Military missions recently obliterated news about that budget bill carrying comparable combustible capabilities for our friends and family in the US, whether they obliterated certain nuclear facilities, or not. They have preened, hoping to make that “Big Beautiful Bill” sound well, beautiful. You know, like the last administration here pursued “Consumer Protection” to hide their budget blemishes? So. Let’s look at how such blotches are blurred by the cosmetics of professed righteousness.
Cosmetic Coverage and Caring Claims
That “Big Beautiful Bill” was due at the US president’s desk by July 4th – undeterred by bunker busting. And the budget bust is projected to ignite into trillions of debt over the next decade. [1]
One glamourous claim was ending taxes on Social Security benefits, but instead, it will just raise deductions for those earning least and fade by 2028. Got loved ones planning to purchase a car or with jobs earning tips or overtime? Promised tax breaks on gratuities, overtime earnings, and auto loan interest helped elect its party supporters, but these revert to a dusting of face-saving powder by the next election![2] And. Parents get to keep child tax credits, while clean energy incentives helping stabilise the climate – end just three years into their children’s future.[1] Ta dah!
Hmm. Cornering future candidates to maintain appearances, like the last administration did right here?
Blemishes in that Big Beautiful Bill
As some representatives discovered after failing to read the bill, “It blocks any funding to enforce contempt of court orders” – alarming many amid authoritarians ignoring the Constitution.[2]. It also quadruples property tax deductions for wealthy homeowners, so renters subsidise them.[1,2] Just like the last administration’s political pimple that left property tax in renters’ rent, while exempting those able to own their homes?
With direct offsets for private school donations, the US bill would support “the flight from public education” while planning to eliminate the Department of Education! And enshrining tens of millions of tax-free inheritance, the richest Americans would also be subsidised by those more likely to leave debts than private jets to their heirs.[2]
Claiming compassion, the bill also limits child tax credits to citizens, impacting “nearly 2 million… mixed-status households from this vital government support.”[2] And, with 80-hour/month work and demeaning demands to document being “poor” twice a year, over 10 million may lose healthcare from that Big Beautiful Bill. [1,2] Wow.
The bill also requires that ~40 million people work to qualify for food assistance, including parents of children above certain ages.[1-3] Sound familiar? You know. As reckless spending has layered so many taxes into our cost of living that some needing multiple jobs are forced into leaving children alone?
So. Removing the rubric of righteousness can reveal a rash of blemishes in big, beautiful bills. Minority Leader Jeffries made it clear, describing it as a “reckless, regressive and reprehensible GOP tax scam” – not exactly a pageant winner for the people.[1]
And a Bruising Business Bill?
Remember the buzz around a boisterous billionaire’s black eye that stirred the US president to offer him some make-up?[4] His shiner might compare to broken GST promises marring one party’s image in our last election. In fact, 1st July 2025 marked three years of GST cultural scars, random audit intrusions, and debilitating penalties.
But. It seems persecution and poverty from GST weren’t enough. The last administration made bruising plans to give the British yet more control over our businesses.
While claiming to care for people with empty pantries suffering from inflated prices, they blamed those forced to pass along all those taxes funding their spending spree. That’s right. Business leaders were struggling to give people jobs and compete with a tax-free jurisdiction a short ferry away. And then, the last administration issued a policy with a gut punch of price controls ? after padding them with tens of millions of higher taxes, duties, levies and fees.[5]
How? Anguillians that once enjoyed a robust AUF economy generating $215,000,000 for public services have been forced to sacrifice again and again so the last government could increase salaries and expenses to $355,000,000.[6] A year. Plus all those projects! Meanwhile global inflation, higher duties, fees and levies compounded GST, creating a profound pricing pock, which they blamed on besieged businesses! No wonder just exempting food from GST could not offset the damage done since 2020.
“Want some make-up for that?”
So – whether by statute – or maligning with mandatory price lists on social media, the policy is poised to burst into a nasty boil if passed into law.
Formed without legislation, the policy has already led the British to create yet another department blended into our tax burden, as notably they all report to them. And, beyond demanding documents and computers as with GST, a law would enshrine new powers to enter, investigate, inspect and confiscate goods [5] – in addition to the departments already conducting environmental, food and health safety oversight!
What about “consumer complaints”? The policy proposes merely “attempting” to settle them.[5] The Chamber of Commerce is uniquely qualified to address consumer affairs – and is subsidised by our taxes. They should collaborate with members to establish business standards, provide training to foster competitive pricing, and help consumers understand how each enterprise faces unique tax and cost challenges, from merchants to medical professionals. (Yes, any establishment could be “investigated” – from grocers to general practitioners. And they could expand such powers with a trip to the House at any time!)
From Blemishes to Political Pustules…
So. Lulled into “removing price controls” from the bill – the policy making up this bill is still blistered with blemishes of bullying measures [5] ? while pitting businesses against one another and consumers.
No sooner would GST relief liberate many businesses from audit intrusions than this law would empower more British-directed bureaucrats to barge back in ? “forcibly if necessary”! [5] For what? To demand pricing records for shaming on social media, “inspect” for compliance with capricious standards, “investigate” as they “see fit” at any time while serving customers, guests, patrons or patients. You know, like a GST audit at a restaurant full of tourists on Thanksgiving? By trading audits for inspections, passing the last government’s policy into law promises political pustules for our promising new leaders.
Anguillians and Anguillian businesses are exhausted from GST. A rash of new British powers is beyond ugly, and there are beautiful alternatives. Kill that bill. Set our businesses free to compete and win the pageant of prosperity by pleasing their patrons.
Repeal GST – and pass a balanced budget bill. Now.
This article reflects issues raised on July 5, 2021, at the House Select Committee on GST Public Hearing. [1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0eqpz23l9jo; [2] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-tax-bill-big-beautiful-seven-ugly-provisions-2025-1235351717/; [3] https://apnews.com/article/trump-food-stamps-tax-cuts-senate-spending-101d16d8ca61956fc37f0cce7551fa24; [4] https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/trump-elon-musk-feud/card/what-did-trump-say-about-musk-s-black-eye; [5] Consumer Protection Policy (Draft 3) Ministry of Finance, Health and Economic Development (February 2023); [6] GoA Budgets 2000-2025.
