Dear Editor:
When will the madness end? That’s the question Mr. Baker should have asked after ranting about the misuse of our taxes. The abuse is getting out of hand!
Federally, Mr. Tredeau is planning on deficits, as if there isn’t enough money coming in already to cover the cost of running this massive country. Provincially, Liz Sandals thinks a $1 million buyout to keep our teachers’ union quiet is not unusual. Municipally, the resources aren’t even available when, let’s say, an emergency bridge replacement is in need.
I believe these folks (every government employee; not just the higher ups) have forgotten how to live a humble life. Just look at the top. Mr. Trudeau won’t move in to 24 Sussex Drive because it needs 10 million dollars in repair/upgrades. I don’t know whats worse, Justin’s refusal after so many have lived there, or the fact that there’s a $10 million bill coming our way to repair a castle to which no royalty lives in!
It’s a vicious cycle. Those in charge pay themselves handsomely, their cost of living increases along with their expectations. This in turns affects the way they (and their children) think and most importantly their job performance.
So, how do we change all this? Reduce the overhead (because adding seats in parliament is not my idea of job creation). How do you reduce the size of a government? By starting over of course.
For example, flat taxes for everyone. No more exemptions, no more grants, no more loopholes. Tax my income (for the federal government), tax my property (for the municipality I live in), and tax my good/services for the hell of it. Don’t let me play the system so I can trick the government into giving me back nearly all the taxes that’s rightfully theirs. If there’s any left over, save it for future reference.
Here’s a good one: ethical check on everyone in government. If you have too many toys for example, you don’t belong because your view on life is selfish and twisted. You should put others before yourself if you want to be a civil servant.
Now I’m ranting. I must come across as a bitter old man. Well I am bitter. Not because I’m at the bottom of the middle class tax bracket, but because I’m there and people still take advantage of me. I’ve worked hard, had some learning curves, and hopefully will be rewarded in the near future, financially. It’s not mine to expect but to gratefully receive. Now I know I’m not the only one with this mantra.
What we need is a real change, and not that spew Justin was going on about.
Vive la revolution!
Doug Vanderveen
Belwood
DOUG VANDERVEEN