Comments on: Throne Speech: War on the Middle Class

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:08:22 +0000

Thanks h.o. for a thought provoking blog. Thanks too B.C. Mary, Laila, B. Teileman, Grant G. and everyone else for confirming that I am Not the crazy conspiracy theorist. We need to act soon, our children live on the brink of slavery, on OUR watch. Over my dead body.

By: Crankypants

Crankypants — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 08:05:14 +0000

It is the typical struggle, “us versus them”. Those that have want more and those that haven’t want some. The problem is those that the have nots have no voice, and that includes the middle class. We have no lobbyists nor political influence to get the ear of government. We are just a vehicle of added funds that the government can access much the same as their ATM. Our only input is our vote once every four years.

The HST is just a bad version of the GST. It is just a shift of taxation from large viable businesses to John Q. Public. I have heard and read the arguments put forward by proponents for the HST, and none have been convincing to me. They all serve up a best case scenario based on theories that are suspect at best. The reality is that all consumers will be making up the 1.9 billion dollars that the businesses will be saving. No more, no less. There will be no price reductions on the majority of products that the general public purchases on a regular basis. I guess we can take satisfaction in the fact that we have helped increase the profits to big corporations and the bonuses of their CEO’s.

By: Norman Farrell

Norman Farrell — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:32:39 +0000

It is easy to understand why the lapdog MLAs stand, cheer and applaud Dear Leader. It is only two years since 41 provincial politicians, mostly Liberal, were rewarded with retroactive pension rights worth about $800,000 each. I too would stand up, slap my hands together and bark for that kind of reward.

For a reminder of how mean spirited these jerks are, spend 10 seconds here:

http://northerninsights.blogspot.com/2009/08/on-other-hand.html

By: crh

crh — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:38:17 +0000

The fight to keep middle class is on going. The classwar in the USA is slowly beginning as folks realize that Obama is not representing them as they thought he would. For instance, California. The billions in debt on their books has given Shwarzenegger reason to cut, cut, cut. Layoffs, wage reduction, education at all levels. Obama will not come to their aid. Yet Trillions were spent bailing out Wall Street, claiming systemic failure if they don’t. What about systemic failure of humanity? Obama is choosing to let the citizens of Carlifornia move into the streets in droves. The dire situation in California is a direct result of years of stroking big business and the rich. I believe that what is happening in the USA will happen here in Canada. BC, being run by the rightest of wings will be one of the first to go down.

By: Patrick Bell (Not the MLA)

Patrick Bell (Not the MLA) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:19:28 +0000

First…I like Lynn. Good post

Here is the problem with globalization and the whipping out of the Western World middle class..

People here have had it good for too long and they know what living the good life is all about…you take that away and you better bring in marshal law….

Cause it’ll get ugly…

By: Richard

Richard — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:57:12 +0000

Wow…I watched question period today and was shocked at how the liberals got up and cheered, laughed and clapped celebrating yet another lie. They got away with it and they’re laughing at the middle class. Gotcha!! I get to dole out an extra 2 grand a year and maybe more and they’re laughing about it!!

I do hope that the NDP takes a new path and starts representing the interests of the middle class in BC.

(Response: That would be very interesting. But they have many people within the party who think they should move even further left. h.o.)

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:17:08 +0000

I laughed out loud when El Gordo said it will force businesses to lower their prices. That simply doesn’t happen. Businesse owners will continue to make record profits (which during the last 5 years have been historical). They have done this by increasing product costs and lowering wages. Furthermore if what El Gordo is saying is true why isn’t Business yelling from the top of their money heap-” stop telling me how to run things?” Very few are. I my opinion he is saying it in an effort to sell the HST to us. Funny how the budget cuts to health care and education statements were made just before the HST statement was made. It is all PR to sell this stupid tax. I don’t mind paying more tax for social programs provided I am receiving value which I am not. We are not out of the reccession and frankly it will take some time before we are. Bringing in another highway robbery tax at this time makes no sense to me what so ever. My take home pay is not travelling very far and hasn’t for close to 10 years. This recession is much worse than the educated idiots are letting on. We simply cannot allow this additional burden to happen. Like I have said before, El Gordo has to cut the fat in his own backyard first before he comes hat in hand asking for more money from me.
That means salary cuts, pension contribution cuts at the MLA level. Just like we ordinary folks live with during economic tough times. Do that El Gordo and maybe, just maybe I may be on board with new pocket dipping.

(Response: I couldn’t have said it better. What many people don’t realize, in a globalized economy, there are benefits from keeping wages low and even keeping unemployment high … because that puts pressure on both those seeking jobs to work for less, and on those already working to keep wage demands low … while profits soar and management enjoy very high salaries and lucrative bonuses. And how low can our workers’ wages go? Like China, India or Bangladesh? The offset used to be higher levels of government services here for families and workers etc. (health, education, parks, recreation, HPO aid) .but now the’yre taking more and more of that away. h.o.)

By: bob

bob — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:42:19 +0000

Vaughn Palmer, Vancouver Sun, August 26, 2009 — “Consumers will please bend over. Government will work to help mitigate negative impacts.”

Could it be that VP has finally had enough and will now shed his BC Liberal lapdog ways in favour of watch/guard dog? maybe.

Will the corporate media finally take its role as the fifth estate seriously? doubtful.

By: Powell river persuader

Powell river persuader — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:34:13 +0000

Well well well,Harvey,have I finally made a convert out of you of the travestry of the HST…

A little late off the mark but welcome aboard!

Speaking of breaking news…..Well,not exactly breaking news,I busted the story 5 days ago…..

Read it here

http://powellriverpersuader.blogspot.com/2009/08/breaking-news-looks-like-another-broken.html

Cheers-Eyes Wide Open

(Response: Not really. I still don’t necessarily oppose the HST, IF certain sectors are protected or exempted. But I do oppose tax increases only on consumers, PILED ON in conjunction with all the other burdens being placed on the middle class, seniors and the poor through funding and service cuts, while the very rich and big corporations have their taxes lowered. h.o.)

By: Al S

Al S — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:31:42 +0000

Harv, you are right. We need a new middle of the road party that does not kneel at the knees of either big business (Libs) or big labour (NDP).

I’ve seen both and am fed up with both.

And there currently exists a huge political vacuum out there.