Here in Germany, when you count all mandatory payments, you pay 60% or more from your income for taxes and other contributions to the state (Yes even the state propaganda braodcast you have to pay for; they call it "democracy contribution".)
So I started to combat taxes. I make agreements with owners of worn out old houses (who cannot use them and cannot afford restoration) to renovate them. They get a modern renovated flat, I get the rest of the house. I have not to pay for the house and no property purchase taxes. I have not to pay taxes for my work, and I have not to pay for craftsmen (including their taxes), because I do all the work by myself. I do not sell my soul to the bankers. If I rent flats, the tennants can work for my projects, thereby reducing their rent and my income, which reduces my tax load also. Kind of barter trade.
If somebody asks me, why I do not contribute to my country, I tell them I have contributed five fine children, all working and contributing to the country. That's enough.
It isn't just the old Canada that has gone, the Australia I grew up in has also disappeared. It is an odd but horrible place now except regional, madly importing every Indian they can get on a plane, idolizing gays and transgenders, the whole Woke 9 yards, and yet it has a government that will do anything to protect Zionism. A mix of fake right and fake left, unsure what it it.
I reached pension age and received a letter telling me I was fine to travel overseas but that payments might reduce slightly after 6 months. The day I got on the plane they cancelled my pension, perhaps the money for some useless old bugger was needed to help finance the ever expanding welfare state.
Still as I no longer trusted them I had prepared myself for that over several decades, the extra would be nice but I can get by without it. However I can now never afford to go back.
I once thought of moving to Oz' or to Kiwi. I had visited and I liked the people -- but that was a long time ago. There are still a lot of good people. There are in Canada, too. Their problem is government and IMO electoral democracy. ln Canada we have I think at least 5 political parties, all in lock step, marching towards apocalypse .
Most people are liked everywhere unless they act like thugs. Israelis are now disliked everywhere and Americans have a hard time because of their warmongering, but generally if people act with courtesy they will find they are accepted by strangers.
Having lived in Canada, Vancouver, and I know different places are different, the courtesy is also a form of distancing and it is hard to break into the social network as a foreigner.
The constant apologising is British - Australians and New Zealanders do the same thing for the same reasons. Cultural habits. We also queue politely.
Vancouver is an odd place. It is a multiethnic immigrant city and more or less unaffordable for the average Canuck. You are correct that politeness can be a form of distancing --very British, partly as a result of the class system. I speak Canadian, American, and British RP. Only about 2 percent of the British speak "Received Pronunciation" because it is not a natural dialect - it is "received" - -you learn it and it defines education and social class. When I was in London I used RP when I wanted something done quickly and with respectful politeness. In pubs, I used American and everyone was very nice and friendly. If went to a pub, speaking RP, it was quite different. Keep in mind that there are many subtle variations of RP, so my version is closer to the kind used by Scottish elites, the kind of people not always welcome in London pubs.
See comment above. I don't use the accent I do for SouthFront in normal conversation. I do RP for practice and because it is easier for the kind of materials I work with. Otherwise, I speak American Standard. In Canada people often think I am American.
People still say sorry in Canada . Ridiculous to watch .
I’m Canadian and haven’t any trouble agreeing with you watching the news from afar realizing the fantasy of the MS.,
Your views are accurate proven often by events .
Thrilled with what Iran is doing . It can only be good news for us trying to sleep soundly beside the deranged elephant in the room , the Hegemonic Moron .
Few venture to visit the USA thinking on their own, boycotting American products where possible.
I am not saying Canadians have some form of mass psychosis. Just that their perceptions of the world are often limited by media stereotypes. There are lots of Canadians like you and I. But how do you change a society that is the result of centuries of evolution? How to change a culture?
How does a culture change , evolve is what I think about as well.
welcoming the stranger , curious life to live without fear .
Never feel alone either .
Fear eats you alive .
Mass psychosis is a function of belonging to the mass which doesn’t work in Canada as we are so separated from one another by geography . Those who live this way are able to think.
It’s why nationalism in Canada is never understood by those who pretend to rule
You could always walk away and not file your canuck tax forms. It might be liberating. You should see what a yank living abroad has to do to keep the Infernal Revenooers off his back.
I used to have an Iranian haircutter. She was a very pleasant soul, despite what the Amis are doing to her people… I told her I was Canadian anyway, just in case.
BTW, I thought the Amis were at the top of the Canuck displeasure list.
Canada used to be like the USA, but without the drive-by shootings.
I hate doing taxes. I'm lucky though. Social Security Disability isn't always taxable. MAiD isn't legal in my state, but it has crossed my mind. Try to hang in there! 🌻
Here in Germany, when you count all mandatory payments, you pay 60% or more from your income for taxes and other contributions to the state (Yes even the state propaganda braodcast you have to pay for; they call it "democracy contribution".)
So I started to combat taxes. I make agreements with owners of worn out old houses (who cannot use them and cannot afford restoration) to renovate them. They get a modern renovated flat, I get the rest of the house. I have not to pay for the house and no property purchase taxes. I have not to pay taxes for my work, and I have not to pay for craftsmen (including their taxes), because I do all the work by myself. I do not sell my soul to the bankers. If I rent flats, the tennants can work for my projects, thereby reducing their rent and my income, which reduces my tax load also. Kind of barter trade.
If somebody asks me, why I do not contribute to my country, I tell them I have contributed five fine children, all working and contributing to the country. That's enough.
Wow! I admire what you are doing. It only other people thought as you do!
The Collective West is a global tax farm for the Epsteinverse.
It isn't just the old Canada that has gone, the Australia I grew up in has also disappeared. It is an odd but horrible place now except regional, madly importing every Indian they can get on a plane, idolizing gays and transgenders, the whole Woke 9 yards, and yet it has a government that will do anything to protect Zionism. A mix of fake right and fake left, unsure what it it.
I reached pension age and received a letter telling me I was fine to travel overseas but that payments might reduce slightly after 6 months. The day I got on the plane they cancelled my pension, perhaps the money for some useless old bugger was needed to help finance the ever expanding welfare state.
Still as I no longer trusted them I had prepared myself for that over several decades, the extra would be nice but I can get by without it. However I can now never afford to go back.
I once thought of moving to Oz' or to Kiwi. I had visited and I liked the people -- but that was a long time ago. There are still a lot of good people. There are in Canada, too. Their problem is government and IMO electoral democracy. ln Canada we have I think at least 5 political parties, all in lock step, marching towards apocalypse .
2 American friends came to visit us here in France. They wore Canadian sweatshirts!
Never ever wanted to visit Canada/eventually I did. Milksop people.
Luckily, for Canadians, 'milksop' is something most of them will not even understand.
Reserved and wary of strangers I would say.
Most people are liked everywhere unless they act like thugs. Israelis are now disliked everywhere and Americans have a hard time because of their warmongering, but generally if people act with courtesy they will find they are accepted by strangers.
Having lived in Canada, Vancouver, and I know different places are different, the courtesy is also a form of distancing and it is hard to break into the social network as a foreigner.
The constant apologising is British - Australians and New Zealanders do the same thing for the same reasons. Cultural habits. We also queue politely.
Vancouver is an odd place. It is a multiethnic immigrant city and more or less unaffordable for the average Canuck. You are correct that politeness can be a form of distancing --very British, partly as a result of the class system. I speak Canadian, American, and British RP. Only about 2 percent of the British speak "Received Pronunciation" because it is not a natural dialect - it is "received" - -you learn it and it defines education and social class. When I was in London I used RP when I wanted something done quickly and with respectful politeness. In pubs, I used American and everyone was very nice and friendly. If went to a pub, speaking RP, it was quite different. Keep in mind that there are many subtle variations of RP, so my version is closer to the kind used by Scottish elites, the kind of people not always welcome in London pubs.
Sounds like saying; "I'm Canadian" was a bit like saying 'I am a gormless idiot' but was it ever true?
With your accent, Julian, did anyone actually ever believe you or did they just say to themselves: "MI 6 , or 5, or something or other?"
See comment above. I don't use the accent I do for SouthFront in normal conversation. I do RP for practice and because it is easier for the kind of materials I work with. Otherwise, I speak American Standard. In Canada people often think I am American.
People still say sorry in Canada . Ridiculous to watch .
I’m Canadian and haven’t any trouble agreeing with you watching the news from afar realizing the fantasy of the MS.,
Your views are accurate proven often by events .
Thrilled with what Iran is doing . It can only be good news for us trying to sleep soundly beside the deranged elephant in the room , the Hegemonic Moron .
Few venture to visit the USA thinking on their own, boycotting American products where possible.
We are not a mass psychosis as you may think.
I am not saying Canadians have some form of mass psychosis. Just that their perceptions of the world are often limited by media stereotypes. There are lots of Canadians like you and I. But how do you change a society that is the result of centuries of evolution? How to change a culture?
How does a culture change , evolve is what I think about as well.
welcoming the stranger , curious life to live without fear .
Never feel alone either .
Fear eats you alive .
Mass psychosis is a function of belonging to the mass which doesn’t work in Canada as we are so separated from one another by geography . Those who live this way are able to think.
It’s why nationalism in Canada is never understood by those who pretend to rule
Juice Rap News, Canada and Oz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM3W5XBrVEA
OH, I love it!
There's 25 other episodes, Julian.
By far the best thing to come out of early YT, before it was enshittified. If you can think of a topic, they've probably covered it. :)
You could always walk away and not file your canuck tax forms. It might be liberating. You should see what a yank living abroad has to do to keep the Infernal Revenooers off his back.
I used to have an Iranian haircutter. She was a very pleasant soul, despite what the Amis are doing to her people… I told her I was Canadian anyway, just in case.
BTW, I thought the Amis were at the top of the Canuck displeasure list.
Canada used to be like the USA, but without the drive-by shootings.
Not too many drive-bys. Bad traffic.
I hate doing taxes. I'm lucky though. Social Security Disability isn't always taxable. MAiD isn't legal in my state, but it has crossed my mind. Try to hang in there! 🌻
In Canada Social Security is taxable if you are a non-resident Citizen.