A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largess of the public treasury. From that time on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the results that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship - Sir Alex Fraser Tyler

It is impossible to introduce into society a greater change and a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder. - Frederic Bastiat

To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical. - Thomas Jefferson.

We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...we [will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers. And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent ...till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery. And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression - Thomas Jefferson

Most of us learnt (about the age of three), that if you take something without the expressed or implied consent of the owner, you have committed theft. Sadly, government bureaucrats and their sock puppet courts, think they are above the law, and as long as they offer some service (whether you need or want it) they are "justified" in stealing as much of your property as they wish (or can get away with).

Sir Thomas White, then Minister of Finance in the Conservative government of Sir Robert Borden, voiced several concerns when introducing a resolution concerning a "War Tax" upon incomes, to the House of Commons. As the provinces were already raising income through a direct tax on incomes, he was concerned lest the level of tax be too high. It was not thought desirable that Canada, as a country encouraging immigration, should be known for its heavy individual taxation. For that reason, he believed that the Canadian income tax should not be significantly heavier than that imposed in the United States. He also recognized that the cost of administration of an income tax would be quite substantial. Nonetheless, he recommended a graduated income tax to the House, while suggesting that the measure be reviewed by the government a year or two after the end of the war to judge the continuing suitability of the tax.

The Income War Tax Act  received 'Royal Assent' on September 20, 1917. Today, Canadian "Taxpayers" pay among the highest rate of tax in the world.

An interesting bit of US law* and history is worthy of note as well...

US Code Collection
Title 42
Chapter 21, Subchapter 1
Sec. 1994. - Peonage abolished

The holding of any person to service or labor under the system known as peonage is abolished and forever prohibited in any Territory or State of the United States; and all acts, laws, resolutions, orders, regulations, or usages of any Territory or State, which have heretofore established, maintained, or enforced, or by virtue of which any attempt shall hereafter be made to establish, maintain, or enforce, directly or indirectly, the voluntary or involuntary service or labor of any persons as peons, in liquidation of any debt or obligation, or otherwise, are declared null and void.

*US law was largely carried over from the Anglo_Saxon Common Law, which is the Supreme Law (aka law of the LAND) in Canada in perpetuity.

Hey, but someone is definitely getting rich.... and most of Canada is now owned by foreigners.

High food prices fuel dollar rise
 
CanWest News Service, October 02, 2007

OTTAWA -- Rising food prices are getting some of the credit for the record shattering rise of the loonie, which climbed further above the U.S. dollar yesterday to a new 31-year high.

The loonie closed at $1.0087 US, up about a third of a cent from the previous 31-year high Friday of $1.0052 US.

The loonie's latest gain occurred despite a decline in oil prices from their record highs of recent weeks to just over $80 US.

However, there's more than oil fuelling the currency's rise, said CIBC World Markets, which yesterday credited both the demand for Canadian dollars by foreign firms to finance takeovers here, and rising food prices.

"Oil has grabbed the attention of Canadian dollar trackers," it noted. "But fuelling the body, as well as the car, is also becoming a source of support for the Canadian currency."

Strong demand for grains, partially for ethanol, and related upward pressure on meat prices have boosted the food component of the Bank of Canada's commodity index by 25 per cent so far this year, and food accounts for 17 per cent of the overall index, it noted.

"Not only does that boost the value of grain exports, but it creates upward pressure on (inflation), reducing the odds that the Bank of Canada will turn to rate cuts to halt the Canadian dollar climb," CIBC said.

As well, the $183-billion worth of merger-and-acquisition announcements targeting Canadian firms so far this year, which is more than double the $90-billion worth of Canadian acquisitions of foreign firms, has further bolstered foreign demand for Canadian dollars, the bank noted.

Analysts pointed to a greater-than-expected slowdown in U.S. factory activity last month for further deterioration of the U.S. greenback, which makes the loonie look more valuable. "The U.S. factory sector is softening," noted BMO Capital Markets analyst Jennifer Lee, adding that, coupled with the weakness in U.S. housing, will keep U.S. interest rates on a downward path.

National Bank of Canada credited the weakness in the greenback plus solid Canadian economic fundamentals for the spectacular rise in the loonie.

Bullish sentiment toward commodities that Canada exports, and in turn the Canadian dollar, are being driven by demand in the large emerging economies, especially China.

In contrast, it warned that waning U.S. labour market strength bodes ill for consumer spending there, reiterating that it still sees a 50-per-cent chance of the U.S. sliding into recession.