The federal government should consider a one-to-two-point increase in the GST and slower growth in federal transfer payments to the provinces to finance a massive jump in military spending, according to a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute.
I think that is precisely the dynamic. The oligarchs basically found a socially acceptable way to funnel taxes back into their pockets instead of productive purposes they’re meant for. It’s a great trick since you can always find ways to scare people into funding the military, and these policies tend to have fairly broad support.
Meanwhile, it’s not even clearly whom our military plans to fight exactly. We’re certainly not going to take on the US, especially given that most of our weapons are produced there. We’re not going to take on Russia either. Our best bet for protection would be to create deeper ties with China which could act as a balance to the US. Also, as we now see in Iran, the kind of military we are building is completely outdated. Modern military would rely on cheap drones and missiles as a primary form of defense.
I think that is precisely the dynamic. The oligarchs basically found a socially acceptable way to funnel taxes back into their pockets instead of productive purposes they’re meant for. It’s a great trick since you can always find ways to scare people into funding the military, and these policies tend to have fairly broad support.
Meanwhile, it’s not even clearly whom our military plans to fight exactly. We’re certainly not going to take on the US, especially given that most of our weapons are produced there. We’re not going to take on Russia either. Our best bet for protection would be to create deeper ties with China which could act as a balance to the US. Also, as we now see in Iran, the kind of military we are building is completely outdated. Modern military would rely on cheap drones and missiles as a primary form of defense.
Frighten people, then sell them the promise of safety.
a time honored tradition