ECONOMIC SOLUTIONS ARE EASY TO FIND

To the Editor,

Re: HST opponents fail to offer solutions, Letters, June 2.

I shall repeat that we are in this situation because of fiscal
mismanagement at the hands of the B.C. Liberals. They went on a
spending spree on themselves - large wage increases for themselves, an
oversize bureaucracy, the Olympics, etc.

What we need is a new forward-thinking party.

Gordon Campbell has sold our resources to foreign corporations. Is
anybody paying attention? Our public resources were never for sale.

But there are solutions to these economic woes.

Not enough cash for the school system? Eliminate school boards. Why
are exorbitant salaries paid to another management body that offers
little added value to the system?

Health-care deficits? Legalize and tax marijuana. What are we waiting
for? The facts in medical studies prove that this is a natural, pain
relieving substance that will put our health-care system back on even
terms financially if not more so.

Medical cannabis will save patients from toxic, addictive substances
like prescription drugs that don't work properly and have deadly side
effects. A failed drug war that keeps marijuana illegal is the height
of stupidity. Prohibition keeps this racket deadly and is an enormous
waste of taxpayer dollars, as the problem never goes away.

Need money for infrastructure? Start charging public places of worship
property taxes. Why should 50 per cent of our population who don't
belong to an organized religion bankroll tax breaks so believers have
a place to worship?

We need to step into the 21st century and realize that these dated
systems are only working for the few, instead of all of us.

If these measures were taken, hopefully the government wouldn't have
to tax us to death.

Nikky Davies

Nanaimo