Say "No" To the HST

[Mikau Seafox]

As we all know, the Harmonic Sales Tax, HST for short, is well on its way towards this province, which will merge the two taxes together as one, forcing us to pay an additional 7% on everything we buy. And a lot of protests have been sparked when it was first announced, giving it two names: the Harper Sales Tax (overheard from a number of citizens) and the Horse Shit Tax (The Province). As such, it's still being protested against, and I can understand why: Who wants another tax added to the province?

For those who may not know, there is a website, dedicated to strike down the tax that will also slap the restaurants in the proverbial face, and every restaurant, fast food eatery, coffee shop and juice bar, are very concerned about it, stating that by adding 7% to the food tax, it's going to ruin their businesses. You can sign the petition and leave a comment on the site there.
http://www2.nomealtax.ca/

I've also added a poll to see who wants/doesn't want the HST to happen. There is a guy who wrote an article in a 24 Hours paper saying the HST should be 15% instead of 12%, and of course, a lot of people got very pissed off about it.

This topic is open for any and all discussion.

[Xen Garden]

the Horse Shit Tax (The Province).

I have one thing to say to that... *Takes a shit on the taxes* Neigh!

Well looks like I'm even more broke now. *Sigh* We're all doomed to hobo-ism.

[Kardrack]

See, this is why I hate our premier.  Gordon was actually given an option.  Several million dollars all at once given to the province if he agrees to the HST or No HST and they don't give him that money.  This HST is just stupid.  Hey, we're in a recession so what do we do?  Pay more taxes!  Perfect logic!  When we have no money, we should pay more money.  Damn these gov's are stupid.  The liberal Prime minster candidate (I forget his name) was opposing the HST then agreed to it.  He said on the radio he totally opposes it but he's signing it anyway.  What is wrong with these people?

[Fargo]

Already signed a petition opposing it. I make little enough as it is now, with the tax, I'll have even less left over. I think I speak for everyone on the board in this regard.

[Xen Garden]

It's hard enough for me that I can't even find a job. I couldn't find one out in Vancouver/Burnaby/Surrey, and even living here in Mission there's nothing available. If this keeps up with how expensive life is, I'm gonna end up living with my mom till I'm 30. No future for the lose!

PS: If this is the Horse Shit Tax, can I pay in fecal matter? It would make life alot easier for me.

[Fargo]

I'm gonna end up living with my mom till I'm 30.

Like I am...  :-\

[Kithop]

Just FYI, don't get 'Liberal' (federal) and 'BC Liberal' (provincial) confused - they are not the same party, and I believe the BC Liberals actually severed ties with the federal ones.  BC Liberal = the new name for the old 'Social Credit', aka the right-wing corporatist McCarthyists (pretty much the anti-NDP), so I'm not surprised they're pulling this kind of crap now.

The local Tim Hortons here actually has paper copies of the petition you can sign, right by the cashiers.  Basically, from what I understand, this HST thing basically means that things that are currently PST-exempt (food, kids clothes, etc.) no longer will be, because the harmonized tax means you just get one combined federal/provincial line item on your receipts.  That's where the 7% hike comes from - our current PST is 7%. :p

Long and short of it is that it's a cash grab by the provincial gov't, so they can turn around and pass it to their buddies in construction for the Olympics under the guise of job creation... we all know how well trickle-down economics works, though. c.c

While usually I'm not completely opposed to tax hikes, another resident-punishing tax coming on the heels of a combined reduction in business property tax and hike in residential property tax from the same gov't, claiming to 'even things out after years of inequity' leaves a very bad taste in my mouth.

[Blue]

Ahhh politics..

Well folks, having been living in Montreal all my life up til August, when I moved over to this side of the country, I have felt the sting of taxes. Only I never knew it was that bad, since it was just normal... Over there, we used to be taxed about 15% on our meals at restaurants and fast food joints (A pro to that was always knowing how much to tip lol). These days it's about 13.5%. And people live on... If you can't handle it... make your meals at home. Feel like being fancy? Make a big meal and invite people over, have them bring a nice bottle of vino or some crusty bread, and you got yourself the makings of an excellent evening, without the tax woes.

And the Olympics? HAHAHAHAAA. Montreal just finished paying theirs off... and when did Montreal have their Olympics?? That's right. Vancouver (and BC) will be feeling the pinch for YEARS to come.

[Mikau Seafox]

The local Tim Hortons here actually has paper copies of the petition you can sign, right by the cashiers.  Basically, from what I understand, this HST thing basically means that things that are currently PST-exempt (food, kids clothes, etc.) no longer will be, because the harmonized tax means you just get one combined federal/provincial line item on your receipts.  That's where the 7% hike comes from - our current PST is 7%. :p

I've seen other places doing that as well - A&W, for example. I've already signed the petition. It may be a losing battle, but we can't give up.

While I myself dislike all political parties (#1 being the BC Liberals), the NDP sees this tax as a bullshit tax, and Carole James is stepping up to fight it off. I may not be partial to the NDP, but the NDP is all we got.

[Acco]

Oh duck no, I'm not letting the NDP touch BC after that ducked up reign of poopyness last time.

I say let the conservative party have a shot. As in the BC conservatives that just started running last election.

Regardless, it'll be another few years before we can eject/reelect them.

[Kithop]

The BC Conservatives are all but a dead party - even the Greens have more chance than them nowadays... they had almost 4 times the popular vote (~8% vs the C's ~2%) last election.  Reason being, the BC 'Liberals' actually took the Conservative platform from them and merged it with the old SoCreds.

I'm a big federal NDP supporter (Jack Layton seems to have his head screwed on and they're winning big concessions in parliament), but I'm also wary of the provincial ones and their long history of screw-ups.  BC politics has degraded into 'who sucks the least?' and honestly I don't even have an answer there.  I'd be tempted to let the Greens have a go at it if it weren't for the fact that they booted all their sane and rational people in favour of towing the Greenpeace line.

Can we have a party of smart people who think things through rationally and try to do what's best for the people instead of their special interests? :p  Right... doesn't exist, I know...

[Xen Garden]

I have to agree with Kithop on how Jack Layton has his head screwed on. But unfortunately I don't care much for any party. That's why I never vote or participate in government BS.

[Skyler]

I have only had two chances to vote and taken both of them although they did not turn out they way I wanted I still got my say.

[Duffy]

Horseh  dont like politics  :P

[Jimfoxyboy]

I vote that the government stops giving themselves massive wages and start spending the money they gathered in a more sensible manner. I'm a little tired of hearing about how many times someone in the government has gotten a pay raise or some massive bonus. And yet, the minimum wage of a worker hasn't really gone up all that much. Ok, so say we do start start paying this HST, but what are the chances that they wouldn't spend the money gathered from it any more sensibly? It just seems to me that things are going to get worse and worse. Everything is just going to keep costing more and how do they expect the average person to be able to keep up? I know, everyone wants money, but where's it going to come from?