Letters
SALES TAXES ARE NOT PROGRESSIVE
You couldn't be more wrong when you write that “Sales and income tax revenues are also progressive” (“Sorry, but it's still a good idea,” Editorial Digest, Nov. 1). Sales taxes, like the GST, are not progressive. If I earn $100,000, I pay $6 GST on a $100 puchase. If I earn $30,000 I pay $6 GST on a $100 purchase. That's regressive.
We used to have a somewhat progressive personal income tax system until Mulroney started to dismantle it and also introduced the GST.
Toronto needs better revenue sources but sales taxes are not the best way to provide it. TED TURNER
THE EDITORS RESPOND: Mr. Turner is partly right. Sales taxes are not inherently progressive, though they are not regressive either – high and low income people paying the same rate is “proportional.” A regressive tax would see low-income people paying higher rates. There are some attempts in our system to make them progressive by exempting items, such as food, that are necessary and that consume a larger proportion of the income of low earners. In addition and most notably, the GST credit returns some or all of the GST paid by low or moderate income earners. What we meant, of course, is that sales taxes, as consumption taxes that will be paid in greater amounts by those consuming more (with progressive features such as credits and exemptions), are more fair than property taxes or user fees on public services, both of which are genuinely and distressingly regressive.
WHITE LIGHTS, ILLUMINATED
Many thanks for the nice review of Act II: The Blood and the Life Eternal (On Disc, Nov. 1). To clear something up however, you write: “The album's only question mark arises with a cover of Hole's ‘Miss World,' which, despite being drawn out with delayed guitars and airy vocals, distracts from the songs specifically written to fit the album's theme.”
I wanted to comment here. Keep in mind the chorus lyrics in this song are “I've made my bed I'll lie in it, I've made my bed I'll die in it.” The entire song is about the mess you make in life and dying within that mess, which relates to the theme of passing on in different forms. It's another way to explore it. You have to get past the Hole version and realize how perfect it really is. It's about the acceptance of dying in a mess of a life you create. So suiting.
Just wanted to clear that up artistically. Sometimes it takes more thought than the obvious blatant references to the afterlife, vampires, blood and death, but sometimes you have to dig deeper to find the meaning. Lyrically, that song embodies some similar themes to the conceptual foundation of this record, which is why I chose it.
The review is appreciated, and best to you all and continued success in your publication and website! DANIEL VICTOR, NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS
It has been brought to my attention that there has been a misprint in your article. “Always” was not sung by Hawksley Workman, but by Neverending White Lights' very own Daniel Victor. Correcting the article would be appreciated. CANDICE BAIRD, MODERATOR, NEVERENDING WHITE LIGHTS OFFICIAL MESSAGE BOARD
THE EDITORS RESPOND: We thank Ms Baird for bringing this mistake to our attention. Workman does perform vocals elsewhere on the album, but not on “Always.” EYE WEEKLY regrets the error.
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