Colonies and the CWB

[silverback]

Just wondering if anyone knows whether or not the hutterites would actually vote in the CWB elections?

Not sure how politically motivated they are.

[cottonpicken]

And do they really not pay tax?

[JohnKenneth]

Hutterites started paying taxes decades ago, although originally when they arrived were exempt like other church groups for example monasteries. seeing the problems and disparities that would soon cause, and out of respect for the health, education and infrastructure they enjoy, they voluntarily started paying taxes.

it was an eye opening experience as a scrutineer in a provincial government election a few years back to see the local colony come in en masse to vote. in my community, they somehow suddenly came to represent a fairly substantial portion of the local population. pretty sure they all vote alike, as in how the boss tells them to, but everyone in the colony over 18 gets a vote like everyone else in the country. interesting to see them all come out to express this right.

wish i could provide more insight but obviously the reasoning above doesn't extend to permit books. however i would guess that colonies that have branched off would still keep in close enough contact with their relatives to all come up with a similar policy on things like cwb elections. in other words if i were a candidate, i'd consider it time well spent to convince a farm boss or two to vote for me becuase the spillover could/should be worth it and then some.

[JohnKenneth]

also note - they do vote. so count their opinions in these results.

[Vader]

lots of hutterite colonies in Larry Hill's District. They all are very strong supporters of the CWB.

[silverback]

Surely there wouldn't be a way to influence them to support the status quo.

They would probably be above that as would the board.

[JohnKenneth]

they make decisions off their own set of rules. most hutterite decision-makers are extremely wise, but that doesn't always translate into political savvy. most just go with the grain, making them an easy and lucrative lobbying target.

my impression today is they are largely pro-board. but more importantly, they are are shrewd businessmen. in other words, the key guys may have been quickly and easily swayed in the debate recently, previously having not cared, but in the future would be ripe recipients to the freedom/profit/flexibility argument that of course trumps ideology in the real world every time.

remember, they live communally so on the surface will immediately get the equality-to-all argument. but they don't live communally with their non-hutterite neighbours, and they're in the market for land just like everyone else making it more important for their own operations to have the ability to gain a leg up through whatever means, be it scale of operation/purchasing power, etc.

[Pulseman]

One note: yes, Hutterits pay taxes, but not as a Ltd. or such, but the profits laid over on all members that are taxable.
So, after all the expenses on the farm and new equipment (interest and amortisation etc.), the $100,000 net profit is divided by the 20, 30, 40 or so taxable soles = below the taxable trashhold.