7/24/2010

Provincial Government Lied To The People In The Northwest

 There is no way to describe what the Government has done to the people in the Terrace Kitimat area than to say they lied to them.
  A deliberate and calculated lie perpetrated by the bastards in Victoria. What they have done is unforgivable.

Read the full story here http://www.terracedaily.ca

"In a stunning new development, it has been revealed through confidential correspondence that not only did the government know that Eurocan would never restart, they purposefully mislead the entire Northwest region by funding a doomed viability study. The BC Government has literally thrown money into the furnace, and encouraging others to do the same by raising false hopes and dreams with the residents of Kitimat and Terrace."

What kind of people would do something like this? After cutting social programs, health, education and a lot of  other things to the bone they throw money down the drain to perpetrate a god damn lie.

Wake up people. RECALL IN THE FALL.

7/23/2010

Barnett Worries About Recall Threat: Rebuttal

The July 6th Edition of the 100 Mile Free Press published a story on Donna Barnetts concerns about being recalled. I wrote a paragraph by paragraph response and was asked if I would allow the paper to use it as a letter to the editor. To which I agreed.

The heavily edited version of my response was finally published in the July 21 edition and I don't feel that it completely covered my response, so I have chosen to publish it in full here. 

All writing in black is from the original news article and the red is my response.

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett says she has concerns about the Fight HST group putting out a hit list of 24 MLAs it would target for recall.

And so she should be afraid. Although she maintains she didn't lie to her constituents it is quite obvious by the response in the initiative that more people than voted for her think she did.

It’s a piece of legislation that’s there for people to use, she says, adding it’s been used quite a few times, but never successfully.

Wrong on this one Donna. Paul Reitsma in 1999 was recalled but to save face and not have the distinction of being the first to be fired by his constituents he quit. While the petition was being submitted I might add.

“Recall is a definite concern for everybody. There’s 24 of us on the list and it could bring the government down.”

Yes Donna it is a concern. Do you actually think we want to do this. Your  boss is bringing it on himself. His arrogance and your continueing to spout the party line are forcing our hand. We have the option and we will use it

She says it’s the last thing British Columbia needs right now because the world economy is so bad — with the United States looking at “double recession” — and the province’s lumber industry so fragile.

Just what makes you think the world economy is the fault here and why do use the tax on the people back as a solution. Our situation hasn't got anything to do with the world economy, Campbell even alluded to this when he explained why our deecit was only $435 million. and we were calling his BS then

Noting people are saying the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) is big business against the ordinary citizen, Barnett says it’s proven that the HST is good for business, and what’s good for business is good for jobs.
“The world only rotates for the private sector by keeping your doors open.”

The people of this province get jobs on their own merits. We don't pay big  business to give  us a job Why is it that whenever a government policy is bad for the people, government uses the excuse it's good for jobs and the economy? What good is this shift going to do for the economy? Never mind the jobs that are going to be lost in the restaurant industry alone.

Barnett says she doesn’t know how far the recall threat is going to go because there are so many things on the table, including a challenge by a group of B.C. business leaders as to whether the petition, itself, is legal.
If the petition is validated by Elections BC, she adds, then it has to go to an all-party government committee and then it has to go to the legislature.

How far will recall go? It will go all the way Donna. The people have spoken and you and your party didn't listen. What do you expect. Call a special session, push the initiative through just like you did with the Bill to sell the farm. It's easy. Just repeal it. All of it. Your government are masters at ramming things down our throats. Get rid of it.

“And if it’s successful, then my personal opinion is it should go to a referendum. If that’s successful, then the provincial government is going to have to come up with the $1.6 billion or negotiate with the federal government to pay it back ... I just don’t know.”

 It will be successful and I want you to think outside the box for a moment. We just had a referendum whether you recognized it or not. And tell your colleagues to stop spouting that $1.6 billion dollar crap. the first transfer is $235 million. Have we even received that yet?

What she does know, however, is the B.C. Liberals stumbled coming out of the gates with HST and the lack of public information was a big blunder.

It wasn't a blunder Donna it was arrogance pure and simple. Campbell and Hansen were caught with their pants down. They didn't even bother to register as opponents because they never thought the people had had enough

“The HST isn’t the most popular thing the government has ever done, but there’s a reason for everything.
Barnett says the B.C. Liberal government did a very poor job bringing the HST out and explaining it to the public. “They still haven’t got the proper information out.”

See above

Noting she has a number of good friends who have signed the anti-
HST petition, Barnett says they complain they have to pay HST on groceries and gas. I have to tell them groceries and gasoline are HST exempt, she adds.

Donna let's be a little more honest here. People who voted for you and are lifelong liberals were absolutely livid when they came to sign the initiative. They were red faced and talking loudly saying you had betrayed them. One that I know said he will vote NDP before he ever votes for you or a liberal again. And there were many of them who were well informed. Not the ones you say only were afraid of groceries and gasoline. By the way did you know some groceries that people purchase often did go up. Maybe you should check it out the next time you go shopping.

“So, you know we did an absolute terrible job of presenting this issue, and we have to take full responsibility for the terrible job that was done.”

Yes you have, yes you have

A lot of people have told her she let them down with the HST decision.
“I wish I didn’t have to make this decision. It would be so nice to make decisions that make you popular, but unfortunately, sometimes in government, you have to make decisions that make you unpopular.”

Now you're using Campbells feeble line. You could make no worse decision I allege, than to  do the bidding of Campbell. It will be your downfall.

However, she explains, government has to look at the budget and deficits because the main economic drivers, including forestry, mining and agriculture, are seeing their revenues shrinking.

Can I ask who put us in this mess in the first place? Don't know? It was your micromanager boss. You know? The one who is best suited to manage our economy?

The sophomore MLA says she asks people to tell her what to go back and cut, but people say they don’t want anything cut.
“I feel just awful inside that you have to make these kinds of decisions, and people say, ‘you were elected to represent us’ and yes I was, but I was also elected to protect health care and education.”
She adds health-care costs are almost $15 billion a year and education is more expensive every year.
“We don’t want to close schools; the enrolment is shrinking; we have people who need help and assistance, but how do you provide it?”

Why are you suggesting that we cut anymore in the first place? This tax is supposed to be revenue neutral. It has absolutely nothing to do with schools. Campbell has already cut that to the bone. And if he hadn't messed with health care we would have been in far better shape than we are in that department.

The $1.6 billion HST transitional funding the federal government put on the table, Barnett says, helps keeps the provincial deficit down.
Without that money to help with education and health care, she adds, the provincial deficit would be astronomical.

Revenue Neutral Donna.

“A lot of people said, ‘close the schools’ and others said, ‘have a deficit,’ but do you want to leave a deficit for your kids?”

No we don't want to leave that defecit for the kids. So why are the liberals avoiding the subject of returning some (or all) of the tax exemptions that your corporate welfare system gave out.instead of giving them more candy by dumping this on your constituents.

Barnett says the B.C. Liberals will definitely be travelling around the province to ensure its information on the HST is heard in all 85 constituencies.

Bring it on Donna. Bring them all here. We are beyond believing what you and your party say.We've had enough. Start taxing the big businesses again and repeal this draconian piece of legislation.
Rumors have since had it that Falcon was to be here to make a big deal about some Seniors beds.But the ribbon cutting didn't materialize. I have since learned that it may be held in early September . 
This is a project that was announced Four years ago and consisted of 29 Beds. Here we are 4 years later and it is only 14 Beds.
I say RECALL IN THE FALL

7/21/2010

Liberal Liars Club. HST Ripoff Coming Back To Bite Them In The Ass

President and VP Liberals Liar Club



If you would like to know just how bad things are getting under the HST, visit the Fight HST sight:

http://fighthst.com/press-release-after-only-three-weeks-hst-is-worse-than-anyone-could-have-imagined/

I was going to do a separate piece on my experience with the HST and Hansens lying his face off on TV in what I deem is a commercial for Huggies, but I see in this piece that someone else had the same problem.

What happened was Hansen, being a new father as I am, went on TV with a bag of Huggies and explicitly said that these Huggies for example would not be subject to HST. He put it in such a way, I allege, that it was designed to allay the fears  of parents with young children. But it appears that he went out of his way to NOT mention that these Huggies would still be subject to GST. I have a copy of my receipt taped here on my computer desk as an everyday reminder of the lies by these fools.

So what we have here is a select tax. Anything with PST on it gets  the extra 5% to make it 12%. Now it appears that things with GST stay as a GST item not eliminating any taxes but still collecting 5%.
Thus Hansen had his LIE put on tape from a newscast. You see, if he comes out saying one thing when not advising another he is perpetrating a lie.
If there is anyone out there who has a copy of this "commercial" for Huggies I implore you to get it on Facebook and/or YouTube before the thing is removed from the station archives if it hasn't been already.

Which brings up a final matter. The Image above was sent to me by The bride. She got it from someone on Facebook. I am unable to trace the author and I hope they don't mind my use in this article. It just seems to fit so well and I thank them in advance.

Recall In The Fall

7/06/2010

I Wonder If Harry Reid's Staff Takes Lessons From The BC PAB

No matter what side of the AISLE you're on, THIS is FUNNY and very telling!
 It just all depends on how you look at some things...
Judy Wallman, a professional genealogy researcher in southern California , was doing some personal work on her own family tree.  She discovered that Congressman Harry Reid's great-great uncle Remus Reid, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Montana in 1889.  Both Judy and Harry Reid share this common ancestor.

The only known photograph of Remus shows him standing on the gallows in Montana territory:
cid:1.3535506613@web83202.mail.mud.yahoo.com
On the back of the picture Judy obtained during her research is this inscription: 'Remus Reid, horse thief, sent to Montana Territorial Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the Montana Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives,convicted and hanged in 1889.'

So Judy recently e-mailed Congressman Harry Reid for information about their great-great uncle.
Harry Reid:
cid:2.3535506614@web83202.mail.mud.yahoo.com

Believe it or not, Harry Reid's staff sent back the following biographical sketch for her genealogy research:

"Remus Reid was a famous cowboy in the Montana Territory .
 His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian assets and intimate dealings with the Montana railroad.  Beginning in 1883, he devoted several years of his life to government service, finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad.  In 1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned Pinkerton Detective Agency.  In 1889, Remus passed away during an important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he was standing collapsed."

NOW THAT's how it's done, Folks!


That's real POLITICAL SPIN


7/05/2010

More HST Lies

 We are a family of four. Our GROSS income is less than $25,000 per year. In fact it is just under $20,000. So when I received my rebate this morning something stunk. Bad. I went back to the government propaganda site to recheck what they had posted online.

According to Campbell and Hansen my household should receive the amount from line 2 below. So now I'm asking these Pathological liars why my check was $488.75 for a family of four all duly registered under the income tax act. My friggin calculator reads $122.1875 each for this family of four. Even if you say that the adults got a total of $460.00 which they say you should. The other two members only get $28.75  between them.

They can't even tell us the truth on what we are supposed to get here. Of course the statement says "up to $230" . I'd really like to hear from anyone who is below the poverty line as to whether they got $230 for each family member. 

I'm not even going to look  at the total of $716. I'm positive that is bullshit as well.

 Low Income Credit


Starting July 1st, individuals with incomes up to $20,000 will receive a $230 HST credit.
Families with incomes up to $25,000 will receive a $230 HST credit per family member.
People also eligible for the federal GST credits may see a total of up to $716.

 UPDATE Great Aunty Bertha has left a link in the comment section. the link is copied and pasted below.


Cherylb if you read this have someone get something up on the front page of  Fight HST. This is pure unadulterated Bullshit.

How much will I receive?
The maximum HSTC is $230 per family member. Individuals with incomes up to $20,000 and families with incomes up to $25,000 are allowed to receive the maximum credit. The HSTC is reduced by 4% of net family income over the income thresholds. For example: If an individual has net income of $23,000 for the year, the HSTC will be $110.
Net income $23,000  
Threshold $20,000  
Maximum HSTC for the year $230  
Calculation:
Maximum HSTC for the year $230  
Net Income over the individual threshold (23,000 - 20,000) $3,000  
multiply: 4% x 4%   (120)  
Eligible HSTC for the year $110  
For the estimated annual credit you are entitled to receive please contact the CRA at 1-800-959-1953.

7/04/2010

Harvey Oberfeld Speaks Out On The HST

For those who may  not know former (retired) reporter Harvey Oberfeld has started a blog called Keeping it Real. It is touches on almost everything major that is happening today in the world, in BC and in the media

As he did when he collected a paycheck so he goes indepth reporting in his blog in retirement. All this at the expense of losing touch with some colleagues and, as I understand it, some friends as well.

Following is his most recent post in it's entirety with a link to Harveys' blog. It's something we all need to hear and the title says it all.

 Time for Media to Stop Defending/Promoting HST

July 4th, 2010 · 3 Comments

The hurt has begun: BC consumers are now being hit with a higher sales tax (HST) almost every where they turn.  And as a result some of those who can hardly afford it … like food servers … are already taking the hit.
A friend of mine told me the following story: each morning he has coffee and toast at a neighbourhood restaurant … the cost, pre-HST, was about $3.75 … so he would leave $5, including the tip.  Post HST, the bill is now $3.94 … and he still leaves $5.  So the server takes the hit, because let’s face it, most  people are not going to adjust and now leave $5.10. Multiple that by tens of  thousands of customers for thousands of servers in B.C., on more than just toast and coffee … and you can see who the real victims of the HST tax shift will be: some of those who can least afford it.

And yet,  too many media reporters, editorialists, commentators and pundits are still trying hard to prove the “people” were wrong in opposing the HST … and throwing out smelly red herrings that demean themselves and  their profession.

First, notice how many are now asking “Well, where are we going to get the additional money we need for education, health etc?”

This is a whale of a red herring in any discussion the HST.   The premier, the finance minister, all their economists, the corporate mouthpieces have always said the HST is “revenue neutral”.  It is a tax shift from business (mostly BIG business) to the consumer … not a new or extra tax in any way …at least that’s what the premier and the  government said. And they wouldn’t lie to us, would they?

So just posing the question of where would we now get the extra money we may need, in the context of any stop-the-HST discussion, is disengenuous and downright dishonest.

Where were those questions from the media commentators and pundits when the BC Liberals lowered personal income taxes and corporate taxes to what the government boasts are about the lowest in the country? Seems to me that because THEY and their employers were benefitting so much, those questions about “where will we get the $$$ we need?” were virtually ignored. The spiel then was how lower taxes would generate more spending and thus help improve the economy and promote job growth… and thus, produce higher provincial revenues
.
What hypocrites!

If their supposition is that we need more revenue for growing education and health costs is correct, how come none of them are proposing or even asking why shouldn’t big business in B.C. or the highest income earners give back some of their earlier tax reductions that have them now paying, according to the government itself, among the lowest taxes in Canada?

I guess that question would hit too close to home.

A second red herring the government’s “voices” keep raising: if we get rid of the HST, we’ll have to pay back the $1.6 Billion the federal government gave BC to go along with the program.

That argument suggests the $1.6 Billion is a windfall … a gift … a wonderful reward.   Give me a break!  Why would Ottawa give B.C. that money?  Because it’s merely a ONE-TIME CASH ADVANCE ; under the HST, BC consumers will be “paying back”  millions of dollars each year  in extra revenues on purchases not formerly covered.  And we will keep paying FOREVER: if BC really needed a one-time cash advance so badly, we may in fact have gotten a better deal  from the Mafia instead of Ottawa!.

And then there’s the other myth now being promulgated by the provincial government and eagerly supported and promoted by their media puppets: without the HST break for business, BC will lose thousands of  jobs and investment to other provinces.  The sky will fall!

That’s simply a crock: the government, remember, has boasted for years that  BC business already enjoys some of the lowest corporate taxes in the country. Not to mention the lowest minimum wage as well!  So without HST break, all that will disappear?

The biggest point most media fail to consider … or forget to mention:  BC’s economy is VERY largely a resource economy. Does anybody really believe that without still more EXTRA breaks given their suppliers by the HST,  China, the U.S. and other foreign countries will stop buying our oil, natural gas, mining resources or even our lumber as their economies recover and the need for our resource riches skyrockets again???

Our media needs to get real on this issue … and stop being just a mouthpiece for the Liberals, the Chamber of Commerce and the world’s largest global resource corporations … out looking for even more concessions. And at the cost of those who already have so much less than they?

Ontario brought in the HST to protect its still huge manufacturing base, not heavy resources, which they know will only sell well when the U.S. and world economy is in full swing again.  In addition, Ontario simply won’t be  able to supply Asia with many of the BC natutral resources they are hungry for … and the cost of moving those resources from Ontario,  instead of BC , to China or other parts of Asia, would far outweigh any HST benefit.

True, Australia and Russia are also competitors for resource sales … but do you really believe  China’s purchases to satiate its burgeoning economy’s hunger for stable, efficient and reliable high-quality resource supply hinges on their suppliers in BC getting an EXTRA  HST tax break?   LOL!

And the final red herring: those who will really be hit by the HST will be getting a rebate.

Officially, that’s true, but ONLY if you earn $20,000 a year or less as an individual or $25,000 as a family. The rebate is $230 a YEAR for each individual.   I’d bet not too many media types (or corporate executives)  are earning less than $20,000 a year.  Do they really believe at that salary level,  trying to pay for rent, food, transit, clothing, toiletries and maybe a movie ticket once a month … a tax rebate  of 63 cents a day will cover it all?

And what’s REALLY scary, and should be questioned quite hard, is that the government says more than a million British Columbians  (a quarter of our population)  will qualify for this poverty level relief!!!!!  That deserves not only a question …but a five-part series!

And yet, the pundits seem to feel anyone earning over $20,000 a YEAR should be willing to pay even MORE taxes through the the HST to help out the biggest resource industry corporations, that even pre-HST, measured profits in the hundreds of millions and whose executives already enjoy the good life of  million-dollar Whistler second-homes, multiple luxury family cars and for some, even yachts that rival Jimmie’s!. And a restaurant server should help subsidize them even more ?   It is absolutely ludicrous.
Media types should stop taking sides while they’re on the job … soaking up and promoting the BIG BUSINESS scam for yet another tax break on the backs of small business, working people.

Or register as lobbyists for the government.

Harv Oberfeld

7/02/2010

A Fine Start To Saving You Money With The HST. Another Campbell Lie

 It sure didn't take long for Campbells next lie to appear. That guy needs some serious help from a phsycologist. I honestly don't believe he knows that he is lying.
 
This list was forwarded to me and deserved posting here.
It is a fine example of how our prices will go down Just like the government adjusting the price of booze so you don't get a reduction.
The pricing is from Kitsalano and the person asks that maybe we should all check things out in our areas. 
What appears to me to be happening is that the prices are going up higher than they are supposed to so that when the reduction comes (if it ever does) it will only fall to the regular price.Just like when you see department store savings. Just before the sale the price rises to a point where a 10% reduction only reduces the item to the same level (or higher) as the original price. Some saving.
Have a look at the very first price.The Sun (paid lackies for Campbell by way of advertising) who made such a big deal of prices falling, 19%.Gary E
 
Vancouver Sun

Weekday Vancouver Sun $1.00 plust GST on Wednesday Morning - June 30

Weekday Vancouver Sun $1.25 inclusive of HST on Thursday Morning July 1 or a 19% increase

Now WHO SAID over and over again  THAT HST WOULD MAKE THINGS CHEAPER


Movies at the Hollywood

Last Wednesday Jun 30 - $7.00 for a second run double bill movie

Thursday July 1 $8.00 for a second run double bill movie or a 14.5% increase


Vancouver Park Board Concession Stand

Veggie burger - $4.75 June 30

Veggie burger - $5.25  July 1 or a 10% increase instead of 7% 
 
Comments are welcome. Recall in the fall