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It is Benjamin Franklin, his mug appearing on the U.S. $100 bill, America’s largest currency denomination, who is credited with determining the only two certainties in life – death and taxes.

When Franklin wrote that truism back in 1789, however, little did he know how taxes would eventually take such a hold on our lives because of our politicians’ love for them that today’s taxes are all but burying us alive.

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In Canada, for example, the cost for the necessities of life – such as food, shelter, clothing – now take second place to taxes.

And it’s not even close anymore.

A report by the Fraser Institute tracked the Canadian Consumer Tax Index between last year and 1961 – think Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Hazel and Perry Mason as the top TV shows of the day – and discovered that the cost of all taxes had increased by 2,112%, dwarfing all other major costs.

Shelter had increased by 1,480%, clothing by 732% and food by 625%.