As I write this article on Monday night, I’m left to ponder what to make of Brad Wall’s statement that would seem to indicate Saskatchewan residents can expect to see an increase in sales tax going forward. I also suspect the federal Liberals are going to do the same thing, increasing the GST. You can follow that up next January with the carbon tax and you can see we have increased taxes on the tax increase. I think we live in a time where many citizens are very close to just putting the keys on the table and walking away from things they own and that’s a very dangerous economic situation to be in. I have to disagree with the provincial government’s stance to increase taxes, simply based on the fact they know a heavier burden is already coming from the feds. Furthermore, when you need a stimulus to get some money flowing, I feel you need to make it attractive for folks to want to spend. Increasing taxes does the opposite. A new $40,000 vehicle will go up by $1500 (based on 7% PST, and GST) even if the car dealer doesn’t increase his price to try and make more of a profit. That isn’t going to motivate people to do anything beyond keeping what little money they have, firmly in their pocket.
We also live in a period where governments are expected to provide more services for its citizens. Those services cost money and we have even more people than ever before to provide services for. I’d be curious to know that for every 100 people that the population increases, does our tax base also go up by 100 or is it significantly less? Are we asking people to pay more taxes and help fund more people in need than ever before? I believe we are. And, I believe the tax increases are going to result in some of those people who are teetering on the edge of being a provider to becoming a someone or a family that is in need of being provided for. And, because of that, I can’t agree with any tax increases levied by the province or the feds. All governments have their hand out for more money in order to keep the level of services at a particular standard. So, in addition to sales taxes increasing, property taxes are increasing, and various other taxes will also go up. Wages will not. So, based on those combinations alone, you can expect the economy to grind to an even greater halt than what we are seeing now.
My solution for all of this, and I’m no expert, is to say ‘no’ a little bit more often. Maybe we aren’t in a position to accept new residents unless they are set up to be an immediate boost to the tax base. Maybe some of the services government provides need to disappear. The reality is that there are a number of crown corporations that could be sold off. I also know that wage rollbacks for government workers is a touchy subject, but the reality is that government workers are paid by the government. In the private sector, if the employer doesn’t have enough money to pay staff, he lays people off. A wage rollback isn’t the end of the world here. Once revenues go back up, the unions can negotiate for bigger increases.
We need to find ways for those who contribute to society to have less of a burden and not more because we run the risk of lowering the number of people who contribute by making everyone pay more.
I’ve, officially, checked out of the US President Donald Trump debates. To me, the whole thing has degenerated into one big reality show and I’ve never been a fan of reality tv. From CNN to Fox News to the New York Times to the Washington Post, it’s clear a Trump presidency is good for media business whether or not you support him. Trump isn’t without blame either. Some of his outlandish statements are made to bait his detractors and I’m just tired of it all. Govern the country. Put your head down and get to work and who cares about the media.
I have to admit I don’t normally write an article and then decide not to publish it, but that happened this week. To make a long story short, I’ve broken a couple of city bylaws and I feel the application of city rules isn’t consistent. There should be a lot more warnings and tickets written in this city based on how the letters of the law have been applied to me in recent weeks.
My favorite hockey team, the Winnipeg Jets, are going to miss the playoffs for the fifth time in six years. What’s puzzling to me is how fans stay loyal and find excuses for their club and justify the ineptitude. To me, it’s like going to a bad restaurant. How many chances do you give them? You don’t make excuses for being served a bad meal too many more times than once. I can’t help it. I cheer for the Jets. But, I’m not making excuses. They are poorly run and as one friend of mine said, they should change their motto from Fuelled By Passion to Fuelled by Patience.
