Help your civil servants serve you

There's no real question that the government is relying upon us to be complacent about the HST. That's why it was not introduced as an election issue. That's why it's being introduced right at the beginning of this term of office -- so we'll have forgotten about come May 2013 (the next scheduled provincial election in BC).

Don't be complacent. The lack of transparency, accountability, and democracy surrounding the recent announcement of the move to a harmonized sales tax as a fait accompli, not to mention the general arrogance necessary for this regime to even consider such a move, cannot be accepted without complaint.

There have been any number of calls for a tax revolt or recall of the recently elected politicians. If you are angry and want to pursue that, good for you. For anyone else who is angry or upset about the issue, but in a more low-key way, or who simply doesn't have the time to engage in that way, options still abound.


Write

Write to your MLA, and copy the Premier and the Finance Minister. Letters are great, but an e-mail counts for a lot too. You can find out who your MLA is and full contact information for all the Members of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia at http://www.leg.bc.ca/Mla/3-1-1.htm .


Petition

There are numerous petitions floating around in protest of the HST. Some call for recalls, some are simple statements of opposition. Some are being distributed in hard copy out in the world, and many have been started online. The one that is getting the most press has been started by the NDP, but you have a number of options if you'd like to add your name to a list of people who object to the disrespectful treatment exhibited by the current government. A few options are listed below:

http://www.bcndp.ca/hstpetition

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/BCANTIHST

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/stoptheHST/signatures.html


Online Communities (i.e., Facebook)

A few groups have started up on Facebook in protest to the HST. Joining one gives you a forum to share your thoughts, but it is also another way for your voice to be counted, just like a petition. When the government sees that thousands of people have joined these groups, the groups take on an air of legitimacy.

The largest anti-HST group on Facebook by far (so far) was started by Bill Tieleman of The Tyee. However, there are others. Simply search for BC HST.


Stand up and be counted

If you are unhappy about the idea of the HST, for whatever reason, make sure your elected representatives know. We do, ostensibly, live in a democracy. They are supposed to want to know how you feel so they can better represent and serve you.

That's right -- remember, you'll be contacting a civil servant -- people who wanted to be elected to office so they could serve...civilians? Is that whence comes "civil"? In any case, they are supposed to be serving you and representing you. If adopting the HST doesn't represent your wishes, let them know, and make them convince you that adopting the HST does, in fact, serve you best. If they can't, then to go ahead with it is simply arrogant and condescending.

I seem to keep harping on arrogance with respect to this regime. Hmm... I wonder why.