I've complained about the transit strike here in Ottawa a few times, it's been a real pain in the ass.
But i've finally calmed down somewhat and am getting settled in for thsi to go on, and i've got some contingency plans.
And i was doing some research on getting a refund for the December pass since the service didn't exist for most of the month, and i stumbled upon this:
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090107/OTT_Transit_Savings_090107/20090107/?hub=OttawaHome
It was a story i'd already read and commented upon, the premise is that because the City is saving 3 million dollars a week while the buses are off the road they're going to refund some of those taxes to property owners.
Well, being a poor student struggling to make my expenses day to day, and being unable to get to class or go out and a whole host of other things, but i don't own property i rent.
And people are telling me to shut up, or that my perspective isn't valid because i don't pay property taxes.
Now granted i said "how does this benefit me?" and i probably could have said "and how does this benefit the thousands of people who don't own property and who are being squeezed horribly by this infernal strike" but nonetheless the responses i got tarred with are really quite frustrating.
so since i can't post there (Sadly comments are closed) allow me to use my little corner of the internets to say to those people:
Fuck off and go to hell!
And to actually allow reason to enter the conversation and say:
While i don't pay property taxes, i do pay rent, and no doubt a portion of that does go towards property taxes. I do pay income taxes and taxes whenever i purchases something, i spend money and contribute to the economy, and when i finish my education i intend to stay in Ottawa, thus my wages and the money i spend will continue to do so. In addition there are many like myself who are quasi-poor we live from paycheque to paycheque. we work hard, and try to contribute to the city in our own way, but we're in the middle, we're not poor so we wont' benefit any of the initiatives set out to help the poor, nor are we well-off enough that we'll be able to sustain the increased expenses of having to get around the city without transit.
Furthermore, I think that saying my opinion isn't valid or i should "keep quiet" is hardly fair. |
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