GOVERNANCE AND POPULARITY

Any governing official of the State is bound to get sunk in a dilemma: to perform a task and earn the ire or favor of the people, or to not perform a task and earn the same either/or.

In a country steeped in grave economic problems, the officials are always drawn into drawing up new taxes or increasing the existing ones. They are faced with the task of keeping the government afloat and dismissing all criticisms of the style or substance of their governance, or of keeping the status quo and then never mind those who desire changes.

On the other hand, in the case of taxation, any move to increase or create new taxes, such as the toll tax, those that would affect vast numbers -- the riding public, the drivers and conductors, and the operators of vehicles -- the move is bound to result in the thinking that the government is anti-people. The move is considered unpopular and hence a reaction, whether tame or vehement, is considered proper.

It is the task of government to put up taxes. However, I think implementation of any form of tax should undergo public hearings first.
so that the people would be part of the process, instead of being mere recipients of onerous or burdensome extra expenses.

It is not proper nor appropriate for a governing group to impose such a tax especially when the people are just recovering from an inept ruler (just after two months) whose style smacked of insensitive orders and actions detrimental to the people's health - emotional, mental, physical; economic condition, and politically stable and humane perspectives.

Taxation will always draw flak from the people, especially from the lower brackets whose food and shelter are drawn from daily eking out a living. It is not Christian to draw more blood from them, nor is it humane at this point. I do think that additional taxation that will affect large numbers of people will only make the people think that this new administration is no different from the past.

The tax officials need to rethink their policies and find out in what other ways they can increase the coffers of the government without creating instability. In fact,they should just pore into the ITRs of all individual and company taxpayers first and find out who and which has been
remiss in paying the correct taxes.

Let those who profited from the past administration bear the brunt of the people's anger and anxieties over our dire economic straits first before we should carry on the burden of making this administration work according to the principles and commitment laid down in day one.

Let enlightened economic governance rule the country -- which means pro-people first -- instead of thrusting us into the pit of being milking cows again.