Say Vat?

That stupid EVAT has come into effect, and now I have to prepare to pay higher prices for everything. Never mind what this even stupider government says, but as a taxpayer whose income gets slashed by a third every payday, I can only expect the worst from this latest round of tax hikes. And yes, as a taxpayer, I have a right to call every Tom and Dick in the government all the names I want.

Just to be clear, I totally understand the concept that the government must raise more revenues in order to survive. I also understand that there's a freaking budget deficit that the government has to somehow make up for. However, just like every other salaried worker, these economic reasons are hard to accept in the face of my shrinking peso and my stretched wallet.

Of course, aside from all these injuries, the government just had to spout that nonsense that did nothing but insult our intelligence. Said one official, let's all ride bikes to conserve on energy costs. Say what? You don't protect the environment, the streets have become all polluted, and you want me to ride a bike through that smog? Now pray, tell me, what's going to happen to the fortune I just spent on shower and bath products, as well as the lotion, gel and cologne that I liberally applied, which are all going to disappear in a mixture of sweat and carbon monoxide when I finally arrive at the office? Not to mention the no-longer crisp, sweat-soaked shirt I have to change from before I begin working?

Then, there are the reckless motorists that are the rule rather than the exception. Not only is the government inconsistent in its enforcement of motor traffic laws, there's also that breed of insolent drivers (at the helm of both cars and motorbikes) that's been bred to perfection by our free-for-all avenues. Factor that in, and what are the chances for your survival when you ride a bicycle through?

The surveys say that the middle class is disappearing in our society. They're all migrating, whether to the West, the Middle East or Down Under, in search of a better life. The only people supposedly left here are the upper class, who can afford to cushion themselves against higher prices, and the lower class, who have no choice but to live miserably before thankfully dying and going to heaven or some other delirious nirvana floated by their respective religions.

As I'm still here in the country, that leaves me with no choice but to either fantasize I'm part of the upper class, which is just that (a fantasy), or to conclude that I'm part of the lower class, which isn't exactly appetizing. But with the way our government is going, soon, I may have no choice but to sell my soul to the highest bidder. Or failing that, my body.

What's the answer to all this mess? Beats me, I'm just an armchair intellectual (ahem) with knee jerk and ill-informed opinions. But let me echo what everybody else is saying - the government is darned corrupt slash inefficient slash stupid! It's not spending its money wisely, and with billions lost to corruption, there's no other result but for this government to be bankrupt. If only the people I pay the salaries of can just channel my tax money into the necessary programs…

A week ago, a researcher for the Supreme Court interviewed me and asked what I had to say about judges who preside in multiple courts. The researcher told me certain judges have to do this because there are some courts which have been established, funded and staffed, but for the meantime, have zero cases pending. I was aghast.

My immediate response was typical me - burn everybody! What are we doing paying all these civil servants to do nothing? In the face of clogged dockets and a shortage of judges elsewhere, these courts should be abolished, and the staff all fired!

I guess the only consolation left is, these people who are hanging on to their government jobs and doing nothing are probably too lazy to try and change their fortunes by going abroad. So, fine, they can just stay here and, if the surveys turn out to be true, slowly rot and sink lower amongst the classes. As to where I'll be when that happens, I really don't know. Better not be beside them though. Otherwise, I'm going to think, I should ship out that day…