Stephen Harper Shows Corporate Tax Cuts at Work

On March 19, 2008, Stephen Harper posed for a photo-op at London's Electro-Motive plant to showcase a $5-million federal tax break given to Caterpillar, the American buyers of the Canadian company.

When Caterpillar, famous for union busting in the United States, amid record profits, wanted the employees to take a 50% pay cut and surrender their benefits, amazingly no new Harper photo-op.

However, in an interview from inside the bubble, one of Harper's many royal messengers, trumpeted the royal decree:  “A low tax environment is the best way to ensure job creators come to Canada and stay in Canada, as proven by the nearly 600,000 jobs created in Canada since July 2009.”

Fortunately, when you live inside that bubble you are protected from an army of facts.  Safe within its walls, you can blanket yourself in terms like "job creators" and "tax relief".

And if the army of facts come knocking, reminding you that the Washington Post has proven that the "job creators" did not create jobs, or that Canada lost almost 300,000 good full time positions, replaced with part-time - BOING!  They just bounce right off.

When it turned out that our "tax relief" was only for the wealthy and that the average Canadian worker is paying more in taxes - BOING!  Look out!

The wealthiest Canadians are now earning 189 times more than the average Canadian - BOING!

The $5 million gift to Caterpillar actually cost us 460 more good jobs - BOING!

Payroll taxes also went up for small business - BOING!

Cost of living has risen by 9% since Harper took office while wages have become stagnant - BOING!

The number of low income families has increased in Canada since 2008 - BOING!

Since 2006, fresh vegetables are up 18%, bread up 37% and dental care up 14%, just as examples - BOING!

Since 2006, the debt Canadian families carry relative to their disposable income has risen by 20% and Canadian households now hold the highest debt amoung the top 20 advanced countries in the OECD - BOING!

Since 2005, gas prices have risen more than 20% - BOING!

Since Harper took power personal bankruptcies have risen by 33% - BOING!

The cost of running the government has risen by 21% in the past five years - BOING!

I could go on but I'm getting tired of bouncing off that impenetrable bubble.

Caterpillar should have to give that $5 million break they got from us as "job creators" back, now that they are simply "job destroyers".

BOING! BOING! BOING!

What if This Happened to You?

What if you went into work today and were told that you would have to take a 50% wage cut?  Could you pay your mortgage?  Your rent?  Your bills?  Feed your family?

Think about that.  Your pay cut in half.

Well that's what's happening in London, Ontario.  After purchasing Electro-Motive Diesel, Caterpillar Inc. is playing tough, using the same tactics they used in Illinois, when that state proposed an increase in the corporate tax rate.  Staunch Republicans, Caterpillar threatened to move to a state less union friendly.

They even offered to help the governor, a Democrat, balance their books on the backs of workers.

“The state unfortunately continues to put off the tough decisions” about potential reductions in government spending and pension costs, Dugan said. He said Caterpillar was offering to advise the governor on cost-cutting based on the company’s own experience chopping pay and laying off workers during the 2008-09 recession."

At the same time, they quadrupled their CEO's compensation.  In the third quarter of 2011, Caterpillar posted profits of close to $15,000,000 per day, a 44% increase over the previous year, so they certianly have no excuse for their attack on Canadian workers.

One London Ontario employee commented that he missed Glen Pearson.  Pearson was the object of a smear campaign by the Conservatives, for which it would appear, the new MP, Susan Truppe, paid a mere 18,362.50, to Campaign Research, the Conservative run company that handled Rob Ford's campaign and admit to being behind the bogus phone calls in Irwin Cotler's riding.

Who said you can't buy an election?

And what is Susan Truppe doing to help the London workers?  Absolutely nothing.  And what is the photo-op king, seen above with Cat workers doing?  Absolutely nothing.  Like his hero, the only man to out photo-op him, he is standing with big business.

Occupy London is planning a rally, calling on International workers to join the fight.  Caterpillar is already in trouble with their shareholders, because of their actions in Gaza.  And maybe Greenpeace could lend support, since Cat has also faced heavy fines for their continued attacks on the environment.

So join the London workers on January 21 if you can, and if you are unable to attend, at least send them a message of encouragement.

Stephen Harper not only holds a majority, but also controls the Senate, the Supreme Court and the Governor General.  All we have left is each other.