HST - how are you planning to vote?

[Cock Throppled]

Promises are promises, but laws are laws. Fact: Commitment to drop the HST to 10% is now law if the No vote to repeal it is successful. See article:

http://www.canadaone.com/ezine/briefs.html?StoryID=11Jun10_2

Yeah, you can take that to the bank.

Passed by the same group who broke their own Balanced Budget law, had no problem tearing up legitimate labour contracts and brought in the HST after lying about to to get elected.

Trust, my friend is a fragile egg.

 

[wilde]

I think it is sad that people like Cock Throppled and Chilli are so blinded by their hatred of the Liberals that they fail to see the real issue of this referendum and make it about all their real or perceived transgressions by the Liberals or politicians in general. CT, you keep mentioning about being a successful business owner so you of all people should know the negative impact of returning to the GST/PST regime.

 

[Cock Throppled]

The issue is bigger than money.

Trust in government is essential.

 

[wilde]

The issue is bigger than money.

Trust in government is essential.

Would striking down the HST restore your trust in government? My guess is that it won't but you'll do it out of spite anyway. Therein lies my problem with your stance, as IMHO this referendum is not the venue for that.

 

[FunSugarDaddy]

The truth of the matter is we should be voting to keep the HST, if for no other reason, than it would save millions of dollars in employee expenses.
That said, the government should have made it a flat 10% from the start, especially if they were touting the fact that it was revenue neutral. Nobody believes the current 12% on a much wider base is neutral by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[luvsdaty]

They made it 12% for the simple reason that they knew that they where gonna take flak about this tax.There spin doctors said introduce it at 12% then reduce it to 10% to sell it to the great unwashed.Strike down the hst to send a message to the govt.I've voted liberal, socred & ndp,i like ideas from both right and left of the political spectrum.
The govt, ndp, liberals, socreds couldn't care less about us,all they care about is how much can i squeeze out of the public tit.Plus the fact that the province loses its power over taxation.As of today the libs have taken over $900 million out of Icbc & put it into general revenue.Just like the feds took out billions outta the EI fund,they think public money is there own private piggy bank so that they can get themselves re elected.
To me once they've gotten corrupt(for lack of a better word) thats when i vote against the current gov't.

 

[aznboi9]

Keep drinking the Kool aid.

Enjoy your cupcakes!

I think it is sad that people like Cock Throppled and Chilli are so blinded by their hatred of the Liberals that they fail to see the real issue of this referendum and make it about all their real or perceived transgressions by the Liberals or politicians in general.

Exactly why referendums are a really poor method of setting policy.

 

[agentman]

I will vote Yes to axe the HST.

 

[GoWest]

To me once they've gotten corrupt(for lack of a better word) thats when i vote against the current gov't.

LD,
We are talking about 2 issues. 1 - the tax system. 2 - the government. Try to keep the 2 issues separate.

If you believe that the HST is a better and/or more efficient, less costly, tax system, then by voting against it, you are voting against yourself, not voting against the current government.

 

[luvsdaty]

Sorry i can't keep them seperate & i will vote against myself for the simple reason that they said that the hst wasn't on the horizon,yet as soon as they get there majority, they introduce it.I really hope that someone starts up another right wing party to split the vote(or better, provide an alternative to the liberals)

 

[Cock Throppled]

aznboi- in your zeal to defend your beloved Liberal government, you are ignoring their own statements.

Colin Hansen announced the HST would be revenue neutral, and it had nothing to do with tax cuts. THEY said the revenue stream to government coffers was to be the same (revenue neutral) under the HST as with the PST/GST. It turns out they are raking in $800 million to a billion dollars extra each year courtesy of the average person.

There will be two years of that windfall before they drop 1%, then another two years before another 1% drop. (maybe)

So, it isn't just a tax shift - it is a tax shift and a major siphoning of money out of consumer pockets. It isn't just haircuts and coffee - it's home renos, airline tickets, financial and legal services, house sales, etc etc.

This year I'll pay upwards of $200,000 in taxes and that's gonna happen no matter the system, but my customers are getting hit hard.

Yeah, I'm the person who should be backing the HST, but I'm not. I'm more concerned with what we're willing to tolerate from politicians. The Liberals out and out lied to get elected. THAT is more important than any financial hit. The SS tax in BC served us well for years.

 

[wilde]

This year I'll pay upwards of $200,000 in taxes and that's gonna happen no matter the system, but my customers are getting hit hard.

Is that sales tax, coporate income tax, personal income tax or some combination thereof?

 

[aznboi9]

aznboi- in your zeal to defend your beloved Liberal government, you are ignoring their own statements.

Firstly, I haven't been defending the Liberal government; I've been discussing the HST. The fact that you keep making it about them just shows how much your missing the point.

Secondly, you really haven't been paying attention. Of course, I have been ignoring my "beloved" Liberals; because I simply haven't been listening to them in the first place. Why would I? I'm going to get my information from independent sources, thank you very much.

Colin Hansen announced the HST would be revenue neutral, and it had nothing to do with tax cuts. THEY said the revenue stream to government coffers was to be the same (revenue neutral) under the HST as with the PST/GST. It turns out they are raking in $800 million to a billion dollars extra each year courtesy of the average person.

Actually, I think it's closer to $400 million, if I remember correctly, as the income tax cuts and rebates add up to about $440 million.

Hey! You finally got something right (sort of)! Congratulations! 1 for 10 isn't bad at all! Here, have another cupcake.

There will be two years of that windfall before they drop 1%, then another two years before another 1% drop. (maybe)

That's correct, after which, the 1% drop will cost about $800 million (I'm estimating on this one) and then $1.6 billion for the second 1% drop. I'll take that trade off as I'm pretty sure that decrease will last more than two years.

 

[Cock Throppled]

Oh, the irony.

The Conservative candidate in Ontario is attacking Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty for his "HST tax grab".

 

[chilli]

Enjoy your cupcakes!


Exactly why referendums are a really poor method of setting policy.

Why because I am an informed voter who can afford to stand by my principles by paying extra in taxes to send the Liberals a clear message.

I feel sorry for sheep like you.

When did you leave your principles at the door?

Maybe you should get a part time job to help pay to get your principles back.

 

[aznboi9]

Why because I am an informed voter who can afford to stand by my principles by paying extra in taxes to send the Liberals a clear message.

No, because, too often, people allow emotion to dictate their decision making process instead of rational thinking, yourself being a perfect example. As already stated, this isn't a game; to be messing with the livelihood of a whole province to play your political checkers is, in fact, not acting in an informed manner. And, yes, my principles are perfectly intact, thank you very much.

 

[Cock Throppled]

No, because, too often, people allow emotion to dictate their decision making process instead of rational thinking, yourself being a perfect example. As already stated, this isn't a game; to be messing with the livelihood of a whole province to play your political checkers is, in fact, not acting in an informed manner. And, yes, my principles are perfectly intact, thank you very much.

You are basing your choice on your ideology, too. You believe the BC Liberals are good money managers and believe them when they tell you something and no amount of contrary evidence will sway you because you want them to be in power.

It was the BC Liberals who stated they would actually take in LESS money with the HST, yet now they claim eliminating it will blow a massive hole in the economy.

 

[wilde]

It was the BC Liberals who stated they would actually take in LESS money with the HST, yet now they claim eliminating it will blow a massive hole in the economy.

Actually they claimed it was revenue neutral.

Would losing the federal incentives of 1.6B not have that effect? Or do you just have a very selective memory?

And you still haven't given me an answer on what makes up your $200k in taxes that you claimed you will be paying this year.

 

[aznboi9]

You are basing your choice on your ideology, too. You believe the BC Liberals are good money managers and believe them when they tell you something and no amount of contrary evidence will sway you because you want them to be in power.

Not at all. I've based my decision on the arguments on both sides of the coin and on which side is able to present it's case that based on reason and logic. The pro side has been able to do so. The no side has not; it's that simple. Who the governing party never entered into my thought process because it's irrelevent; it's a referendum, not an election. If the no side were able to present a reasonable case of why BC is worse off under HST that GST/PST, then I'd be all ears. But I haven't come across that yet.

I mean, look at you and chilli; you guys have basically been is rehashing the "send a message to the Liberals" arguement and then resorted to name calling when you haven't been able to have a reasonable counter arguement to what's been presented by the pro side. If anything, your ideology accusation is way more applicable to you two.

 

[Cock Throppled]

Actually they claimed it was revenue neutral.

Would losing the federal incentives of 1.6B not have that effect? Or do you just have a very selective memory?

And you still haven't given me an answer on what makes up your $200k in taxes that you claimed you will be paying this year.

Actually, they claimed it was revenue neutral at first, before certain exemptions, then it was to bring in slightly less. Turns out they were scooping up much more.

The feds have given about $1 billion, so far, not the full $1.6. Paying that back over a few years would be no different than adjusting for a slight rise in interest rates with our debt.

My taxes this years are a combination of income, sale taxes and land transfer tax.