Gordon Campbell

[Oilers27]

So far i agree with Mr. Campbell and everything he is doing BUT The tax increase How can he make it effective mid night yesterday when all the companies have to get programers in to change it like at least give a couple weeks.

My parents have a couple gas stations and they were on the phones with the company trying to figure things out for hours

this is one thing he didnt think out !!

anyone else have comments ???

[knvb]

Keeper will be all over this like a fat kid on a smarty.....


Yours with no comment, KNVB

[Hands of Stone]

If he Tax's smarties for Fat Kids, thats where I draw the line

Off to Victoria on Sat. for the Protest against this Smartie Tax.

HOSeatstheRedone'sLast

[kurgan]

Apparently there were thousands of people lined up at the local Costcos last night...

[Hands of Stone]

No Compassion for those people, but there is the Compassionite Club.

HOSthinkshe'spassinit thecompassionitClubyourpassoinit

[Keeper]

Knvb,

You'll be surprised to hear that the 1/2% sales tax increase doesn't really bother me that much -- it effects everyone equally. What does bother me, is the 50% increase to MSP premiums that's coming up.

But what makes me laugh the most is that he campaigned on exactly the opposite platform. Actually, no -- what I laugh most at, are the people who voted for the liberals and are now complaining.

[Gaffa]

Also remember all you liberal voters that he pinched 130 million dollars a year worth of supplementry healthcare benefits, THEN increased premiums by 50%.

He'll rape and pilage this province for the next 4 years and continually blame the NDP. He has the perfect platform, cos he can always blame the previous pack of fcukwits.

But in the end...we'll all end up getting shafted. You watch.

Cambells just another lying cnut. The frightening thing is he actually believes in himself. The last mob just lied cos that was all they had left to do.

[lita]

Sorry this will probably be long, but it's a topic I get a little heated about.

The Campbell government's new budget is a body blow to ordinary people.

It's now clear that only the very rich, who received huge tax
giveaways,will be ahead. Mr. Campbell's much vaunted tax cut is
really a tax shift, a gift to the rich from the rest of us. We'll pay for it through higher medical premiums and sales taxes.
Even a french figure skating judge could see this budget is wrong. It gives the gold to the rich and stiffs the rest of us for the bill.

The cuts in public services are very deep and they don't make sense.

For example, the government's service plan acknowledges that B.C. has one of Canada's highest crime rates, and that alcohol and drug dependency is a major factor. Yet it is closing 24 courthouses, half our correctional facilities, more than doubling inmate to staff ratios, and closing down alcohol and drug treatment programs.

The plan to cut social service spending by 30 percent and devolve child protection to undefined community structures will create chaos in critical public services and remove direct government accountability.

The protection of B.C.'s environment, forests and wildlife habitat is
threatened by a further 23 percent cut in funding and continuing cuts in front-line staff.
The chaos and confrontation created by Mr. Campbell threatens investor and consumer confidence and ultimately our economic recovery. This budget makes it worse. After nine months of promising hope and prosperity, the Campbell government has
delivered a budget of layoffs and despair.

lita

[tiner]

Said with dance....'go lita , go lita'

[Pylon]

Simple grade 3 math question:

Person A has little money, spends 10k a year - pays and extra $50 in sales tax.
Person B has lots of money, spends 100k a year, pays an extra $500 in sales tax.

Which person (A or B) puts more money into the province's tax coffer?


And how does 1/2% increase in tax rates apply to all BCers, but a 50% increase in MSP not? Enqiring minds want to know...

[Oilers27]

Also, i think a lot of the problem is with these unions. They just are afraid of losing power and thats what have got them mad !!!

[Jinky]

LOL,

You're fcuking hilarious Oil.

[Keeper]

And how does 1/2% increase in tax rates apply to all BCers, but a 50% increase in MSP not? Enqiring minds want to know...

Let me explain it to you Pylon:

Sales tax applies to things you pay for -- goods, services and such. People who have lots of money will, on average spend lots of money and, as such, will pay lots of tax. On the other hand, people with little money (i.e. the poor), on average spend little money, and, as such, will pay little tax. In this way, a sales tax increase is applied equally to everyone.

On the other hand, a 50% increase on MSP premiums is an unequal "tax hike", since people who have the better jobs often have their premiums paid for by their employer as part of their work contract/agreement. Meanwhile, the lowly waitress, gas jocky, or house cleaner will have to budget for their MSP premiums out of their own pocket.

Here endth the lesson.

[Oilers27]

Thanks Jinky

[Skytrain]

Everything Gordy if doing should have happened a long time ago. Sure doing everything at once is a little drastic, but it had to be done. If the plan to largely decrease or eliminate the deficit works, not to many people will complain then.

[Oilers27]

I agree with you 100%

[gong show]

I agree that something needed to be done . Maybe it could have been done more over time rather than all at once. Time will tell... Also he says that he is not concerned over his safety!!!! I would watch my back for the next little while if i were him...

[Dude]

Another good thread.

Keeper, your argument concerning employment benefits doesn’t wash. The Government will require every citizen to pay the increased rate. Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that you are good at what you do (doubtful if it is anything besides protesting all things anti-socialist), and in your negotiations with your employer you have the foresight to demand a benefits package that includes having your Medical and Physiotherapy paid by the employer, all the power to you. Again let’s assume: I, as an employer of yours (not likely because I’d never hire a communist who’s primary objective is to have all labor unionized), think you are invaluable. As part of our annual review, I offer to give you a raise, and to cover all your medical insurance needs. What does this have to do with the government? All you have done is work your but off and earn the higher pay / better benefits. The tax is still paid by the citizen because it is a part of his / her benefits package.

The tax increases are user pay. Even if you somehow manager to spend $50k a year on items requiring PST, you only pay an extra $250.00. If you can afford to spend $50K, the $250.00 is of no consequence. It is not a hard-hitting tax.

The Gas tax is there- again, user pay- because it is sorely needed. The NDP didn’t implement it when they were in power because they were too concerned about getting re-elected. They shirked their duties as far as assisting on transit improvements go. The gas tax will help improve our infrastructure and transportation. An improved transportation network benefits everyone…especially people out in areas the Skytrain doesn’t service whom can’t accept certain jobs because they have no way of getting to them. It also helps service vehicles, buses, transport companies, etc., get to and from the jobsite. This means greater efficiencies, fewer costs to those users, and all over increased use of the roads. This means more $$$ for all of us to pay our Doctors, nurses, teachers, and social programs.

The cigarette tax? The only person bitching about that should be the smoker. Long overdue, and avoided by the NDP because they didn’t want to piss off their voters.

Whoever complained about the protection of B.C.'s environment really shouldn’t worry. Industrial pollution is mandated by three parties: local municipal emissions guidelines (i.e.: GVRD), OSHA (WCB), and the need for operating efficiency. The third is, by far, the biggest deterrent to not implementing proper emission controls. We are all running out of available power. As the costs / kilowatt continues to rise, more and more big power users are looking for ways to conserve horsepower. Typically, the biggest offenders on high emissions are inefficient, cheep cyclones or bare fans. They are cheep to buy, expensive to run, and inefficient in terms of filtration. As owners look more and more at their systems, they find by adding an efficient filtration system, there are many benefits: higher efficiencies on horsepower (huge $$$ savings), and higher efficiencies on filtration. The higher filtration efficiencies allow the user to re-circulate the air back to the plant, thereby saving on the cost of make-up air. The end result is that there is an increasing return to profit by improving the efficiency of the emissions control. The owners want to make more money…that is the priority. Therefore, they have a higher incentive to provide the pollution control themselves. Local Environmental code (now) has hardly any factor or consideration. The bigger problem is the cost of electricity, which has been very cheep to buy here up until now, and as California continues to drain us, the costs to our industrial users continue to rise.

That’s the long answer to a short question.

[Skytrain]

What was the question again? Dude, you do know there is no awards for longest post.

[Dude]

You should know by now not to get me started!

Oh yeah, to keep on topic: I haven't heard Michael Campbell criticize his brother once on his CKNW slot since Gordo got elected. He used to slaughter the NDP! At least Raef Maier continues to hold the Libs feet to the fire!