by-borrowing. We filed in the U.S. but did not pay any taxes (Americans living abroad are required to file even …
This week’s blog topic: our vacation in Mexico
That’s the plan anyway, if I can get the time free to write (even though I swore I was done with book reviews, I’m finishing a review of Steven Wurtzler’s Electric Sounds for Cinema Journal). In the meantime, I would like to briefly comment on two things only loosely vacation-related: 1. The Orlando airport is …
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A Few Words on Taxes in Quebec
(note: I’ve got a Saskatchewan report coming, but Carrie’s got the camera in Vancouver, so it’ll be delayed) For those of you who don’t follow Canadian politics, the new Quebec minority government almost fell last week. The liberal party, who has a plurality, introduced a budget with a massive income tax cut for the middle …
More Taxes, More Travel
Following up on my earlier tax post, here’s a tidbit from the conservatives’ budget, as reported in The Smoking Section. Sound familiar, Americans? Speaking of smoking sections, a guest informed me tonight that one can order smoking cabs in Montreal. So we ordered her a smoking cab. I wonder if the smoking ban will affect …
This is what progressive taxation looks like
It’s tax time up north and the usual complaints are making the rounds. But this is the first year I’ve done my own taxes in Canada (we were too freaked out by the move to try it ourselves last year). And it’s actually a lot easier than American taxes. For one thing, there are many …
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Switch to Canada
Below, you will find a link to a spoof of Apple’s “Switch” campaign except it’s an American talking about switching to Canada. Sent by my friend Jody Baker, who said it is perfect for my blog. This is the link. Speaking of my switch to Canada, as noted in this space, I did my American …