Re: The long and short of it

[Tom Walker]

I might just mention that I had quite a bit of correspondence with Canadian federal and provincial bureaucrats and ministers, including Paul Martin, regarding my payroll tax proposals (see for example,  http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/loop.htm). The standard line from the feds was that since they weren't doing it already, it couldn't possibly be worth doing. The provincial authorities, of course, said it was a great idea but was not in their jurisdiction. I wondered if they meant it was a great idea BECAUSE it was not their jurisdiction?   Maybe now that Martin is out of the Liberal cabinet and running for the leadership, he too would be more interested in the idea.     ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 9:01 AM Subject: RE: The long and short of it When Bob Reich was in the cabinet he was strangely silent on most things.  Funny how good ideas emerge only after one has the power to implement..... -----Original Message----- From: Tom Walker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 11:01 AM To: Karen Watters Cole; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: The long and short of it Reich joins Paul Krugman in this sensible proposal. The neat thing about a $15,000 base exemption is that it makes it cheaper for firms to hire new people rather than work existing employees longer hours. Making payroll taxes progressive has been the cornerstone of my shorter work time policy proposals since 1996. It's good to see the big boys catching up. Too bad Bob Reich didn't click on this one when he was in the cabinet.  ----- Original Message ----- From: Karen Watters Cole To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 16, 2002 7:05 AM Subject: FW: The long and short of it Good proposal in plain English.  Even though this comes from an economist who as politician just lost the Massachusetts gubernatorial primary, thus making him a loser, he makes the case for dramatic short-term intervention and then long term resolution of a conflicting program.  There are valuable lessons to be learned from failure and losers, some whom find success in the future.  Just ask Jimmy Carter.  Or the US military, after Vietnam.  We can only hope the same for Arafat and Sharon and their countrymen someday.  From my lips to God’s ears.  – Karen Watters Cole Quick Tax Relief for an Ailing Economy By ROBERT B. REICH, NYT, 10.15.02 @ http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/15/opinion/15REIC.html