No Political Will To Make This Resolution

Speak up, fellow taxpayers

In our prized "social democracy," all levels of government continue to find ways to hit overtaxed Canadians with increasing direct and indirect taxes.

Taxation includes the obvious income, property and sales taxes, but also a variety of levies like the gas and sin taxes as well as fees for legal documents like birth certificates and death registration.

On the rare occasions when one level of government tries to decrease a tax rate, the other levels of government quickly add to the burden and offset any net benefit. Politicians have to be reminded there is only one taxpayer and that continuous tax increases are the treadmill to disaster.

When tax costs rise, businesses and individuals have to cut other costs. Normally, a business has to cut or relocate jobs and people cut back on spending, which results in less employment.

Both of these actions decrease tax revenue and governments too often replace these losses with more tax increases.

Federal and provincial auditors annually point out waste and mismanagement of tax revenue and the problems never seem to get resolved.

In 2008, each taxpayer, every one of us, should resolve to be more vigilant and vocal on public sector spending and taxation and throw off our coats of apathy.

Politicians need to be told that we want a daily, not just a New Year's, resolution on their parts to lessen the load of the multi-level tax burden imposed on Canadians.

Pat Palmer Markdale, Ont.