tumbled by sol chrom

tumbled by sol chrom

Posts tagged “infrastructure”

Should come with its own support scaffold #framework #infrastructure #publicsafety (at Hollywood Cone Toronto)

Should come with its own support scaffold #framework #infrastructure #publicsafety (at Hollywood Cone Toronto)

… we’re living the result of three decades of neoconservative/neoliberal rule. An infrastructure deficit. A lack of affordable housing with the unsurprisingly accompanying spike in homelessness. Inequality. Grotesque and incapacitating inequality.

Self-Inflicted Wounds | All Fired Up In The Big Smoke

And yet the best we can do is sputter ineffectually every time one of these guys goes “Tax and spend! Booga booga!”

Pony up, whining ‘taxpayers’ | #cdnpoli

Was just at a book sale where I saw a title Tax Me, I’m Canadian: a guide to your money and how politicians spend it.

Enough of this. I’ve been through this before, in a somewhat more constrained and responsible tone. This time, I’m not going to be so nice about it.

Guess what, comrade? It’s not your money. It’s society’s money. Taxes are the price you pay for living in a civilized society instead of violent anarchy.

When you go to work, you’re driving on roads or using a public transit system that we all pay for.

When you go home, you don’t have to worry about armed bands invading your house because of police that we all pay for. If it catches fire, it’ll be responded to by firefighters that we all pay for.

When you get sick, you can access a public health-care system that we all pay for. 

When your kids go to school, they’re being taught by teachers and supported by administrative staff that we all pay for.

When you buy groceries or eat in restaurants, you don’t have to worry about dying of e. coli because of a food inspection and safety system that we all pay for.

When it rains, you don’t need to worry about your house getting flooded or washed away because of a public water infrastructure system that we all pay for.

You’re not doing any of this on your own. Shut up, pay your taxes, and be thankful you live in a decent society. Or move to another planet.

Infrastructure, broken water main, and maintenance | #TOpoli

So I’m walking the dog this morning and at the corner of Humber and Dovercourt there’s an overflowing geyser …

So I’m talking to the city guy, who’s trying to mark it off with orange hazard cones, and he’s calling it in and trying to get a repair crew out here, and they’re telling him, there isn’t one available right now, is it urgent? Can it wait? And he’s all like, are you fucking kidding me? Cutbacks, buddy.

OK, whatever. It’ll go on for as long as it goes on, and maybe another few sewers will get backed up, and a few basements will get flooded, and the road will turn into a slippery sheet of ice, and insurance rates will go up, but hey – we’re saving a few dollars a year on our taxes, right? Because all taxes are evil.

Via @jen_keesmaat: what a public servant looks like. | #TOpoli #TOflood

Via @jen_keesmaat: what a public servant looks like. | #TOpoli #TOflood

It’s the exact Neverland City transit plan that gave us one of the worst commute times in North America: You just think of a happy thought, sprinkle it with private-sector pixie dust, and before you know it, you’re sitting in traffic for another generation.
Fortunately for us, the private sector has joined others to decisively call out this fairy tale for what it is. It’s time to grow up about funding in this growing city.

Just when you thought it was safe to get back on the subway.
(h/t Jamie King, via Wilf Dinnick)

Just when you thought it was safe to get back on the subway.

(h/t Jamie King, via Wilf Dinnick)

CRTC is peddling broadband Kool-Aid, @peternowak writes

http://wordsbynowak.com/2011/08/02/crtc-broadband-communications-internet/

In short, Canada’s upload speeds are an embarrassment. Not a good thing if you’re trying to foster innovation and creativity.

Once again, the Sex Bombs and Burgers guy shows why he’s a must-read.

Sent from my BlackBerry