Dear Editor:
Re: ‘Balanced’ books come with a cost, Letters to the Editor, June 27, Burnaby NOW.
It really annoys me when people like Larry Ryan give their opinion and states that it is wrong for the B.C. Liberals to hold teachers and the environment to ransom with the “no new money” and balanced budget tactics.
Where do people think the money is going to come from??? I earn a set amount of money each year, and I have to budget accordingly. If I suddenly decided I wanted to (for example) have a cleaning service once a week in my home, I am either going to have to sacrifice something or go out and get a second job to be able to afford the cleaning service.
I have no objection to the teachers or the environment or whatever expensive pet project demands more money – getting that money from the government – but why do I, the taxpayer, have to pay more taxes or ask the province to take on more debt that I will ultimately end up paying, because everyone wants a government handout?
If the budget for teachers is fixed, then discussions need to be made on what can be sacrificed. However, in this province, it seems to be that everyone wants a larger and larger handout from the government. No one wants to give up whatever handout they are currently getting, and at the same time, block all new income sources, such as development of our natural resources.
I agree with the balanced budget approach because on a microscale, I have to live my life by it, and I wish government at all levels would as well.
I don’t have the ability to issue bonds to take on more debt, and banks will only lend me a fixed amount before showing me the door.
The best I can do is sacrifice something in my budget or find another job to add to my income.
It’s time the people of B.C. (and the western world) also learn that for increased payouts to incur in one area, then either something has to go in another area,or a new source of income, no matter how disagreeable, has to be allowed to happen – just like it does with their own personal budget.
Sally Gillies, Burnaby
