freebuddy Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 The Tyee / By Jeremy Nuttal Canada's Got an Inequality Problem Inequality crosses 'all geographies and demographics,' new study shows. December 22, 2014 Canadians are unaware of the size of the growing wealth gap in the country, a new report from the Broadbent Institute says. The report is to be released today along with a YouTube video narrated by Ed Broadbent, the former federal New Democrat leader for whom the research institute is named. The report describes inequality as an issue "that crosses all geographies and demographics." It says that Canadians underestimate the vastness of the wealth gap, holding "clear misconceptions about how deep inequality is in the country." The findings come from a survey of 3,000 Canadians, aged 18 and over, conducted online by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, a research and consulting firm. The respondents agreed to participate beforehand so the survey was not random. Broadbent Institute executive director Rick Smith said the survey shows that Canadians believe that, in an ideal world, the wealthy would earn about three times more money than poor. For example, they believe the top 20 per cent of Canadian earners hold 55.5 per cent of the wealth in the country. In fact, that group actually holds 67.4 per cent of the wealth. The institute obtained its figures on wealth distribution from Statistics Canada. Smith said most people don't realize that the lower 50 per cent of Canadian earners own just 5.5 per cent of the wealth in the country. Smith said the study represents the first time that researchers have looked at how Canadians perceive the income gap. The report's findings suggest most Canadians believe the top 20 per cent of Canadian earners should hold about 30 per cent of the nation's wealth. They believe the second highest income bracket should hold about 20 per cent of the country's wealth. According to the report, Canadians think the poorest 20 per cent should have 11.5 per cent of the wealth. In fact, many members of this group are in debt, owing on average about 0.1 per cent of the nation's wealth. The study's research also suggested that the wealthiest Canadians are more aware of the wealth gap than those with lower incomes. Smith said the lack of knowledge among lower income people is the result of people not having time to pay attention to income equality issues. "People are busy and they're primarily concerned with their own lives and I think, frankly, the gap between rich and poor has grown so bad that people have a hard time believing it," he said. However, 84 per cent of those surveyed said they don't want their politicians to introduce tax cuts they believe would increase the wealth gap. Smith blamed the current taxation system for punishing lower income people, pointing to the proposed income-splitting taxation plan as an example of a policy that will only benefit the wealthiest Canadians. The plan would allow families with children to take earnings up to $50,000 from one parent and apply to the income of another parent earning less for a tax break. The survey also found that nearly 80 per cent of those asked would "somewhat support" a tax increase on the wealthiest Canadians. "The vast majority of Canadians want to see inequality fixed in Canada," Smith said. "They don't want to see it exacerbated." http://www.alternet.org/economy/dont-believe-hype-canadas-got-inequality-problem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 you tube link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elvis15 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 you tube link? You're more likely to get that than his actual thoughts on the topic. Even on Christmas Day he's sticking to his guns. Merry Christmas everyone, enjoy this time with friends and family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyLuciano Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 "Government assistance" making people more lazy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 He's right by jove! Canada DOES have a problem with inequality He thinks he equally as capable of posting original content thoughts and ideas when it is obvious he's not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdatb Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 He's right by jove! Canada DOES have a problem with inequality He thinks he equally as capable of posting original content thoughts and ideas when it is obvious he's not. LOL. Merry Christmas all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Standing_Tall#37 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 "Government assistance" making people more lazy.exactly, the 90% that are hurtin and would rather bitch about those that have done well. I am fully against higher taxing on wealthier people...they probably put in the time and effort for that. I'd rather see less tax breaks for corporations & businesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nucklehead Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 The link is in the article Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-DLC- Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Got any thoughts on this Free Buddy? If it doesn't incite a reaction/response from you chances are it's not worth posting? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 A few issues with these stats. A lot of people are in debt. So if you own $1, you have more money than the lower x amount of Canadians. The greatest actual issue in Canada is housing prices. And Canadian wealth inequality isn't the problem, foreign investors are. Short of the ridiculous price of real estate and rent, it would be pretty easy to live a good life on even a meager income in Canada. We are still importing tradesmen and paying them $60-120k a year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 exactly, the 90% that are hurtin and would rather bitch about those that have done well. I am fully against higher taxing on wealthier people...they probably put in the time and effort for that. I'd rather see less tax breaks for corporations & businesses. God I can't stand reading simpleton posts like these. Do you have any numbers to back that up? No? Just more right wing hyperbole that has no foundation in reality? Thought so. The saddest part is your ilk talk about the wealthy people, but you're not them. You'll never be them. You're a peon just like the poor peons you can't stand. Bleh. A few issues with these stats. A lot of people are in debt. So if you own $1, you have more money than the lower x amount of Canadians. The greatest actual issue in Canada is housing prices. And Canadian wealth inequality isn't the problem, foreign investors are. Short of the ridiculous price of real estate and rent, it would be pretty easy to live a good life on even a meager income in Canada. We are still importing tradesmen and paying them $60-120k a year. Or, in more accurate terms, we're still not offering market wages to attract Canadians, so our right wing government interferes with the free market to bring in outside workers and drive down wages for Canadians. Free market, but only for employers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyledude Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Yeah sure, punish success to keep those welfare checks flowing... gimme a break! I'd be all for taxes if the government wasn't so big, corrupt and wasteful. How about lowering taxes so that working people actually have money in their pockets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Yeah sure, punish success to keep those welfare checks flowing... gimme a break! I'd be all for taxes if the government wasn't so big, corrupt and wasteful. How about lowering taxes so that working people actually have money in their pockets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Standing_Tall#37 Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 God I can't stand reading simpleton posts like these. Do you have any numbers to back that up? No? Just more right wing hyperbole that has no foundation in reality? Thought so. The saddest part is your ilk talk about the wealthy people, but you're not them. You'll never be them. You're a peon just like the poor peons you can't stand. Bleh. Or, in more accurate terms, we're still not offering market wages to attract Canadians, so our right wing government interferes with the free market to bring in outside workers and drive down wages for Canadians. Free market, but only for employers. Awwwww, we surew know who wikes his wittle handouts...baby want his bottle? Or is it jealousy that drives you? You didn't see the schooling, the effort, the times people failed and got back up, didnt see the time, sacrifice and pain that people go through to be successful. All the while you probably sat around smoking dope and playing wow or something and just bitch how unfair life is. There's no such thing as a free lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
literaphile Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 EVERY country has an "inequality problem". Having a country/city/town/village where everyone is absolutely equal in stature, wealth, etc. is an unattainable pipe dream. It's just not the way the world works, and I can't believe we expend so much energy trying to make it happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Awwwww, we surew know who wikes his wittle handouts...baby want his bottle? Or is it jealousy that drives you? You didn't see the schooling, the effort, the times people failed and got back up, didnt see the time, sacrifice and pain that people go through to be successful. All the while you probably sat around smoking dope and playing wow or something and just bitch how unfair life is. There's no such thing as a free lunch. LOL, I'm in the process of starting my fourth business. I've had one job in the last 4 years, and that was for 7 months. I've gone through all of that and more over the last few years. And no, it's not jealousy, I've learned that things aren't important in life. Nor is money. It's what you do with it. I'll gladly pay higher taxes to pay for a better society. Way to regurgitate the talking points about the rich. They're so hard working, and so smart, and so much better than everyone else! Sounds like you're talking about mythical creatures you've only read about. Enjoy your government mandated time off for the holidays, before you go back to working for the man. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lockout Casualty Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 EVERY country has an "inequality problem". Having a country/city/town/village where everyone is absolutely equal in stature, wealth, etc. is an unattainable pipe dream. It's just not the way the world works, and I can't believe we expend so much energy trying to make it happen. I don't see anyone arguing for complete equality, do you? What I see is people talking about narrowing the gap to a more acceptable level. Not to mention the perception vs. reality of income inequality. http://www.iwkoeln.de/__extendedmedia_resources/176927/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Got any thoughts on this Free Buddy? If it doesn't incite a reaction/response from you chances are it's not worth posting? So happy you finally weighed in Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monty Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 So happy you finally weighed in I know, it's such a treat when deb weighs in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi Posted December 25, 2014 Share Posted December 25, 2014 Or, in more accurate terms, we're still not offering market wages to attract Canadians, so our right wing government interferes with the free market to bring in outside workers and drive down wages for Canadians. Free market, but only for employers. I really disagree. There aren't enough ticketed tradesmen in Canada. We have a plethora of English/Sociology/History/Psychology majors though. The issue is that Canada (and the US) is one of a few countries without a centralized education system. The Canadian government pays out the arse for university/college but does not control how many students are allowed into each program. In most European countries, the government looks at what the economy needs and then creates quotas in each field. Students in highschool who are obviously not going to be academics are streamed into trades oriented schooling for their last couple of years of highschool. Instead in Canada, we teach that getting a useless degree and smoking pot with your friends somehow gives you life experience/makes you a better person. We don't respect what it takes to get a trades ticket and, instead, attempt to force every round peg into a square hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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