Its safe to say that I am no politician. I would also venture to say I am not a wealthy man but by no stetch of the imagination would I, or could I, plead poverty. Do I work hard? I do what I must to ensure my family is happy and content, comfortably housed, well fed and smiling. Are there things I wish I had? More time at home, more disposable income, a boat and a new camera and lens....of course theres a wish list. Do I wish I didnt have to pay tax? Yes. Do I understand why taxation is necessary? Yes. Do I begrudge paying taxes, NO. Heres whats bothering me the most about our current situation, as an independent Island Nation. The constant barage of demands and petitions for free services. Sign this if you think the school dentist should be free. Sign this if you think all school pools should be heated and used throughout the winter. Sign this if you believe that chilcare for the under fives should be free. Sign this to keep this school open. The word FREE is banded around constantly. A free school dentist, for example, still gets paid, we dont suddenly have an influx of volunteer dentists working because they love the job and want to help. They are paid for by taxes. The same with free child care and so forth....ITS NOT FREE! There is a cost and its paid for by the islands taxes, all of us (including politicians who also have to pay the same taxes as everyone else). So my point is how and why are the same people who are asking for (expecting) free services also complaining about taxation, the source of the money that will subsidise them? As for the issue of traffic, paid parking, buses and width/emissions tax....this is something that people power could have sorted out before it even became an issue for states debate! Lets all protest against measures to moderate the use of our roads. Lets not. Lets take a minute to consider our part, as individuals in creating the problem and remedying the problem. Firstly buses. The greatest catch 22. People wont use the buses because of reliability issues, the reason the dont run to time...heavy traffic. The more car users that get on the bus the fewer cars on the roads to delay them. Somethings got to give but a free bus service will work once people make the conscious decision to leave their cars and use it. Car pooling. Very little incentive for doing this at the moment except that for every car shared theres one less car infront of you. Im sure there are several folks who drive past a friend or colleagues house on the way to and from work (or could make a minor deviation in route. A possible incentive could be a large section of North Beach being free parking for shared vehicles. Easily policed and very doable. When I lived on Long Island, New York the main expressway had a forth lane that could only be used by car pools. The travelling time into the city was more than halved for people that took this measure. So given these options we could all take steps to help ease congestion on the roads. 30 people on a bus, thirty car shares...thats already sixty fewer cars infront of you tomorrow morning. All this without a politician telling you you have to. Thats a revolution, right there. Paid parking is common place the world over, if there are free buses and you choose not to use them then thats your decision to make....like I said, the more people who use the public transport available the more punctual the service will become. As for the argument that paid parking will be a nail in the coffin for our town and retail industry, well thats down to us and our attitude. If you already refer to St Peter Port as Our shitty little town, then chances are youre not too concerned about saving it, anyway. Most of the arguments about internet shopping are already valid, without paid parking. Internet shoppers can now use this as a convenient argument to back their decision to use the convenience of the internet, how convenient. I do not believe this poses a new threat to retail that doesnt already exist. Again, its about our individual attitude to our island economy, keeping money in the island and our choices that will make all the difference. Im yet to decide where I stand on the car emissions/width tax that has been proposed. I have made known previously my feelings about vehicles that are not suitable for the Islands infra structure and why people feel the need to own them....again self reflection and common sense should guide and individuals decision along with consideration for other road users etc....but it doesnt (generally). I do, however, think that rather than taxing wider vehicles (width to be determined) they could be re- categorised on the licence, thus needing a paid test to be passed in said wide vehicle, to be allowed to drive one. This would generate the money to pay for the scheme and would certainly deter the unnecessary purchase and usage of wider vehicles for school runs and the like without being too critical of one particular poulation of road users and their perceived ability behind the wheel. As for emissions, well again its on the global agenda and most nations are signed up to and committed to reducing the carbon footprint, so I cant think of anywhere that will eventually be exempt from this. Ultimately we have to rethink and re-define what is progress for our island and what is detrimental. Our own choices in daily life impact the lives of other people, the roads, the wildlife and the inheritence of the next generation. By refusing to make any changes or pay for any of the choices we make we are doing nothing but pointing the finger of blame and delaying any chance of progress. By threatening deputies that they shant be re-elected, thats fine, but whoever replaces them will still have the same budgets, the same issues and the same public to wrestle with. Heres a story that might help, I thought of this the other day, whilst reading a FB post about Iceland having free healthcare, schools, 4 day working week etc, etc...Of course it failed to mention the income tax rate which is between 37% and 46% of each individuals wage. Anyway, it goes like this. Mr Guernsey and Mr Iceland came out of the travel agents almost at the same time. They smiled at one another and went their seperate ways. Later that evening both men got home from work and set about flicking through the brochures with their wives. As luck would have it both couples happened upon the same destination for their holidays. What a view, it looked lovely. Well, as chance would have it, some months later, they saw one another at the airport and again smiled politely as Mr Guernsey struggled past the first class lounge with all his baggage, as Mr Iceland sipped a G&T. Turns out they were on the same flight but they didnt see one another until they disembarked. Mr Iceland and his wife looked so glamourous and well rested as they seemingly floated; fast tracked through the baggage collection point. A sharp pang of envy shot through Mr Guernsey as he tried his best to ignore the child that had kept him awake on the long haul and shake off the pins and needles from his confined leg room. On arrival at his accomodation, after a long bus ride, dropping off other holiday makers at their hotels first, Mr Guernsey breathed in deeply through his nose, puffed out his chest and opened his arms. Were here, he thought, the holiday starts now. The view from his balcony was just like the brochure. Superb. Then he and his wife had a quick nap until lunchtime to catch up on their sleep. On waking he looked out and noticed Mr and Mrs Iceland getting out of a taxi infront of the hotel next door. Mr Iceland looked up and waved, laughing with his wife as they unloaded the taxi of their designer-ware shopping bags. Mr Guernsey waved back, grinned and inhaled a long deep breath. It was lunchtime, so Mr and Mrs Guernsey had to go shopping to stock up for the week in their self catering apartment. They decided to walk into town, when they realised there were no cabs.....and back again with all their shopping. They felt the prices were a bit steep, but still, when in Rome...and all that. Later that evening the couples crossed paths again, outside an exclusive bar. Mr Guernsey and his wife looked fantastic in the warm evening light, even whilst they were stood in the queue. Mr and Mrs Iceland arrived after them, theyd eaten at their hotel, and they nodded and smiled politely as the passed the Guernsies, walked up to the doormen, handed them a pass and got let straight in. Mrs Guernsey looked at Mr Guernsey and rolled her eyes. Mr Guernsey gave a slight shrug of his shoulders and went about the business of waiting in line for another 30 minutes. The club itself was fantastic, bit pricey to get in, but the drinks were about the usual price. A good time was had by all, but as they all left it would seem that Mr and Mrs Iceland were slightly happier as they slipped into a taxi and disappeared. Mr and Mrs Guernsey were gutted that they couldnt get chips, cheese and gravy and queued for a cab. During the course of the week the couples saw each other several times and it became apparent that whilst Mr and Mrs Guernsey ran out of toilet roll, Mr and Mrs Iceland had momentarily run out of champagne. Whilst Mr and Mrs Guernsey took photos of a performing, flea ridden monkey in the hot, sweaty market, Mr and Mrs Iceland took an excursion in to the nearby forest and watched wild monkies tending to their infants in the treetops. Whilst Mr and Mrs Guernsey got caught in a seasonal downpour and returned from the shops soaked through, The Icelands had been to nearby waterfalls. You get the idea. As it transpired both couples were in similar jobs and earned a similar wage, by the time all the extra little bits, shopping, club entry, drinks, meals, transport, baggage, excursions had been added on to the price of their holiday, Mr and Mrs Guernsey had spent the same amount on their stay in a three star self catering apartment as Mr and Mrs Iceland had paid for their all inclusive trip in their four star hotel next door but Mr and Mrs Iceland had clearly enjoyed their trip more from the moment they got to the airport til the moment they got back. The things that annoyed Mr and Mrs Guernsey were perceived as free had of course been paid for in advance but the comfort for Mr and Mrs Iceland knowing that thered be no more hidden costs was tangible and made for their dream holiday. Really what Im saying is that a significant rise in income tax and a little more of a social conscience and shared responsibility for our islands well being and wed be made but that relys on a collective shift in attitude and perception. Atleast then we would not find ourselves constantly complaining, referring to admin costs as hidden taxes etc. Someone has to pay for OUR island to function, so it has to be and is going to be US.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:33:07 +0000
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