Step on a tax and break your own back!

Okay, time for my rabid right-winger to make an appearance. This popped up in my email today.

Note: It's what comes *after* this colossal list that *really* peeves me off.

This is NOT Ripley's Believe It or Not...This is Canada!

Better pay up:

1. Accounts Receivable Tax
2. Building Permit Tax
3. Capital Gains Tax
4. CDL license Tax
5. Cigarette Tax
6. Corporate Income Tax
7. Court Fines (indirect taxes)
8. Dog License Tax
9. Federal Income Tax
10. Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
11. Fishing License Tax
12. Food License Tax
13. Fuel permit tax
14. Gasoline Tax
15. Hunting License Tax
16. Inheritance Tax
17. Revenue Canada Interest Charges (tax on top of tax)
18. Revenue Canada Penalties (tax on top of tax)
19. Liquor Tax
20. Local Income Tax
21. Luxury Taxes
22. Marriage License Tax
23. Medicare Tax
24. Property Tax
25. Real Estate Tax
26. Septic Permit Tax
27. Service Charge Taxes
28. Social Security Tax
29. Road Usage Taxes (Truckers)
30. Sales Taxes (GST & PST, or HST)
31. Recreational Vehicle Tax
32. Road Toll Booth Taxes
33. School Tax
34. Provincial Income Tax
35. Unemployment Tax
36. Telephone Federal Excise Tax
37. Telephone Federal Universal Service Tax
38. Telephone Federal Surcharge Tax
39. Telephone Local Surcharge Tax
40. Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
41. Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
42. Telephone and Local Tax
43. Telephone Usage Charge Tax
44. Toll Bridge Taxes
45. Toll Tunnel Taxes
46. Traffic Fines (indirect taxation)
47. Trailer Registration Tax
48. Utility Taxes
49. Vehicle License Registration Tax
50. Vehicle Tax
51. Watercraft Registration Tax
52. Well Permit Tax
53. Workers Compensation Tax

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was prosperous, had absolutely no national debt, had one of the largest middle classes in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids! What the hell happened?

_______

Now, I recognize some of these are repetitive. Some of them are really stretching--toll bridge and toll tunnel taxes, for instance. And I can't vouch for the total veracity of that comment at the bottom...some of these taxces may well have existed a century ago. BUT NOT MANY. The question stands, and I'd LOVE an answer. WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?

Parallel: remember when you were able to get eight or ten percent interest on your savings accounts in banks? Not only that, but their fees were perfectly reasonable. One person I know maintains an account with the Royal Bank that he's had since he was a toddler. He pays for his cheques. That's it. No debit fees, no ATM fees, no 'inactive account fees', no surcharge based on the phase of the moon, no nothing.
I don't recall banks going belly-up back then. Hell, I don't remember any of them bitching about not being able to make money.

WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? And why was it allowed to happen?