Many people get sidetracked by trivial topics, while missing monumental matters. Some say they “can’t see the forest for the trees” – which might be more like saying we “can’t see the beach for the sand” since we haven’t had a forest here for a few hundred years. That is, other than Forest Bay. However, both describe dealing only with details, not daunting dimensions. And…Either one might well describe a recent House of Assembly session.
Not Seeing the Forest for the Trees – for Centuries!
In fact, it seems people have had this sort of arboreal myopia at least since 16th century England. The phrase was first known to be published in a collection of proverbs by John Heywood in 1546. His name is also a mnemonic for the earlier usage of “from him who sees no ‘wood’ for trees, and yet is busie as the bees…” Around 1750, the “wood” was replaced by “forest” in some general use, but such citations did not outpace it until the 1950s.1
Heywood’s book of proverbs is a marvelous testament to the values that have shaped English culture to this day. Among dozens of them, he catalogued phrases that included “to rob Peter and ‘paie’ Paul” and “when the sunne shinth make hay” and “all is well that endes well” – just to name a few. 2,3
Four Questions about Custodians…
Back to that House discussion, which concerned school custodians, notably hired under “temporary” COVID-19 measures. Anyone who ever sought help from an elected representative would no doubt admire the effort to assist specific individuals recently relieved of their government duties. In keeping with parliamentary rules, the following questions were formally asked on their behalf in the Honourable House:
1. “Whether a thorough assessment was done …” prior to the custodians’ termination?
2. “Whether Principals were consulted…” prior to the decision being made?
3. “Whether it is possible for the ministry to consider reinstating [them]…given that Government’s revenues are performing above projections…”?
4. And…“Whether preference would be given…if the decision is made to employ custodians again?”4
Who wouldn’t feel well represented by such questioning?
…while 14,000 Sweep up the Mess!
Indeed, the answers were equally measured, but it was all about not seeing the forest of other constituents beyond particular custodians. Meanwhile 14,000 people are forced every day to sweep up the mess from “robbing Peter” to pay for over 1,300 government salaries and expenses amassing billions of tax dollars, and most recently “making hay” with GST. Perhaps the questions should have been:
1. “If GST were repealed, how many hundreds of custodians and others in the workforce could benefit from the immediate 13% raise it would give them?”
2. “Government jobs burden our economy: so if GST were repealed, how many more businesses could afford to employ these custodians – without taking tax dollars to pay them?”
3. “If GST were repealed, how many more families and friends could help out the custodians while they look for new jobs?”
4. “As Government issues work permits for laundry room and maintenance staff and such, how many have been issued for jobs these custodians should be ‘considered’ to perform?”
And, extra credit: “Instead of ‘robbing Peter’ with GST and hundreds of hidden taxes, if Anguilla had Balanced Budget laws eliminating debt and requiring reserves before hiring a single replacement, or adding new departments and ministries, hundreds of thousands for travel, millions for consultants, hosting and entertainment, new cars, equipment and space rentals, statutory bodies and tens of millions in subventions – how fast would we be financially independent?”
The “Government’s Revenues” or “Making Hay”?
And, while the custodians no doubt could have surely helped the rest of us sweep up what’s left of our economy, the discussion centered on “Government’s revenues” being “above projections”! Really?
We must all remember that when we “rob Peter” so the government can “make hay” – we are emptying the “People’s purse” – the source of “Government revenues” – that is, our own pockets! They “made hay” by taking over $60 Million, when only $11 Million more had been expected to be taken last year.5 So. Whenever “Government’s revenues” are above projections, the “People’s purse” is swept clean!
Or…Sweeping the Last Penny from the “People’s Purse”?
That is, those “government revenues” are taken from the People. Too many are suffering from day-to-day impact of GST, forcing them to put food back or make their way to Sint Maarten to feed themselves and their families – while starving local businesses. And, far too many have been taxed into default on loans for houses or cars, or never attempted to build or buy them in the first place – while others have been unable to afford college for themselves or their children, sacrificing billions in taxes forced under penalty and squandered over the last 20 years. Not to mention what was lost in the banking debacle, as well as tapped for government as fuel surcharges while trying to keep the lights on along the way.
“Expenditure Ceilings”? Approval of the United Kingdom?
The minister cited “unfunded projects” for which they want more of the People’s money – but stated that “Anguilla is still reliant on the approval of the United Kingdom for expenditure ceilings.” Please.
The British deserve plenty of blame (and shame) for forcing billions in taxes but not a cent of fiscal discipline while leaving a forest of People stripped of generational wealth. But. Our leaders are also to blame for spending rings around us all, with threats unless we paid them more, and more, and more!
After opening the borders and making all that hay, repeal GST – and make a “project” of efficiency, with budgets and staffing at levels where the last government found them. With a freeze, not a layoff, we would be financially independent, free of needing “expenditure ceiling” approvals from anyone.
We could establish our own “expenditure ceiling” – debt free, with reserves in reserve, taxes repealed and many others cut down by referendum. The People would prosper, and there would be plenty of jobs for those custodians, perhaps sweeping a bit of sand from the beach, not their pay from the People’s purse – and all would be well that “endes” well!
Repeal GST. Now.
This article reflects cultural and economic issues raised on July 5, 2021, at the House Select Committee on GST Public Hearing.1https://grammarist.com/usage/cannot-see-the-forest-for-the-trees/; 2https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Heywood;3https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/John_Heywood; 4“Opposition Member in the House of Assembly Pose Questions,” The Anguillian (Vol 25, No. 12; 24 Feb 2023); 52023 Government of Anguilla Budget, pp. 2-3.
