The BC Liberal/Smart Tax Alliance Top Seven HST Myths‏

[Rick Baerg]

Here is a email sent to me today.

This is an interesting read about the HST along with comments made by others…………

Subject: The BC Liberal/Smart Tax Alliance Top Seven HST Myths

I have been thinking about this issue for some time and with all the government propaganda coming out lately supporting the HST, one thing has struck me. It sounds a lot like the hucksters that you see at trade shows and fairs, trying to sell you a product. They have these reasons why you should buy their product when in reality the product is worthless. I have been wondering about all the people that are being taken in by this government's sales pitch. Well I am not being taken in. I saw no benefits come my way as the government said we would all see from the Olympics having been held in B.C. The only people that profited from the Winter Olympics in 2010 were the rich and famous. The Jim Pattison's of the world are the only ones that I believe will be benefited by the H.S.T. The manner in which the referendum is being run is just an example of how the government is trying to trick people to vote for the H.S.T. I plan to vote "Yes" to have the H.S.T. revoked and hope you all will not be taken in by the advertising that we are all seeing promoting it. If you agree, we need to get people to see this government trickery for what it is. Please pass this information on and let's get the word out. Vote "Yes" when you get your ballot.


Subject: Fw: The BC Liberal/Smart Tax Alliance Top Seven HST Myths

Like most of us, probably, I don’t really understand enough to make a valid choice, so I am not asking you to support this, merely suggesting that you read it as I did! It is interesting, but WHO is telling the truth?

Hello, The BC Liberal “myths” about the HST just keep piling up.
We don't have the budget to fight the lies, we need your help. Keep the message going by forwarding this link to all the people you know and ask them to do the same.
Following is their latest Top Seven – all new and misleading as ever – HST Myths:

1. The HST is now 10% - False
The HST is 12% and will not be 10% for three years – if ever. There will be an election before that, and even if the HST were to miraculously drop to 10% - it will still apply to hundreds more goods and services than a 12% PST/GST for a consumer tax increase of $1.6B per year. And who says it won’t go right back up again later?

2. The HST will lower taxes – False
This one is hilarious. The HST increases taxes for British Columbians by $2.8 Billion per year. That’s an average annual increase of $500 per person - or $1208 per average family – forever. Finance Minister Falcon says if his side loses he may disregard the result and expand the PST to items previously exempt – and that’s illegal. Do you really trust this guy to cut the rate if he wins?

3. The HST will save you money - False
And the tooth fairy is going to leave you a quarter under your pillow too. To get their numbers to show the HST actually “saving” you money they are calculating only “routine purchases” and that 90% of what you pay in HST will be passed back to you in lower prices. Have you seen lower prices?... We didn’t think so.

4. The HST benefits seniors - False
Seniors and people on fixed incomes are some of the hardest hit by the HST. A one time rebate of $175 if you vote in favour of their tax in exchange for paying it for the next 10-30 years of your retirement is a deal only a snake oil salesman would offer. Why take $175 when you can vote to cancel the HST and keep all your money? How dumb do they think we are?

5. The HST benefits families – False
Next to seniors, working families are hardest hit by the HST because they are among the largest consumers and have dependent children. Bribes of $175 per child when your cost is closer to $400 a year each makes you wonder if they think all of us failed math as badly as they did. And what about a single mom with two kids going to college? She gets nothing while the Premier and Finance Minister who earn big six figure salaries get the rebate. Nice.

6. Business will pay more so you can pay less - False
A temporary increase of 2% in corporate taxes will be passed on to consumers with increased prices. Either way you pay the final bill whether it’s in HST or higher prices.

7. We will owe $1.6 Billion if we cancel the HST - False
The “Independent Panel” says the HST generated $850 million more than budgeted. Setting aside that is the biggest tax grab in history, it means government already has $850 million to repay Ottawa . BC has only received $1B, and Ottawa collected $300M more in corporate taxes under the HST than under the PST. So it’s a wash. And keeping the HST would cost British Columbians alot more than killing it – over $28 Billion in new taxes in just 10 years.
Vote YES to extinguish the HST and save your province, your democracy, and your money!

[knotnot]

I will be voting YES to Extinguish this horrible tax.

From CTV
We did our own unscientific poll in the CTV consumer unit, phoning dozens of businesses in Metro Vancouver to see if they’ve either hired staff or lowered prices because of the HST.

Of the 50 businesses called, only one has hired more staff and just two have dropped their prices modestly. In fact, we got a blast on the phone from many B.C. business owners who hate the tax, including the owner of a popular Kitsilano gym.

Ron Zalko, owner of the Ron Zalko Fitness Club, despises the HST and so do his customers, who never had to pay a tax on their gym memberships before.

“Suddenly they have to pay seven per cent – this is disgusting! You should not penalize fitness and exercise,” said Zalko.

Zalko says he’s been forced to reduce his membership fees to mollify angry customers

[Coastrider]

ill be voting yes aswell, what a silly thing for the govn't to propose. We will drop the taxe by 2% if you vote no? get stuffed, id rather pay less tax on less items. I can see how they figure we are all daft and think we will go along with there stupid little game

[mcallagan]

From BILL TIELEMAN, 24 HOURS

"In March Clark talked to Red FM 93.1 about the HST: "We aren't going to be talking about trying to reduce it by a point or two before the referendum. I mean, I think people will see that as buying them with their own money.”
Now she’s trying to buy us with our own money. She does think we’re stupid."

Vote YES to extingush the HST and stop the Liberal Lying!

[btree]

I'm going to stop spending money and just barter for goods with flies and smoked salmon

[Crapsterface]

I think we should pay the FST

[scissorbill]

Essay on how taxes work:

http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/howtaxes.asp

[Crapsterface]

what about the whole rich get richer poor get poorer concept.

[frewballs]

I'm not a huge booster for the libs, but I do have my degree in Economics so I think I need to go to bat for the HST a bit here. Consumption taxes like the HST/GST etc are ALWAYS better for society as a whole. No dis-incentive to work (like with income taxes) and you can actually squeeze some tax dollars out of black market activities. Sorry grow-oppers, but you have to pay HST on your fancy restaurant meals and rims for your escalade. Is it perfect? No. Is it better? Yes. Even if you take the argument of prices going down out, all businesses get instantly more productive by not having to administer 2 taxes like we did with the PST/GST combo. Costs for businesses do go down, and the "competition" (other provinces like Ontario) would gladly scoop up things like our TV/Movie industry if we go back. I'm not saying there aren't some valid arguments above, but while it might sting a bit in the short term, it doesn't mean we shouldn't do what's best in the long run.

[Speybandit]

Well Frewballs, congratulations on having the b.... to put that point of view in this thread. Being new to BC since the introduction of HST I haven't 'felt' the pain but only heard about it. As a newcomer it's useful for me to hear all sides