Lazy journalists, that is. The latest iteration is the one in which experienced reporters refer to Ontario's proposal to convert the provincial sales tax (PST) and federal goods and services tax (GST) to a combined harmonized sales tax (HST) and call it an 8% tax increase. It's becoming a flood, not unlike the misinformation that was spewed when the federal government introduced the GST and ended a host of previously hidden taxes. But this is worse in that the HST will replace a visible 5% and 8% tax with one 13% tax. Can these reporters and their editors add?
Accepting that the combined tax will apply to a few items which are currently exempt from Ontario's PST, if the reporters read any of the information provided by the treasury department they would know that other taxes adjustments are planned as offsets so that the HST is revenue neutral. Why are they not reminding readers/listeners that income taxes are coming down? Why are the not reporting on the significant cost savings to commerce from a single tax system, cost savings that will be passed down to consumers in a competitive market place?
When the opposition social democrats and neo-conservatives lie to voters about the tax changes, that's politics. When trusted Queen's Park reporters repeat the lies it's reprehensible to the maximum.
Contemporary media have enormous power to influence public opinion and the outcome of political events. With that power comes a responsibility to be truthful, to the best of their ability. Far too many political reporters and correspondents do not appear even to be trying to meet that standard. If these journalists have enough functioning brain cells to keep their hearts pumping, the only other explanation is laziness. They would rather cut-and-paste biased media releases and talking points than spend a few minutes comparing sources, asking questions and writing an objective analysis that would truthfully inform their audience.
