8 - Sunday, October 27, 1996 — North Shore News Vv Mf gov't ineffici Dear Editor: Prime Minister Chretien will not reduce taxes once the deficit is erased; he intends to increase social program funding. In the next federal election, the majority of Canadians miay again vore Liberal, thus collectively deciding to spend my money which T earn by my individual etfort., 1 protest the seizure of half my money (thus half my efforts) without my cansent, to pay for inefficiently run “public services,” many of which I will never use. Any governinent will spend all the money it takes from us — probably more — and find something to spend any excess on. This is well illustrated by the temporary income tax introduced to fund the First World War. Since that time income tax has inflated from 4% to the current 20%! Add sales taxes (7% GST and 7% PST) and the taxes hidden in prices of goods and services via taxes manufacturers, whole- salers, and retailers must pay on supplies, fuel, raw materials, tools, etc., and over half our income is eaten up by the provincial and federal government. Does the government provide one half (in value) West Vancouver council applauded Dear Editor: of the services cach of us wants and needs? Why should over half our economy be dominated by a government monopoly rather than being open to free enterprise? ; Most services provided by the government (save, perhaps, a very few) could be available on a user-pay basis from private industries in an open, competitive marketplace. The most common protest against this assertion, is “only the rich could afford to pay for services like education should it cease to be publicly funded.” We are subject to the illusion that we are not currently paying for these services. All of us, rich or not, now pay for every public service whether we use it or not. If we can afford to pay for a service through taxation, we could certain- ly afford to pay fora much more efficiently cun, pri- vatized version of that service should our personal tax burdens be removed. What about social programs? Who is going to pay for the poor and suffering? Weil, a lot-less of us would be poor and suffering if the tax turden was eliminated and the economic stranglehold of taxa- us that there are unselfish men tion was loosed. Those who try could make their own way; those who truly could not could rely on aid organizations supported by the voluntary contributions of all those truly concerned — perhaps all of those same people who would have voted for a socialist party like the NDP, or now the Liberals. A higher percentage of the charity money would actually get to the needy rather than falling into the black hole of pubtic programs. Those inclined to be charitable could afford to do se should they cease to be taxed into the poorhouse themselves, Taxes could be rolled back incrementally by, say, 2% per year, The government would have to learn to get by on less money, while Canadians would have more moncy to purchase goverument-cut services privately, Instead of being forced to pay for inefficiently run, monopolized services whether we need them or nor, Canadians could freely purchase desired services delivered with quality, efficiency, and choice. Jonah Vogelweg North Vancouver have chosen not to serve in the next administration. Thank you Rod Day, Andy Danyliu and Mark Sager for It is with pleasure I read your favorable assessment of the performance of the West Vancouver District Council over the last three years (North Shore News Oct. 23). It draws attention to the fact that those of us fortunate encugh to live in West Vancouver have enjoyed good municipal leadership by suc- cessive civic councils, compris- ing mainly the same individu- als, over most of the last decade. Given some of the antics of other municipal councils on the Lower Mainland, and the exasperatingly poor gover- nance provided by the federal and provincial governments, it should be comforting to all of and women willing and capa- ble of devoting themselves to providing efficient and effec- tive political leadership. And although it is true (as noted in your assessment) that Mayor Sager could have shown greater propensity to public scrutiny (an ignomin- tous tendency of federal and provincial governments), it is also true the council compe- tently performed without individual grandstanding and a minimum of fanfare. We will miss those who your excellent public service. You have helped set the stan- dard for future councils. William F. Sinclair West Vancouver | Undignified dishing of Dykeman Dear Editor: Heartiest congratula- tions on the number done on Murray Dykeman in your Oct. 20 issue. First, this university graduate and charter President of the B.C, Professional Pharmacists Society is described in the Report Card as being of “no great intellect,” which the average reader will assume means unintelli- gent. Second, Ernie Crist, who never had the courage to run against Murray, is permitted ..a lengthy final shot (Mild Murray image inaccurate) in his vicious six-year vendetta against him. You had me worried. I was afraid you might per- mit a three-term alderman and two-term mayor to retire from 14 years of - public service with some dignity, Not likely. Keep up the good work. 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