an which © “the © ‘citizenry- "forced - . governments. to slash property taxes by: more eat 30 per cent, all in one fell. swoop -- - has sent shock “vote waves throughout North America, including: the | unagemont ‘atthe next. North. Shore. If Californians: can exercise direct control over taxes, many. North and West Van- ‘couverites are asking, why can’ n't we do the same? The ‘question opens. up. a ‘whole can of worms, ‘not. only about taxes but . about . ~ modern government | general. This... year, particular, it’s a very timely, . “the .. hefty tax increases that have hit so many North” ‘Shore question because of homeowners. For starters ‘there's ‘the: ade ® fact that the ‘Canadian concept — of democratic _ government, ‘Britain, differs in certain fundamentals from. the ' American concept. Thomas. Jefferson and his pals. tumbled to this 200 years ago. when = they rowed with: George Til over. just what we're talking about ... taxes... As a result, American federal. and .state.-con-: Stitutions tend to offer the U.S. taxpayer a more direct say than is the case here in. the way governments. spend his hard-earned dollars for their various pet schemes: The constitutional petition, _ which made Proposition’ 13 possible, . is one- 7 example. a “DONT INTERFERE” government, you should let it get on with the business of ‘governing and abstain from ‘interfering in the actual details of how it does.its job or uses your money. If we don't like its behavior or its spending habits, we retain, of course, our God-given democratic right to beef to our heart's content in letters, pam- phlets, speeches, public hearings and the media. But aside from that luxury we're stuck with our chosen masters . (including the school board) and whatever they're doing to us until the opportunity arrives to send the blighters packing at the next election. After which we frequently find we've made the same mistake all over again. ‘In gentler days _ this Canadian-British theory of “responsible government” probably had something to be: said for it. Basically, it assumes that the electorate is a species of club which . chooses, from time to time, a committee to run its affairs ‘ and in. a respectable derived from good : _ business. biggest | The Canadian-British view | is that once you've elected a businesslike manner with the dues. . eran) Ite also. assumes | committee are. selfless, “Responsible. - . was). GROWTH INDUSTRY election, regardléss of how _ - few’ people really. want or. — need: them. And regardless, at thath’ os trom creating. ‘another : naturally, of the cost. ne ae government’ department ‘to oe, a Things have 2 changed al lot m provide) te eee funds- see from: ‘club © 7 that - members . ‘voted on to the. -. government. doesn’t have'to concern = itself. with “cost. - .. factors. It: has no need to - - Worry, about making a profit | -. on its operations.. For ‘that: i matter, it has no need. even. to worry about. ‘making: a. ‘total loss. on them each year. | . dedicated souls who seek no | - personal mention in an service industry the bottom [i] ‘Hme’ is delightfully simple. - “It’s the bottom of the tax- - payer's pocketbook. In fact, Ff modern - government is the | ‘only business in the entire - . govern- - ment”, alas, ‘just .ain’t ‘like: that any. more (it it ever. : : history - ‘of “eco iomics that whatever. new:..services: it has: prospered : on the basis of — gai imental thinks may’ win a few. extra. ‘obtaining : 100 per cent of ee cts ‘of our? es verni Re, for its “present revenue’ ‘from J its ‘service industries at all three ; shareholders. ' ne fee levels. - ee moe Governm nt: produces” ‘Conseripted shareholders, i But. heaven. preserve us & ia the Dirty Thirties: — al What the ‘country needs now oa is no longer a good five-cent _ Cigar. What-we need today: Bene no competion in ine the worst. ‘way is a con- its own . type: of. business, "sumer "Protection tool with ; lt would ‘be far safer to 2 7 sink” our . pride and. import that :-fully: guaranteed do-it- _ yourself. protection tc tool from: Californial” BOTTOM I LINE “the” - government ‘i - su ~ Government today is s big. A Pe, . normally | business. ‘in into every conceivable financial pie -- development, “Jiquor-vending, culture, transportation, Sports ... you name it. Like other inammoth businesses. staffs to run its endless list of operations, which grow from year to year. Measured in terms of payroll, govern- ment is far and away the country’s _ leading growth industry. It’s a picture that might be expected to win. J rounds of applause from the shareholders of any similar- sized business colossus. Unfortunately, there’ S. one - little snag. The government service’ business -- federal, whether "provincial - at disciplines of the -market- place. Primarily because it _has no competitors and, any. " Consequently, it also has no marketing Plan. "your wr nolghbour Rollie (Al) Morrison Res. 985-9836 Bus. 731-7711 | 1305 W, BROADWAY |