Bank error in my favor? Not at all.

[Oregone]

Being on the road, I haven't see my mail for a bit. But online, I could still check my bank balance and see some details. Anyway, from one week to the rest, I saw my account climb from under $1000 dollars to over $4000. I was hit with a moment of confusion, and one of fear--I had no idea what would of accounted for such unexpected deposits (especially when I hadn't been to the bank in some time). Ive been in these situations before, and do know how many difficulties this can create. Regardless, I pushed aside the confusion and drilled down to see where the money came from, and to my surprise, it was the Canadian Revenue Agency (their equivalent to the IRS, except, it seems to be a bit more kinder and gentler). But for some time, I was still rather bewildered about the sums.

But I did know it wasn't a tax refund (I don't get one of those). With more thought, I finally ascertained what it was. I had forgotten to apply for my Universal Childcare Benefit and the Canadian Child Tax Benefit when I first arrived here. The Canadian government deposited an entire year's worth of benefits in my account at once from time before I even applied, to my surprise. They put in $2700 dollars in a single week for children's benefits alone. This happened after I filled out a single form. On top of that, they deposited another $800 in maternity pay for my wife. So, in a single month, Canada gave us $3500 dollars! (which....is really good, as we really needed it)

But going forward now, for the next 9 months we will be getting $1150 a month from the CRA, and thereafter, $350 a month (which helps with kid's daycare, activities, food, etc).

Its not because we are poor. We are in the upper third income quintile with two kids (though we do have a lot of bills we can't get rid of, having a home we can't sell in the states that ties us down). We didn't have to fight for this. We are entitled to it (which is a strange way for me to look at anything, from prior experience).

Can you imagine that? Receiving monthly payments to benefit your children? Guaranteed, directly deposited, no hassles, always there, just to help your children (even for those who are non-poverty)? As a born-American, it is difficult for me to even fathom this concept. I can even get the government to give us education grants for college (up to $500 a year) if I can scrap together enough money for them to match in an education fund.

So is any wonder, at the end of the day, that Canada is improving its citizens' standard of living and literacy at incredible rates? Is it any wonder that intergenerational mobility (the American Dream) in Canada is alive and well? Its is because the government invests into their families and children, in such ways that promote success and education. These are not just opportunities for a few--these are rights and entitlements for all. Such rights that any nation should demand of their government.

I bring this up because I have a new found appreciation of my new chosen home (above and beyond the health care Ive received), and a new found disrespect for the general direction that the United States is headed in. Where is the US? Ill tell you where:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

They are ranked 15th and dropping on the Human Development Index (measure of life expectancy, education & attainment, and standard of living). While the whole industrialized world is fostering and investing in their youth and society, via "entitlements" and more, the US is floundering and stumbling at delivering a true version of the "American Dream" (they rank last with the UK in intergenerational mobility).

I'm not here to bitch. I'm here to provide context. In the world, amongst other nations considered "not so great" as the Greatest Nation on earth, there exists investments and programs that enrich people and help them rise up. The American people need to stop looking from the inside out, and start comparing their nation to the rest of the industrialized world (outside-in). There is so much lacking, and from it, so much needless suffering that could so easily be stopped. My wish is that the American people could see exactly what other nations do, and demand that they are treated equivalently by their government. And by demand, I would hope they do so in a rather loud, but effective, way.

Thats all. I guess, partially Im just amazed and grateful at what happened to us this month. And partially, Im just really disappointed we had to move a day's drive away from home to have it happened. I'm just disappointed the family and friends we left behind...get left behind.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. *sigh* There are so many things our country could be doing better and so many other

countries showing us the way how.

[onethatcares]

3. but we do manage to spend more than the next 8 countries combined

on the military industrial complex. Sheesh, what more could you want.

[Oregone]

4. Sometimes I think its nothing more than a ploy to siphon funds to the upper classes

Could it be the Widget Industrial Complex for all it matters? Just weapons & war work well with the fear and demagoguery needed to secure government funds?

The net effect of a lot of the contracts is that politically affluent companies get huge government defense contracts, and in effect, shareholders get richer off tax-payer money. There is a lot of profit to be made in the whole game. Fortunately for them, its a sector that has to be constantly renewed and upgraded (so they have told us).

[gratuitous]

2. Well, if you provide a floor

People might think they're entitled to walls and a roof, and there's no telling where that might lead. Better to keep a significant segment of the population poor, uneducated, scared, and nervous about where their next meal is coming from. That way, they're too distracted with the day-to-day business of surviving to notice that they're being robbed blind by a corrupt system that devalues their contribution and overvalues the idle rich. How are people like George W. Bush going to get ahead if their built-in advantages of birth, inherited wealth and rigged system are negated by a bunch of socialistic education, health and general welfare?