POLITRICKS

The Jamaican budget presentation is not over so most of us are still quietly hoping that in her speech next Tuesday (June 5, 2012) the Prime Minister will rescind all the tax increases that the Finance Minister talked about... but then if wishes were horses...

Undoubtedly taxation is necessary, where else would governments  get the money they need to run the country?  (Especially ours since we produce and export very little and more money is spent to bailout the entities in charge of the little we do produce instead of the profit being gained to spend elsewhere).  My problem is that the current government has failed to even pretend that they are indeed putting the people first.  They talk about the sacrifices that we all need to make yet they turn around and spend frivolously on non-essentials.  This government has much to do in order to gain an iota of my confidence and support; but because I love my country, I am still holding hope that divine intervention will allow us to evade the economic tsunami that seems to be boding.

Being a restaurant chef requires a different skill from that of the person cooking for a small family in the same way managing the economic welfare of a country will require different expertise from running a small family because of the sheer numbers involved.  Regardless of this difference however there are principles that are unchanging: never spend more than you have, never borrow more than you have the ability to repay, when in a financial jam stick to the needs until you can afford the wants, and the list goes on.  Of course I have no degree in Economics or Accounts and it is always easier to know what ought to be done when someone else has to do it; but I do believe it is a fact that politicians the world over face some difficulty in truthfulness and ours are no exception.  This then brings me to two conclusions: either there is more money than they claim there is and so we are being heavily taxed so they have more to steal; or there is no money and we are being heavily taxed because they continue to mismanage even what they do gain from taxing us.  It makes no sense to buy a Range Rover if you cannot afford to service and repair it properly when if you bought a deportee (Toyota Corolla) you would be able to keep it in mint condition.  The problem with too many people in this country (and politicians in particular) is we love to floss (show off) and we are more concerned about trying to make people believe (well the international community since those of us who actually live here know what the deal is) that we can eat, drive, buy anything or travel to any place they can when the reality is nutten nuh guh suh (it is untrue).  Naturally there are wealthy people in this country and economic turmoil for them means eating ox tail six instead of seven days per week, but the majority of the people in this country have grave difficulty in affording basic essentials (maybe I should refrain from saying that out loud since this blog is on the Internet and people outside of this country might learn how bad things are for some people).

I was at a crossroads between  amused and annoyed when, as part of his grandmother's Jubilee celebration, Prince Henry (Harry) of Wales visited Jamaica and I learnt just how much was spent to prepare for the Prince's arrival and visit.  The Tourist Board will tell how immeasurable the advertising of Jamaica was just from the Prince's presence here and that is truly wonderful.  Nevertheless I am concerned that far too much was spent from the national coffers and we are too often concerned about making a big impression at the expense of facing reality.    I am also pretty big on birthdays and even as an adult I start counting down a month before my birthday therefore I am excited about the fact that Jamaica turns 50 this August.  Truthfully however, if I were turning 50 in my current state, I would have to trim my celebrations several notches.  Milestone or not, it makes zero sense to increase your debt just because it is expected that certain things be done.  Sure you only turn 50 once but celebrate the achievements, acknowledge the accomplishments of the many on a really small scale, nuh baddah guh spen' money yuh nuh have jus' so people can seh party tun up (Don't spend what you do not have so others can applaud your celebrations).  When I turned 30 I wanted a gala affair but could not afford it so a few friends and I went to dinner, had some laughs and called it a night.  Disappointed?  Sure... you only turn 30 once, but at least I have enough time and better resources to plan for the 40th!  I am hoping the government will consider the current state, ignore the noise makers and make the right decision.

  

I am quite sceptical of politicians in general and I certainly do not trust this current government; but I am looking forward to the next year primarily because I am curious about the effectiveness of the new taxation being levied upon us.  If ever I hope to be wrong, it is now.