Editor:
Re: Being one of B.C.'s top 1% not as far off as you might think, Community Comment, July 30
Brad Sherwin states that "no one likes paying taxes" when he discusses income distribution and the "fair share" of taxes paid by certain segments of the population.
I, for one, do not object to paying taxes, so Sherwin is not correct in his general proposition. His evident attitude follows the common mantra, pitched to us by political parties chasing our votes, about taxes being universally bad.
It is wrong for such parties, as well as governments, to foster such a misguided notion. Governments at all levels and of all political stripes absolutely require sufficient general revenue to provide services for the population at large.
After all, where does the government obtain the funds to purchase very expensive fighter aircraft, build naval vessels, protect our environment, educate our children, police our neighbourhoods, maintain urban and rural infrastructures, and provide health care in the most equitable and cost-effective way?
Taxation is a means to provide government (and municipalities) with general revenue that provides essential public services.
I believe the main reason for people's dislike of taxes is the waste of a great deal of tax revenue by governments (and municipalities), not to mention the use of such revenues to buy our votes at election time.
A return to some sort of fiscal responsibility might change attitudes to the need to pay our "fair share."
Stephen Calvert
