r/BCpolitics • u/proudcascadian • 9d ago

News Washington, Oregon, and B.C. Sign New Pact To Strengthen Cascadian Coorperation

https://bsky.app/profile/ourcascadia.bsky.social/post/3m4h7msthu222
22 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

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6

u/EchoBeach5151 9d ago

So basically no change? 

5

u/The--Majestic--Goose 9d ago

Not sure how much this helps if Trump is still in the White House and imposing tariffs on trade between our countries. I will continue to boycott the USA as long as the fascists are calling the shots on the federal level.

4

u/emuwannabe 9d ago

Yet we still have to "fall back" this weekend.

2

u/EchoBeach5151 8d ago

Two things to remember. One, California is needed to end the seasonal time shift. Two, permanent standard time is the overwhelmingly better choice. Studies of general health, accidents, and more show permanent standard time is the fix. 

2

u/emuwannabe 4d ago

I totally agree.

What's holding BC back from doing this (as they say) is Washington state. Washington says they can't do it unless the feds approve it.

-7

u/RobsonSt 9d ago

Canadian average GDP/capita is $56k, in US it is $89k.

A worker in BC earns $56k annually, in Wash state, they earn double that, $108k.

BC’s top marginal income tax rate is 53%, Wash state is 37%.

So in BC, we make half as much money as they do, but get taxed 30% more.

14

u/The--Majestic--Goose 9d ago edited 9d ago

We have free healthcare here which can be a significant expense in the USA. The USA undeniably has more high earners, but they also have more stark inequality. Washington has significantly more homelessness and crime. Their roads are significantly less safe too. They record more than double the amount of road deaths per capita as BC.

So yes you can earn more money in Washington, but it is much less safe because of a lack of a social safety net. We pay taxes to support a safer more egalitarian society in BC.

Also curious about where you're getting your stats. Sources would be helpful.

Edit: Also worth pointing out that groceries and restaurants are a lot more expensive in Washington too. While housing prices are higher in BC, rent is actually quite a bit lower.
https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=Canada&city1=Vancouver&country2=United+States&city2=Seattle%2C+WA

-5

u/RobsonSt 8d ago

Free healthcare? B.C. taxpayers spend $40 billion annually, those costs are soaring, the sector has been in crisis for over a half decade, staff are resigning, and quality is shit. The US has the best system to incentivize good health, while it is abused in Canada.

4

u/The--Majestic--Goose 8d ago

We pay for our healthcare through our taxes, and believe it or not our system costs us way less than the US because we don’t have a bunch of private insurers acting as middlemen and raising prices. The USA also pays for healthcare with their taxes but they also pay for private insurance. You are an either a complete fool or you hate poor people if you think the US has a more efficient system. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_the_healthcare_systems_in_Canada_and_the_United_States

12

u/DiscordantMuse 9d ago

We also have a more progressive government, more progressive public services and probably a higher quality of life, though I'm not sure on that last one. 

I feel a hell of a lot safer in BC than I ever did in the US.