Liberal "Reality Show"

Today the anti HST forces in BC anounced the 18 MLA's who they will be targeting for recall. They are going to let the ridings that sign the most canvassers go first and have dubbed it the "Recall Survivor" game.

Premier Gordon Campbell has suggested the leaders of the recall initiative are making light of a serious situation comparing it to a reality show while his Liberal party takes it seriously.

If there is a reality show here, it should be the Mole where an individual lies, cheats and acts only in the interest of himself and his friends. With Campbell's claims of not thinking of the tax until after the election and his assertions that only he and his large business friends know what is good for us while we are too stupid to get it, I wonder who the Mole in this show is.

Don McRae, one of the MLA's on the list says people are trying to refight the last election.

In the last election, a majority of the people in McRae's riding voted for him to represent him. He is so arrogant he doesn't even consider the possibility that now the majority of voters feel lied to , betrayed and cheated. They want him gone because he is not representing their wishes and priorities and the last election has nothing to do with it (except that many believe his party lied by omission about the HST).

Terry Lake, another MLA who is targeted is quoted as say that the leaders of the recall are "two spoiled children who are going to jump up and down until they get their own way."

A spoiled child who is caught eating cookies before dinner will lie and say he didn't even with cookie crumbs all over him. The Liberals say they weren't considering the HST even though there is documentation that makes that as likely as pigs getting elected (although that might be preferrable to people who don't represnt us). Between people who are asking the elected government to represent the electorate and someone who I don't believe, I find the person of questionable honesty the most childish.

To the Liberal party, stop playing games. Listen to the people you work for. Represent our collective wisdom. Repeal the HST transfer of $2 billion a year from business to people. It isn't about you, it is about us.

Why is the Gun Registry Such a Big Issue Now?

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government have spent vast sums of money to attack opposition members who are voting to keep the gun registry. They have invested significant political capital, money and effort on this issue.

Regardless of where you stand on this issue, you should be asking yourself whether this should be the burning issue of the day. Unemployment remains high, the economic recovery is weak, the government is spending at least 7 billion (up to 16 billion) on an untendered contract for new fighter jets, and we are suffering from trade deficits for the first time in years. Despite these issues, Stephen Harper is focusing on the long gun registry.

Whether you are for or against the registry, any of these other issues has much more effect on you. Harper is raising the issue only because it is a wedge issue. Harper isn't just putting his arguments forward, he is demonizing anyone who disagrees with him. He sees the success of the Tea Party in the US and is trying to emulate their tactics here.

Anyone who disagrees with you is evil. If you are a civil servant or appointee who doesn't whole heartedly support him, you are gone. He can whip his party and force any Conservative who is in favour of the long gun registry to vote against it but he attacks anyone in a different party who does the same.

I have no problem with someone disagreeing with my politics or my positions. I do have problems when our Prime Minister attacks anyone who disagrees with him and encourages the over the top attacks that mar American politics. We should be able to disagree without hating each other.

Harper's Conservatives have money for weapons but not people

On September 17, 2010, Paul Vieira, Financial Post wrote an article "Time to tighten the purse strings, says Flaherty". In this article Federal Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty, is quoted as intending to introduce fiscal restraint after the expiry of the stimulus program March 31, 2011. He agrees that recoveries are weak and that economic growth is slow. However, he states that the fact economies aren't shrinking is enough to stop stimulus. He also reconfirms his intent to increase employment insurance fees to workers and employers although says he is willing to talk about it.

I believe his plan speaks to the priorities of Prime Minister Harper's Conservative government. Conider the following:

• The Conservatives have spent at least $7 billion in an untendered contract for latest generation fighter aircraft. Some estimates have the cost with maintenance as high as $16 billion.
• Unemployment is still high in Canada.
• Permanent full time jobs are still less available.

This government can find money to buy military hardware but not support workers who are still suffering from the weak economy.

Get Ready for The Hard Sell

In the Canadian Press Article "HST vote will focus on tax's merits: B.C. minister:" September 15, 2010, British Columbia Minister of Finance, Colin Hansen opines that the referendum on the Harmonized Sales Tax should not be a vote on how poorly they introduced it but should be a vote on the merits of the HST.

I agree. The public has heard all the arguments put forward by Gordon Campbell and the Liberal government and have made it clear they do not support the transfer of $2 billion a year in taxes from business to individual taxpayers and that should be the issue.

However, I do not believe Minister Hansen. The lead up to the referendum will not be about the merits of the HST. It will be about using any strategy they can to scare, mislead and buy votes.

They will not be alone in this process. They will be joined by the large business groups that benefit from the huge transfer of tax base from business to individuals. The article notes "John Winter, spokesman for the B.C. Chamber of Commerce, urged businesses Tuesday to be more vocal about the benefits of the tax. " Of course he does. If someone was trying to give me a $2 billion tax break, I'd fight for it too.

So, what can we expect? Gordon Campbell and the Liberal government will use our money to send send us "facts" that will be as accurate as prior Liberal statements (we didn't consider the HST prior to the Election, we won't sell BC rail, we won't rip up contracts, education and health care are a priority, the Olympics are under budget). There will be no fact too obvious to twist, no fear they will not invoke, no cost too great to convince us that we don't know what is good for us.

Let me give my small voice to point out some of my opinions:

• Of course the tax transfer is good for business. Giving $2 billion a year to any group will be good for them. I do not believe there will be $2 billion in benefit to taxpayers. The argument that making it cheaper for business always makes it better for taxpayers would mean that reducing business tax by $4 billion would be even better. Heck, if we eliminate all taxes for businesses we be living in a heaven on earth!
• Taking $2 billion a year out of consumers pockets will slow the economy and already has by several measures.
• If we reduce our business taxes and attract businesses from other jurisdictions, those jurisdictions will reduce theirs to keep businesses and attract more. We will be contributing to a never ending spiral of more individual taxes and less business taxes.

I only hope that the public doesn't get bought out, scared off confused by the Liberal Government and big business campaign. Colin Hansen is telling one small truth. It is about the merits of the HST and it sucks.

Health Cuts Show Government Priorities

A CBC article dated September 14, 2010 titled "Vancouver health veteran blasts B.C. cuts" quotes Dr. John Blatherwick a respected former health officer as he protested proposed cuts to senior care. He notes the cuts will cost more in the long run and will reduce the quality of care for seniors.

These cuts should come as no surprise. I believe they illustrate the priorities of Gordon Campbell and his Liberal government.

When he first got elected in 2002, Gordon Campbell promised new senior care beds. These have not materialized.

He promised that health care was a priority with the promise of care where and when you need it. He delivered emergency room closures, reduced services and privately funded hospitals that audits show are more expensive.

He ballyhoos that his government has increased spending in health care but doesn't note that costs are increasing faster than the increases.

At the same time, he transfers $2 billion a year in taxation from business to taxpayers. He goes over budget on the Olympics. He reduces benefits to workers who are injured on the job.

The reduction in services to seniors is just another example of where Gordon Campbell's Liberal government chooses to cut services to people at a time he is reducing taxes to business.

When it comes to a choice between citizens in need and business interests, we have another example of his priorities.