Where's the dialogue?

Re: Federal Election

I recently read Bruce Strachan's article proposing the startling idea of no taxation for corporations and the benefits that would follow. It is an idea proposed by a former U.S. Republican Secretary Treasurer under the Bush administration who advances it further with no income tax or payroll taxes on either businesses or individuals, with only a VAT on consumption for everyone.

Radical thinking, but surely one of the elements missing from our present federal debate. To steal another thought, are we being seduced by political pandering or can we deal with hard truths?

The HST is a federal idea although the issue for us has become only provincial. Why are we not engaged in the philosophical argument of why federal policy chooses to dictate that the taxpayer must subsidize large exporting corporations in order to have work?

Why are we not having the very difficult, but necessary dialogue about the probable inability of governments to sustain our entitlement aspects of social policies such as healthcare and pensions, etc.?

Why is there no dialogue about solving the disgraceful living conditions that many First Nations people endure?

Why is there no dialogue about our useless and expensive involvement in Libya and Afghanistan? Why are we seriously considering exorbitantly expensive fighter aircraft? Imperialism is dead and our taxes and focus need to be on education and social policy.

It is discouraging to listen to bright American minds argue and then read dismissive comments from our politicians about the populace being stupid and blind. There are countless opportunities for the public to be educated, engaged and respected, but we seem to get either useless criticism or pandering.

I expect more and so should all of us.

Jeannette Paterson

Prince George