Screwed perspectives

Noynoy Aquino has vetoed a proposed law that would have granted a P2,000 across the board increase in pension benefits to SSS members. The move underscores yet again the utter inability of Noynoy to appreciate what is important. The rejection hews closely to his government's continuously increasing budget for cash doleouts to the poor that do not really address the problem of poverty but instead encourages more people to be indolent and dependent on government bailouts.

Ironically, it is the private sector workers who are mandated to become SSS members who provide the bulk of the taxes that Noynoy uses as cash doleouts to the poor. And yet when these reliable fund sources (their taxes are withheld at source) need to be provided a little help themselves when they retire, what does Noynoy do? He rejects raising their pension benefits by P2,000, which is only a few pesos higher than what he gives as doleouts to those who do not even pay taxes.

To be sure, the poor need as much help as they can get. But giving them cash doleouts is never a way to do it. They only end up being used by the beneficiaries to gamble or to take illegal drugs. Ever since Noynoy implemented the program, poverty incidence in the country has not dipped a bit but only continued to rise, proof of the failure of the program.

If the doleouts are any good at all, they are only good in perpetuating political patronage as politicians are the ones in charge of identifying beneficiaries. The social security agency is merely the conduit of the money, a role that allows it to feel self-important. But the fact that it cannot guarantee the integrity of the funds only shows its uselessness and exposes the program for the grand charade that it is.

Rejecting a good proposal like increasing benefits to SSS members or perpetuating a bad program like giving money to be gambled away or used for drug abuse is symptomatic of a severely screwed up mind. It is no different from the ill-advised and ill-timed K to 12 program that Noynoy's government is ramming down the throats of hapless citizens who are left with no choice but to swallow hard.

In case you are still not convinced about just how screwed up Noynoy is, just consider his response to one of the objections to his K to 12 program. One of the first reasons why most parents objected to the additional two years of high school is the added expense it would entail. To quell the noise from objectors pertaining to the issue of added cost, Noynoy's government is offering subsidies of at least P18,000 for each of the additional two years.

But here is the catch. While the P18,000 subsidies are automatic for those enrolled in public high schools, the same is not true for those enrolled in private high schools, both in terms of amount and availability. For those enrolled in private high schools, the subsidy is only P16,000 per year for the added two years. And it is not automatic, meaning it has to be applied for. And when it is applied for, it follows that there is a chance of rejection.

Now wait a minute. Why is a distinction being made here? Enrollees in both public and private high schools all go through the same number of added years. Both will incur added expenses. If a distinction can be allowed here, it is the possibility that some parents of those enrolled in private high schools are better employed. But is that it? Is this the basis for Noynoy in making the distinction — that if they are better employed they can afford the added expense?

Such is truly reflective of screwed thinking, which is why Noynoy could not see that if people are better employed, they consequently pay higher taxes. And if they pay higher taxes, the more they contribute to the subsidies that he is not applying equally. The least Noynoy could have done is to apply the subsidies equally — same amount, and automatic for all. But that is wishful thinking when you have a leader with a screwed up perspective of life.