Editorial
Dealing with taxes, federal election promises, and Donald Trump is just too much for one to endure these days.
Every time people step outside their door they have to pay taxes for goods and services, so why are they forced to sit down every year worrying about how much more they owe the government? Those lucky enough to get a refund will be able to scrape by with the rent or a new set of all-season tires. (Some people can’t afford new tires so they run their winter’s all year long.)
Like death and taxes, one thing is certain: Revenue Canada Agency (CRA) must make their website more user friendly. Just ask Carl. Now, here is a guy who is fairly computer literate but hasn’t logged in to his CRA account for five years (very, very bad). But he was patient, answering every question and filling out every empty slot with information, including five security questions, such as what was the name of his first dog?
Carl was feeling good (hey, this is going to be over soon) because he got all the way to the end when he was asked to retype his new password. He carefully retyped it, but he received an “error” message. So he retyped it again, double checking his password book and making sure the “caps lock” wasn’t on. Another error message. “Your password is incorrect.” No, it’s not! he hissed at the monitor. “Yes, it is,” the CRA webpage was adamant. (I’ll give you incorrect, Carl mused.) A half hour wasted. So, the only other option was to call CRA, which is a lesson in futility; a last resort if you want to listen to bad music and “please stay on the line” for three hours.
Next up — the federal election, the only time you wield any power as a common citizen. The riding of Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies has six candidates vying for your vote on April 28, so listen to what they have to say on the issues that matter to you. Some candidates will criticize other parties, some will expound on the promises made by their leader, and others will tell it like it is with ideas on how to make life better.
And finally, most begrudgingly, Donald Trump; the man who never ceases to amaze us with his ingenuity to ruffle the enitre world in a matter of weeks. Even the stock market had taken a hit with his recent trade war antics. The guy’s got no decorum, no diplomacy, and no respect. Rodney Dangerfield said he never got any, but at least he was funny.
Lyonel Doherty, editor
