I recently received my government printed “HST Referendum Voters Guide” which is supposed to provide us with a balanced view of the HST issue before we all vote on allowing it or scraping it.
The opening paragraph statement was hopeful. It identified the reason why this question of the HST has been brought to public attention: “the manner it was introduced, was not acceptable to many British Columbians.”
I believe that this is the key issue for most of us.
Unfortunately, the Voters Guide has nothing more to say about the deceptive way the HST was forced upon us. Our attention is immediately directed into a guided review of the pros and cons of taxation with only two choices; the new HST or the old PST and GST. The presented limitations of this referendum vote sounds all too familiar; voting for the better of two evils.
Before I allow my attention to be directed into the details of the HST, I am curious to know who is providing me with this information and what is their agenda.
Turning to page 6 of the little paper, I learn that the Voters Guide is presented by what is said to be “an independent panel.” This anonymous jury of business persons and former bureaucrats strikes me as rather questionable, knowing that those who are in the business of managing people and money are the gatekeepers for this economic system that wishes to keep us in the dark, in debt, and working primarily for their benefits.
After reading the findings of the “independent panel” that associates the old PST/GST system with “bigger deficits” and “cuts in public services,” I am led to believe that the short-term gains of stopping the HST might well be of little benefit to the future picture of a BC basking in the sun of economic prosperity.
So much for “independent” analysis.
Reading over the presented pros and cons of the two taxation systems opened the door to many more issues that have not been fully understood or evaluated by many of us. This left me wondering why the simple issue of taxation has become such a complicated wedge of social division.
Reviewing the taxation history of our nation and our province was an eye opener revealing some enlightening facts about the covert relationship that big business has enjoyed with government for decades, undermining the BNA Act and Canadian Constitution. It became apparent that it would be in the best interests of the taxman to keep us ignorant, confused, and arguing with each other, so as not to question the wisdom of how they collect and use our tax dollars.
There is no question that the issue of taxation is long over due for examination and reform. Not because we are being taxed but because of the political deceit, misapplication, and waste of our shared resources.
However, “the times they are a changin’” and we are awakening to the corruption that is embedded in the tax system.
As the ruling government does what it can to keep us distracted and pitted against each other, let us not forget that they are behind the HST deception. It is this lack of honest communication and transparency that has brought us to this debate and referendum.
To add insult to injury they have gone on vacation at our expense.
I am certain that we have the power to come up with a better taxation system that is intelligent, clearly presented, and fair to all.
Steve Clement
Castlegar