Dear Editor:
I'd like to congratulate Jordan Bateman of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation on his excellent opinion piece of June 20 (Simple math for B.C.'s teachers) explaining the many and varied flaws in the BCTF's tactic of undermining the economy.
I quite agree that the teachers' union must stop opposing economic growth, even when that growth comes from unsustainable practices that debilitate the environment and will ultimately benefit only the very wealthy. All economic growth is good and should never be criticized.
So what if it extinguishes a few species, destroys a tourism industry worth $13.5 billion annually or ruins a coastline? That's the price we pay for development. It's like those teachers care about something other than money!
And why would teachers get involved with Occupy Vancouver? Such hypocrisy! How dare they protest wealth inequality when they benefit from the system that creates that inequality? Fortunately, Mr. Bateman, you have seen through their pitiful façade and are not afraid to speak out. After all, since everyone benefits from our financial system, nobody, and I mean nobody, has the right to speak against it, am I right? Haven't teachers heard that what's good for business is good for everyone? That a rising tide lifts all boats? That the wealth at the top will trickle down to all of us? Well, something will trickle down, just you wait and see.
You have certainly opened my eyes about the BCTF wanting to return to year 2000 tax levels. I thought they just wanted education funding to return to levels from before that contract stripping happened, what with it being unconstitutional and
all. If you hadn't pointed it out, I would never have known that their real desire is to increase our individual provincial tax burden by almost three grand!
Of course, once the BCTF is busted and we all send our kids to private schools, the fees will be more than twice that. But I'm sure you'll agree with me that fees are OK because they're not taxes. Those fees, steep though they may be, will be paying for schools and books and teachers that care about our kids and do their best to help them succeed, unlike taxes, which just go to government.
I am certainly glad that you are here to reveal the true, hidden agenda of the teachers of B.C. Keep up the good work.
Mike Balser, New Westminster
