Dear Editor:
From time to time, there are calls from senior citizens and others for lower property taxes or other types of assistance.
I am 81 years old and, like many other pensioners, could certainly use a few extra dollars.
However, like many others, I know that if I get more, somebody else gets less; it's as simple as that. Where would the extra money come from?
I don't think that local nurses are overpaid for the excellent work they do. Few of us would care to see less policing.
Our elected officials draw salaries somewhat lower than is paid for equivalent positions in other municipalities and work pretty hard for it, I think. Schools need maintenance and, in many cases, earthquake protection. The list goes on.
And turning to the provincial level, I see that Mr. (Bill) Vander Zalm is complaining that the HST may cost him and his high-salaried, big-spending friends a few more dollars a year while the rest of us may possibly come out a bit better than before.
Without tax revenue, just where does he think that the funds will come from for the multitude of services that benefit us all?
And lastly, it is my opinion that it is unconscionable for any government to make up the difference by leaving debts to be paid by the children and grandchildren of the beneficiaries.
A. McCallum, Burnaby
