Friday, July 24, 2009

1st Rant of Summer

My family and I have officially hit the road for a trip down to Gabriola Island to kick off our "vacation" portion of our holidays. As we stopped off at my parents house on the way I sat down to relax, read the paper and clear my mind of projects, household chores, schedules and appointments. With a clear and unburdened mind it suddenly hit me as I read about the new harmonized tax to be introduced in BC.

I @#$#%&! hate business. Not the average Joe trying to provide a service or product and make a buck but the business that our government talks about benefiting from every new policy that screws over the consumer. The type of business that seems to think you are a lesser human being if you are an employee. The type of business that thinks that gouges in the good times and then wants concessions in the bad times.

I mean come on, we are in the worst economic downturn in nearly a century and our government decides this is a good time to increase consumer taxes through the HST because it will provide some saving to businesses. I am sure that is a nice consolation to the guy who just lost his job at the mill. The upside is he really won't be affected by having to pay an extra 12% next time he is out for dinner since he doesn't have any money to eat out anyways.

Here's an idea to help businesses, reduce consumer taxes to encourage me to spend more.

My wife and I play the game. We went to university so we could get good jobs, we bought a house, buy RRSPs, pay into our pension, pay our bills on time and shop local when we can. However, as we are faced with dropping real estate values, disappearing investments and a pension plan that most likely is a mirage our government decides it is a good time to nail us with some more taxes to help support "business" through some hard times.

I would simply like a little more effort put into solutions to help business that don't include Gordo sticking his hands in my pockets.

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