Re: HST a benefit to families, Letters, July 13, 2011.

The letter writer makes a feeble attempt at apologizing for the way the HST was introduced and in the end concluded that the end justified the means.

She also refers to a 10 per cent HST. The HST is 12 per cent and a political B次元官网网址減romiseB次元官网网址� was made to lower it to 10 per cent in July 2014.

Considering politicians track record for keeping political promises, I donB次元官网网址檛 believe for a nanosecond that if the HST survives itB次元官网网址檒l ever be 10 per cent.

Most of us have family members who have put their lives on the line so as the rest of us can live in a free and democratic country. Democracy is more than just marking an X on a ballot once every four years.

ItB次元官网网址檚 about politicians respecting the people they were elected to serve. When government decides to make radical changes to our tax system democracy demands that politicians take the time to explain to the people what it is they want to do and how British Columbians will benefit from these changes.

ItB次元官网网址檚 about being flexible and being prepared to make compromises in order to get as many people on side as possible.  ItB次元官网网址檚 also about being prepared to rethink such radical changes to the tax system if the people are clearly opposed to what government is proposing.

When politicians circumvent the democratic process the end must not be allowed to justify the means.

By voting B次元官网网址測esB次元官网网址� to extinguish the HST weB次元官网网址檒l be sending a message to present and future politicians of the absolute necessity of preserving and protecting democracy.

We must never allow politicians to lose sight of the fact that they are our servants not our masters.

Joe Boulter

Langford