OPTING OUT OF AN OPTION?

"The Federal Government's preferred tax reform package was effectively killed off by a coalition of forces at the Tax Summit yesterday." - The Sun (Melbourne) July 2nd.

The Big Question now is "what's next"? Paul Keating, a most presentable, smooth faced, Socialist ideologue, obviously is of the opinion that all he has to do is to press on with his Option C, and he'll "crash through" Whitlam style. We won't take up valuable space by quoting him at length; however, his approach is that everyone is having their say, and letting off some steam, but that, now, everyone has to consider others' points of view, in the overall best interests of the country, of course. What he really means is that everyone has let off some steam, and now must consider and accept his point of view - his Option C. And Keatings Option C is the option, which will wring the most taxation out of the Australian community with the least political danger. That's what all the Options are about - more and higher taxation, to service Australia's overseas debt, and reduce that national deficit.

The A.C.T.U., for example, wants Option A, with also a wealth tax and inheritance tax. Option A specifies a capital gains tax, and a tax on fringe benefits. Politically dicey, very, for the Government at this stage. The President of the Business Council of Australia, Mr. Robert White, a banker, doesn't like any of the options, although Big Business is prepared to live with a consumption tax. Conspicuous by their absence from the Farmers' March at Canberra yesterday (July 1st) were the Liberals. No sign of Mr. Peacock or Mr. John Howard. We recall that it was Mr. John Howard, when Treasurer in the Fraser Government, who strongly urged, and almost got (almost!)- the sales tax on books, magazines, and literature. This "tax grab" was thwarted by the Australian Democrats in the Senate, who were under tremendous pressure from large numbers of objectors in the community. The Australian Democrats may be required to stand pat, again.

Senator Don Chipp has stated that any legislation, which will disadvantage the lower income groups in the Australian community, is "not on". O.K. That's good. The Democrats are doing their self-appointed job if they block this type of vicious legislation. They should be urged on: given full support. But the tax on books, magazines, and literature will still be "on". Mr. Keating has not mentioned it, naturally (let sleeping dogs lie) - but his consumption tax will most definitely apply to the above.

Neither Mr. Howard, nor Mr. Peacock will raise the storm about a tax on books, etc., because they, themselves, legislated for it when in government. So, it's "where do we go from here?" We can't see the smooth faced Socialist ideologue, Mr. Paul Keating, getting away with it (his tax grab). What will his masters in Washington, and Wall Street, say? Let him worry about that.

FROM CANADIAN 'ON TARGET'

(June 24th) Book By Jewish Author Banned In Canada
"Jack Berstein, an American Jew, has written a book titled 'The Life of an American Jew in Racist, Marxist Israel.' Berstein, a New York Jew, emigrated from the U.S. to the Promised Land of Israel following the Six Day War in 1967. After 6½ years of living there, now married, and much wiser, he came back to America, leaving forever what he refers to as this 'Marxist, racist' land. In his book, he relates the shocking truth of how Israel has become, in his words, a land of terrorism and violence.

"Mr. Berstein, in his book, gives a short background of Zionism, admitting that he, himself, had been a victim of Zionist propaganda. He relates his own personal experiences and the conditions he found: racial persecution, violence and terrorism, 'using' visitors by way of 'screened' tours, etc. He also deals with 'religion in Israel', the 'God's Chosen' myth and 'Judeo Christian' hoax, the 'New York Moscow-Tel Aviv Triangle', the invasion of Lebanon and a warning to America.

"This morning (June 20th) we received a registered letter from the Owen Sound branch of the Department of National Revenue, advising that Customs has seized our shipment of the Berstein book, which they have classified as 'seditious under the Prohibitory Provisions of tariff item 99201-1'. "In short, some Big Brother bureaucrat, in best 1984 Orwellian style, has banned this book in Canada, and ruled, in effect, that Canadians may not read this account of conditions in Israel? Isn't it great in a free country to have all this 'protection' of the censor and bureaucratic edict! Makes one feel so secure - like in prison. But, after all, Canadians cannot be trusted with anything but the officially sanctioned version of history - something like the Soviet Union!

Canadians wouldn't have enough common sense to do a little reading and research and examination of all sides of an issue, and then come to their own conclusions. Why, our 'human rights' people could never allow this. The very thought smacks of 'fascism' and war criminals'. "Oh, yes, it's permissible to import mountains of pornography, or books on conditions in Lebanon, Afghanistan, South Africa, Nicaragua, Vietnam, the U.S.A., the U.S.S.R, any black, white, yellow or brown country. But not about that one 'chosen' state - unless, of course, it's eulogistic. Because of some obscure and tenuous myth of 'divine promise' for those who deny Christ, the world must not be permitted to see the hard facts and reality of conditions and policies in the Zionist State. Even if this suicidal, blindfold, policy based on censorship and coercion destroys our own heritage of freedom, and perhaps triggers global conflagration in the Middle East."

Yes, this book viz. "An American Jew in Racist Marxist, Israel" is now available in Australia. Price: $6.00 posted from all League bookshops.

LAURA SABIA LAYS IT ON TRUE LINE

SIGN OF THE TIMES

THE CONSUMPTION TAX & BIG BUSINESS