Uber, Diversity and Taxes

I have used Uber more in Montreal than I have anywhere before. This is partly because I am not close to a Metro stop and where I am staying I don't know the bus routes. The incredible convenience of the service makes up for the cost, at least in the short term. In highly-developed first world societies like Canada, "diversity" is a goal that is constantly promoted. Based on my Uber experience, I think Canada can relax: mission accomplished! I have had only two native Quebec drivers so far; the others have included drivers from Cameroon, Russia (a marine engineer from Moscow), Lebanon, the Congo and Kyrgyzstan!

If we look at an Uber receipt, we notice another feature of Canadian life: the ubiquity of taxes:

The actual cost of the trip was $8.89 or about $6.82 US. I'm not sure what the "booking fee" is, but the remainder, $2.79 or about $2.16 US, or almost 32%, was taxes. This does not include, of course, the hidden taxes: a hefty tax on gasoline, taxes on the purchase of the automobile and so on. I once saw an analysis of the hidden taxes in the cost of a bottle of wine in British Columbia. I kid you not, the actual cost of the wine was about two dollars with eight dollars in tax! Canadians, through lifelong propagandizing, sincerely believe that these taxes are all to the good and ensure a safe and healthy environment. Certainly true for the hoards of workers employed by the government. An article I read this week in Canada's National Post stated that in seven Canadian provinces the highest income tax rate was over 50%. And these rates kick in at a fairly low level, around $140,000 CAN or a bit over $108,000 US. I think this is called being a "junior partner" in your own life. No wonder that for many Canadians, when they make any significant life decision the first thing they ask is what the tax consequences will be.

Let's end on a happier note! I made it back to Schwartz's yesterday for lunch. I guess there is always going to be a line-up. After a fifteen minute wait I sat at the counter and had my usual, a smoked meat sandwich and a diet coke. You can ask for more or less fat on the meat so I asked for more. The waiter teased me saying "I guess the diet coke balances out the fat?" My personal view is that it is the sugar that kills you, the fat is ok.

Now that's a sandwich! Yes, structurally there are issues, which is why there is a knife and fork on the side. You can't actually see the bottom slice of bread, to pick up the sandwich you just have to feel around for it. But wow, best sandwich I have ever had. They prepare all their own meat. "Smoked meat" is beef brisket pickled and smoked according to a secret recipe. Then it is kept in hot water until needed. The meat for every sandwich is sliced when the order comes in.

The other Jewish palace of food in Montreal is probably Moishes Steakhouse which is right next to Schwartz's on St. Laurent. According to Wikipedia both Moishes and Schwartz's are influenced by Romanian cuisine--Moishes was founded in 1938 by Moishe Lighter, a Romanian Jewish immigrant. I have never eaten there, but I have a reservation for tomorrow night!

Now I'm really stumped for an envoi. I know, how about some Romanian Jewish music?