Bridging the gap

There is no more doubt that the present administration under Aquino III is the No. 1 enemy of the masses. It is a government against the Filipino people instead of being for the people. It has no concern at all in uplifting the living and working conditions of the common tao.

Its oft repeated catchphrase telling us that “kayo ang boss ko” is exactly the opposite of what it is doing or has failed to do after almost six years in power. And this is very obvious in two areas of governance and public service.

The first is in providing an efficient and adequate mass transportation system and ensuring the speedy and punctual flow of public and private vehicles in major thoroughfares to avoid waste of valuable time. Very noticeable in this connection are the long queues of commuters every morning and late evenings as they try to get rides in the trains or buses going to and from their places of work. While this has been the situation even in past administrations, it has turned for the worst during this regime.

Seeing all those people suffering under the heat of the sun or amidst pouring rains very early in the morning or late at night should have already prompted this government to sit up, take notice and do something to ease their plight. Instead however, it has remained oblivious and unconcerned and simply passed the blame on others, or admit its helplessness and ineptness. Its Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) even went to the extent of disdainfully telling the commuting and riding public to just “grin and bear it” as it is not “fatal” after all. Such callousness is indeed so sickening and disgusting.

But more disgusting and repellent is the recent move of Aquino III himself thumbing down proposals lowering the income tax of fixed income earners and the lowly working class. These are proposals coming from Administration lawmakers themselves who realize that the tax bracket systems in the country have been stuck at the 1997 levels yet. Aquino however believes that lowering their income tax at his time is “not beneficial since there is no government surplus.”  It would just “increase the budget deficit which would be a negative factor from the standpoint of credit rating agencies,” he said.

Quite striking and even perplexing here is the alleged lack of government surplus. Coming to mind right away is the “fund” surreptitiously concocted by this administration since 2011 supposedly for disbursement acceleration program (DAP) of the government. This DAP funds were eventually discovered as being used to dispense favors and convince (bribe?) legislators to toe the line in passing its controversial pet bills like the RH law and in impeaching high government officials who have incurred its ire, like ex- Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and ex Chief Justice Corona. This DAP which has already been declared as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court, seem to be contrary to the very idea of “lack of government surplus.”

Another striking aspect of Aquino’s reason for thumbing down the proposal to lower the income tax is that he seems to be more concerned about getting favorable economic ratings on his administration. Apparently this is more for “propaganda effect” to show that his administration’s economic performance is outstanding. In the long run however, it is quite obvious that such stance will be more beneficial to the affluent and rich businessmen than with actually helping the low income earners increase their meager earnings and improve their lives even a little bit.

The proposal to lower the income tax however is actually more beneficial to our country. Admittedly, it will lower the government revenues. And lowering government revenues will mean that there will be less money in the government coffers that will be stolen by government officials. So less revenue means less graft and corruption in the government. It would seem therefore that this proposal is one of the more effective ways of fighting and even eventually eradicating the many corrupt practices plaguing every administration which are the very cause of chronic poverty in our country.

I am not an economist but common sense tells me that lowering the income tax will also mean empowering the low income earners in terms of increasing their means of livelihood. More income will give them more buying power which will thus stimulate spending that will propel the start of economic progress. Besides, more income will provide them with more resources that may even enable them not only to save more but to engage in some small but profitable businesses. Eventually therefore, a stronger and bigger middle class will emerge.

A stronger and bigger middle class is thus a very important factor in achieving sustained and all inclusive economic growth. It will bridge the wide gap between the rich and poor in our country. More people will enjoy the country’s wealth and resources instead of the present 10 percent of the population owning almost 80 percent thereof. The poor will not become poorer while the rich will not become richer anymore. There will be a more equitable distribution of the country’s rich assets and resources. The elusive social justice will thus be attained leading to true and lasting peace.

The proposal to lower the income tax will also be politically beneficial to our country. People will be more independent and will not just rely on the political largesse given by politicians who invariably use government money to dispense political patronage. With less people depending on dole outs given by politicians, political dynasties who perpetuate themselves in power because of the gap between the rich and poor electorate will gradually be eliminated. Thus in the long run we may even realize our long sought dream of having a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

It would appear therefore that with his move thumbing down the proposal to lower the income tax, Aquino would like to maintain the present economic and political situation. This is really very sad.

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