The War Room

DAVID MILLER'S PRODIGAL SON ECONOMICS

This is David Miller's quote with regards to his property tax hike in Toronto.

"That is fair and what I committed to do my best to do," he said one day after council approved a new land transfer tax and car registration fee that are expected to raise a total of $175-million next year.

"People have been really clear. They want their services maintained and they want investment in new services."

The problem is this, David Miller is not an economist. He has no real experience in running a major city's economy. As a silver spoon Harvard grad, his knowledge of economy is theoretical at best. As a former member of the NDP with a Marxist/socialist outlook, his policies are not only unrealistic but create damage in the long run.

Let's keep it simple. Let's say a son is dependant on his dad to give him money every month as an allowance. Let's say his costs are 3000 dollars for things such as rent and food. Let's say the dad gives the son the money.

Then let's say instead of spending the money on rent and food the son spends it on unessentials such as video games and movies and comics and parties.

He still still needs to buy the rent and food for his existance. Those are essentials. He then comes back to the father for more money. He is angry but still loves the son and says he can give him some more, but not as much this time; maybe only 1500 dollars. The son then takes that money and puts a little towards the essentials, but the majority still towards the fluff.

The son then comes back to the father a third time. By now he is tapped out and very upset. He does not have enough money to give to the son or keep for himself and they are now both in dire straits due to the son's negligence.

That is where the city of Toronto is now. David Miller is the son. The average Torontonian is the father. The money is tax. The essentials are transit, police, sanitation etc. The frivolities are city council salary increases to the tune of 20,000, arts that nobody cares for (remember the lactating lesbian exhibit?), caving into wealthy union demands.

David Miller was not elected by people who understand the economics of a large urban center. He was elected by emotional artists, environmentalists and fat cat union leaders. None of which knows or cares about how to run a large urban city like Toronto.

It is not a coincidence that is was artists and labour heads who cheered him on yesterday. It was not a coincidence that it was economists and the average working class Torontonian who did not.

Sadly, most Torontonians do not understand economics like this and vote in socialist politicians based on emotional rhetoric, not based on ration, logic and reason.

I can see Toronto in a huge downturn for the next stretch. That does not make me happy. Businesses will leave, the poor will pay a heavier tax burden then they deserve and the price will be heavy.

The saddest part of it all is this though; Torontonians, forever stuck in the 60's, only have themselves to blame. Because at least at the end of the day, the prodigal son acknowledged his wrong doing and apologized. An apology is something that will never come from David Miller's mouth.

posted by Nicol DuMoulin @ 7:09 AM