Reason Enough To Defeat the HST

Max Fawcett wrote the following in the thought providing article “Tax me, please, before it’s too late”:

“The HST may well be an effort on the part of an unabashedly pro-business government, encouraged by a similarly minded federal government, to shift a portion of the tax burden from producers to consumers. It may be that it unfairly penalizes working people, and unjustifiably rewards those who already have more than enough. That’s still not reason enough to defeat the HST.”

Sure, it is. Though I agree that

“Taxes are almost never discussed in their proper context, as the price we pay as citizens for the services we receive from our governments.”

But I can’t relate to

“…would be hopelessly constrained, trapped by an ever-shrinking stream of revenue and forced to outsource, downsize, and otherwise remove itself from areas of enterprise and activity in which government currently acts.”

I don’t understand why the government has an ever-shrinking stream of  revenue. The taxes I pay as a citizen is a percentage of whatever I earn, so my own contribution shouldn’t be shrinking — in fact it’s an ever increasing percentage as I make more money.

I oppose the HST because:

  1. The timing stinks — recession & sunset of expensive winter olympics.
  2. Premier Gordon Campbell’s government did not sell this to us in an sincere and holistic manner. This government doesn’t have credibility in any promises they are now making.

BC 2009, No Election In My Riding, Swan Lake

Advanced voting started today in the BC Provincial Election. I hope to get my vote in tomorrow. There is no contest in my riding Swan Lake. NDP candidate Rob Fleming‘s election will be a land slide!

Liberal candidate Jesse McClinton, like party leader Gordon Campbell, appears to lack integrity.

McClinton admitted Friday he was the person behind the wheel in the 2006 case and was charged with driving while impaired, driving while over the legal blood alcohol limit and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

He was not convicted on those charges but instead pleaded guilty to driving without reasonable consideration and was fined $200 and given a one-month driving probation.

“I was a scared, you know, young 26-year-old, and perhaps if I had more money or … I would have taken the case a little bit farther,” McClinton told CBC News Friday.

McClinton said he has had a clean driving record since and will not quit the race over his youthful indiscretion.

Not surprising this isn’t one of the 24 “too close” ridings at the Election Prediction Project.

It’s unfortunate incumbent Rob Fleming doesn’t have opposition, so we could focus on the issues and who can best represent our area.

Regardless of the expected outcome, vote and make it happen.