WHAT??

* Should government continue to protect core services such as health and education, ?
* Should government continue to reduce taxes?
* How should government control deficits during difficult economic times?

It's pretty damn obvious why they are asking us! They haven't done any of the above. To ask us to take part in making these decisions is ludicrous.

I don't think I could stand any more of the Liberal's tax reductions. Like the Carbon Tax and the HST. Many more reductions like these and I'll be broke. Total BS. Hanson uses the mushroom theory - keep em in the dark and fedd em BS.

I'm not sure about this. Has the government been protecting core services such as education and healthcare? Has the government reduced taxes? Boy, I'm sure glad they're saving paper not sending leaflets to everyone looking for 'input'. I guess that'll leave more paper for them to send leaflets telling us how great they've done and how wonderful the Olympics will be.

I think the government should raise taxes for high income earners and redistribute the wealth a little. It worked in the U.S. in the 50s. Of course this would fly in the face of Liberal supporters but I am one and I sign on for it. Then the whining will stop!Just kidding, the whining will never stop!

If we need to increase revenues, I philosophically have no objection with high income earners and large corporations paying more taxes. They can afford it. Poor people (and increasingly the middle class) cannot.

That's the problem with BC politics IMHO. It's all about extremes. We've got the Libs on one side, the NDP on the other and nobody in the middle to balance it out.

The problem with taxing 'the rich' and corporations is that they will just pick up and move elsewhere, like many did in the 90's.

Asking for our input is a very noble gesture. I appreciate the opportunity to offer my thoughts, opinions and suggestions. But, it does concern me that all of the high priced help we already pay for can't figure out what to do. I am not encouraged by that at all.

How about live within your means. Get out of debt. And quit spending money we don't have.

"The problem with taxing 'the rich' and corporations is that they will just pick up and move elsewhere, like many did in the 90's"

Indeed some may move (and some jobs may go with them), however, all will not. There are rich people and big corporations residing in every country in the world, many with tax rates MUCH steeper than Canada. It still comes down to dollars and cents. If it's cheaper to pay a little more than than setting up shop elsewhere, they will pay the tax. Besides, corporations have to allocate their income based on where they operate, so corporations conducting business in BC would still get taxed here to some degree. The only way they could completely avoid it is to not do business in BC, which would be an interesting strategy for them to take, LOL. Forego sales and profits just to have some incremental tax savings? Not very likely. Companies the size of which we are talking about are so entrenched in our jurisdiction (some of them would even rely on our jurisdiction in the case of resource based companies), that they almost have to continue operating in BC just to maintain their overall market presence and competitive advantage. Banks, airlines, large grocery chains, railways, big logging companies, etc., are here to stay regardless of the tax rates.

The other thing to consider when having this discussion is that BC is already very competitive when it comes to Provincial tax rates. In fact, we could likely raise them and STILL be competitive when compared to other jurisdictions in Canada.

All one has to do is take a look at how much less income tax they are paying in BC today, as compared to even 5 or 6 years ago, to see how much taxes have dropped. Sure I can run out and buy a nice plasma TV with the difference, but it does come back to bite you in the butt if you end up in the hospital being looked after by an overworked nurse.

We can't have our cake and eat it to. Personally, I think we are going to be facing some REALLY tough times in the years to come unless we get a handle on figuring our how much money we need to run the Province and being realistic when it comes to figuring out how we are going to get it. The fact that there will be a mass exodus of people leaving the work force (baby boomers), along with their higher wages and higher taxes, will only make it worse.

I'm fairly young and I fully expect to see my taxes go up in the years to come, just so we can keep paying for the things we have come to expect in Canada. Either that, or I can see our standard of living eroding significantly. It sucks, but I'm not sure I see any other option when it comes down to the math of it, especially when there is such pressure out there to reduce the amount of taxes that corporations are contributing to the overall pie.

You must try what I did. I emailed them and explained what frustrated me the most. They emailed me back:
Dear Liberal supporter: ..... please send money....

Now I get personal updates every week and am now refferred to as a Liberal 'member'

Now I see how the polls work.

"Indeed some may move (and some jobs may go with them), however, all will not. There are rich people and big corporations residing in every country in the world, many with tax rates MUCH steeper than Canada. It still comes down to dollars and cents. If it's cheaper to pay a little more than than setting up shop elsewhere, they will pay the tax."

Again, the province has to be careful if it takes steps in this direction. The tax structure has to be competitive with other provinces, especially Alberta.

If people and businesses move because the taxes are unfriendly (and don't fool yourself into thinking they won't), the people that remain (i.e. you and me) have to pick up the slack.

"How about live within your means. Get out of debt. And quit spending money we don't have. "

I couldn't agree more. However, the government (no matter who is in power) is in a tough spot. If they actually did this, it would be extremely unpopular. People seem to want everything in terms of services and pay next to nothing for it.

I agree that we are in for some very tough times ahead.

Good points by all.
We see the begining of that now,with their "consultations" which is also designed to give the impression they actually give a damn what we think!
What we need to watch for is a "smoke and mirrors" budget next time to try and appease the anger being directed at the Campbell government.
We should have learned by now not to trust them, and what they say they will do may not be the case if they are true to form!
It is pretty tough to predict anything until we see how badly we are hit after the Olympics!
I have a feeling we are going to amazed and very angry at just how bad the debt we are left with is going to be!
The cracks in the Olympic rhetoric are already starting to appear bigtime!
I also think they will keep things covered up for as long as possible.