oN

So whereare |
hose crusoaing a

enviromental ists

| Some ourol town Gypo. . Yet “responsible local outtits
comes here, logs and | ,
| Men runs she — _

| “gotta dang near log with vweexers
S05 no-one gets offencledt ,

| nor Abin? feaving ‘& ress

[Genenatton carey EE
SOMEDAY, KIDS, THIS
WILL ALL BE YOURS _

From the March 13, 1992, "Lets Talk Taxes’, a.
newsletter published by the Canadian Taxpayers

Federation. The author is Kevin Avram, an account- —
a oo +. think: they are overtaxed - haw do you think my

ant,

Jason Ford is a biology student attending univer-
sity in‘British Columbia. He is also the president of
‘an organization known as the Youth Alliance for
Debt-Freedom. I had the chance to meet with him
recently, and J also had the chance to read an article
lie wrote for publication in an upcoming issue of the
Taxpayer, published by the Canadian Taxpayers’

‘ Federation. ; _ Se

- Jason writes: Se
_ “Canadians have been getting things for nothing ,
_ for so long, they’ve come to think of it as a right, but
_no generation has the right to enslave its children.
Considering debt is nothing more than deferred
taxes, the future of Canada’s youth is being mort-

. _ gaged to pay for services their parents long ago used

up.‘ When governments spend without taxing, at
some point it must tax without spending. For almost
two decades: now, Canadian governments have
_ provided services to Canadians without asking them
 to‘pay. At some point, this must change. .

; “It is a simple equation, but when considered in
the light of our massive debt, it’s meaning is appal-
ling. As the baby boomers age, this tax deferral will
"- eome to bear on today’s young people, and thanks to |
- compound interest the younger you are the worse it
» will be. Add'to this the massive drain on Canada's
economy ‘when baby boomers start drawing ‘their.
pensions, and you see that Canada’s youth will have
an even greater burden hoisted on their shoulders.
_ ° “T's not surprising that my parents’ generation

desired a high standard of living. However, why _

24 Terrace Review - April 24, 1992—

behind! - _

7 : y a Zo,
= '

: should their children have to, pay for it? For hun-
. dreds: of. years, we have seen parents sacrifice so

their children could lead happier lives, and we. are.
expected 'to do the same. Yet, this generation is the:

. first for which this process was reversed as the —
children’s future was sacrificed for the sake of their

parents. This is neither just, moral, nor fair.
"If you think these words are too strong, remem-

ber. that the federal ‘debt has deferred over $400
billion in taxes to my generation. Canadians already

generation will ‘feel, when our incomes are
disembowelled to pay for services our parents have
already exhausted? Instead of accepting the financial
responsibility for their actions, my parents’ gener-
- ation has played Robin Hood, by stealing from the
‘ young to give to themselves. | CC
"Are Canada’s ‘youth destined to government-
induced poverty? Well, it can be stopped, but only
when our elders realize that Canada cannot persist
in piling debt ‘upon debt. Governments must be told
to-spend less, not more. It was once said that, What
is prudent in the conduct of every private family, can
scarcely be folly in that of a great kingdom.’ |
"Every family realizes they can’t spend more
than they earn, and carefully prioritize their spend-
ing needs. Governments on the other hand, spend
money on worthy, but unnecessary projects, and
when the books don’t balance, they just keep on
spending, =. - a
_ “Canadians have to become fiscally honest with:
themselves and start righting the fiscal wrongs they
have perpetuated upon their children. It is pathetic
and immoral for them to treat their sons and daugh- -
ters as ever-flowing springs of ready cash. They have.
lived far too long on credit, hoping their children
would pay it all back. That attitude is unacceptable.
The answer is clear: prioritize your needs and pay for
what you want when you want it. To do anything
else is to kidnap Canada’s future."

. Pretty sobering thoughts, aren’t they? Especially
when you realize that. they were penned by a
19-year-old student. _