Prior to a month ago, I've been asked for my transit ticket as proof of purchase maybe half a dozen times in five years. Over the past four weeks, I would say I have been asked for my ticket maybe ten times at least. There a blitz on fare dodging. Generally the checks occur as you are entering the transit zone, not as you are leaving. So on those occasions, you can't get onto transit unless you have a ticket, but if you are leaving the zone without a ticket, you are fine. In your dive to the exit, you can dance naked but you'd be sooner fine for public nudity than for being ticket less. I have no problems with these checks, its a minor inconvenience to retrieve the ticket and show it to the bored looking attendant. Of course as you search through your purse is certain that tired looking chad will be stuck between the Red Hot video card and the money off coupon for laxatives. But I wonder how effective these checks are. They seem like a waste of resources, given that the barn door is already wide open elsewhere in the jolly system.
I also travel on the buses. These days you can get on at the back of a lot of buses without showing your ticket. I've never been asked for proof of purchase once I've got on the bus via the back door. I wonder where is the incentive to buy a ticket? I'm thinking either make transit "free" for everyone (with corresponding increase in taxes to pay for it) or have a competent mechanism in place to enforce ticket purchase. A rider pay transit system does seem more equitable than one that is free, since on the face of it, people who never ride the blogtrain shouldn't have to pay for it. But then again couldn't you say that about a lot of public services? Some functions are for the greater good regardless of who uses them. I am in favour of paying taxes to improve health, education and transportation systems for all, not just me. I am sure economists have done the mathematics, maybe they've decided that the taxes required for a "free" transit system would be prohibitive. But maybe its time to reconsider it, divert money away from improving commuter roads, and aim to get more folks to ride public transit instead of spending more money as incentives for people to commute to work in gas guzzling vehicles. Maybe I'm out to lunch, but I am thinking that some day in the not too distant future, the household car will go the way of the dodo. Right now, our home has two, but if there were better transit options, I can see us going down to one car and then none. Yeah, I hear you screech, the proof will be in the pudding (where the hell did that phrase come from ? OK here). It will be a difficult luxury to give up, but I say bring it on.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Where have all the dollars gone? Well here's some of them.
It has been a long time since I posted here. That sounds like something you'd say in the confessional. The sun came out today, and I emerged from under the rain cloud and thought, let's get writing. The raccoons ran amok under the deck, though thank you for the suggestions on how to deal with them. They have disappeared for a while, but no doubt will come back later this year.
Something caught my eye today. It turns out that there are over 900,000 unclaimed bank accounts in Canada worth over $320 million. These accounts have had no activity for over 10 years and the originating bank has tried to find the owner, but to no avail. Being the curious sort, I thought I'd take a look at what makes up some of this massive mountain of crisp green ones. The Bank of Canada has kindly set up a website where you can search to see if there is any dough sitting out there with your name on it. Before we open our copy of Hymns of Praise to page 24 and sing rapturously to the B-of-C, it should be noted that they are actually forced by law to publish this information. So feel free to go search for missing treasure, and the best of luck. Sadly Martha's Muse has no mullah in these accounts, but that doesn't stop me mooching around to see what other people are leaving lying around.
So there's a group that went to all the effort of setting up an account for their Hot Dog Fund and raised $80 but its sitting there in an account dormant for years, darn shame if you ask me. Did they get sick of all the hot dogs and forget about the money? Did they go vegetarian? Who knows ? It makes me wonder. And blow me, if Ducks Unlimited hasn't loads of forgotten accounts worth thousands of dollars, albeit some of it had been paid out by DucksU and not claimed by others. Spend the money, save those ducks, that's what I say. And the list goes on, weddings, funerals, even something related to a birth certificate, sitting waiting to be claimed.
I'm not really into giving to political causes, but I guess it would be good if parties didn't lose track of their donations. It doesn't auger well for their management of the nation's finances when in power. The liberals and the NDP have forgotten about a few dollars, but compared to the conversatives, they're basically the embodiment of Scrooge. Maybe the conservatives just get many more donations.
Ok, we're getting carried away now. How come Fish'n Chips have all this unclaimed cash, its a national disgrace. And not just salt and pepper but vinegar too.
I'm thinking what are the chances of Unknown, Lost & Found for $226 in Ontario ever being claimed? They should donate it to Ducks Unlimited, but wait they're just as profligate. Some of the more curious ones, a fundraiser for Baby Jacob worth $4600. What happened to Jacob, hopefully he got by just fine. There are thousands of unclaimed dollars by tinkers, tailors, soldiers, spies. OK you got me going now, yes there are buckets of long lost spondulies owned by doctors, lawyers, and First Nations groups.
So I am thinking about all these people forgetting about their money. It isn't such a bad thing. They're being less materialistic. They are being human. You sure can't take it with you when you leave this planet. It would be good if the unclaimed money, after a time, could be given towards something that matters. How about giving it to someone who really needs it? Who would that be? No doubt the feds will eventually swallow it up and put it towards the national debt. How about doing something absolutely frivolous with it and sending us all a tub of ice cream, or six. Double chocolate chip for me, thanks. Come to think of it what was the name of that reclusive mega wealthy great great aunt on my mother's side? Sorry, must rush off to see if her millions are still sitting in an account ready to be plundered....
Something caught my eye today. It turns out that there are over 900,000 unclaimed bank accounts in Canada worth over $320 million. These accounts have had no activity for over 10 years and the originating bank has tried to find the owner, but to no avail. Being the curious sort, I thought I'd take a look at what makes up some of this massive mountain of crisp green ones. The Bank of Canada has kindly set up a website where you can search to see if there is any dough sitting out there with your name on it. Before we open our copy of Hymns of Praise to page 24 and sing rapturously to the B-of-C, it should be noted that they are actually forced by law to publish this information. So feel free to go search for missing treasure, and the best of luck. Sadly Martha's Muse has no mullah in these accounts, but that doesn't stop me mooching around to see what other people are leaving lying around.
So there's a group that went to all the effort of setting up an account for their Hot Dog Fund and raised $80 but its sitting there in an account dormant for years, darn shame if you ask me. Did they get sick of all the hot dogs and forget about the money? Did they go vegetarian? Who knows ? It makes me wonder. And blow me, if Ducks Unlimited hasn't loads of forgotten accounts worth thousands of dollars, albeit some of it had been paid out by DucksU and not claimed by others. Spend the money, save those ducks, that's what I say. And the list goes on, weddings, funerals, even something related to a birth certificate, sitting waiting to be claimed.
I'm not really into giving to political causes, but I guess it would be good if parties didn't lose track of their donations. It doesn't auger well for their management of the nation's finances when in power. The liberals and the NDP have forgotten about a few dollars, but compared to the conversatives, they're basically the embodiment of Scrooge. Maybe the conservatives just get many more donations.
Ok, we're getting carried away now. How come Fish'n Chips have all this unclaimed cash, its a national disgrace. And not just salt and pepper but vinegar too.
I'm thinking what are the chances of Unknown, Lost & Found for $226 in Ontario ever being claimed? They should donate it to Ducks Unlimited, but wait they're just as profligate. Some of the more curious ones, a fundraiser for Baby Jacob worth $4600. What happened to Jacob, hopefully he got by just fine. There are thousands of unclaimed dollars by tinkers, tailors, soldiers, spies. OK you got me going now, yes there are buckets of long lost spondulies owned by doctors, lawyers, and First Nations groups.
So I am thinking about all these people forgetting about their money. It isn't such a bad thing. They're being less materialistic. They are being human. You sure can't take it with you when you leave this planet. It would be good if the unclaimed money, after a time, could be given towards something that matters. How about giving it to someone who really needs it? Who would that be? No doubt the feds will eventually swallow it up and put it towards the national debt. How about doing something absolutely frivolous with it and sending us all a tub of ice cream, or six. Double chocolate chip for me, thanks. Come to think of it what was the name of that reclusive mega wealthy great great aunt on my mother's side? Sorry, must rush off to see if her millions are still sitting in an account ready to be plundered....
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