The darlings of those with inherited wealth and shares in big tobacco have done it again. The Fraser Institute has out done its call for a flat income tax - an idea raised in the late 1800s when children were chained to industrial machinery and consistently rejected by even the most hardened and twisted Tory since.   It now has declared that "Public Auto Insurance Causes More Deaths".  [Hmmm...have they thought to research a paper on how deregulated private business causes more deaths? Doubt it.]

Anyway, I am not suggesting that [...well, I am not considering whether...] they have the facts wrong on where and why driving deaths occur but the talking head pushed out the door to talk to inordinately present CBC cameras on TV tonight seemed to be indicating that if car insurance rates reflected actual risk, those engaging in higher risk driving would be given pause not to engaging in car totaling traffic accidents if they paid more to a private company [umm...like those that fund the Fraser Institute.]  I think what was being said was if my insurance were to be $2400 a year to a private insurer instead of, say, $1800 to a public one, I am going to give myself a good hard look in the mirror and tell me to drive more safely.   Well, no doubt a dreary few are that...er... sensible. Then again, if I:

• have bought a $30,000 car on $500 per month payments;
• spend $200.00 a month on gas, oil, car washes and cool rear view mirror baubles; and
• drop $100.00 a month on a second set of winter tires and rims and other odds and ends