Stop making bad worse
Published:Monday | April 28, 2014 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
The newly announced tax measure, particularly the tax on bank withdrawals, has drawn the usually unfortunate first response of too many in our society: attack, attack, attack.
Too often, we attack without careful thought from all angles. I appeal to us as citizens, and particularly politicians and leaders across the board, to stop making bad worse by the 'attacking' response to issues. We must now unite to get out of the deep crisis facing our nation on most fronts.
1. We must acknowledge and accept the fact that the problem (social and economic) of today is a direct result of poor governance, weak political will, and lack of political commitment to the best national good over best perceived party good of the last 30 years.
2. We cannot do anything about the negative past that has created the flawed present, but we can do everything about the future by our right action in the present.
3. We must focus our united efforts on solutions, not on criticisms without workable recommended alternatives. Neither must we continue to oppose for the sake of opposing from a divisive mindset.
4. The reality is, we are in a serious dilemma. We must find a way out. We may not like the measures, but is there a better alternative to raise that $2.5 billion with the least impact on the vulnerable? We, therefore, need to suggest viable alternatives in our objections.
In my opinion, this particular tax is wrong - morally, economically, and directionally.
govt's approach to taxation
Successive governments' approach to taxation often has not been the best. Our leaders speak as if they have a right to make demands, rather than with the recognition that they have been given a 'trust' by the people, who are their boss, and to whom they are accountable.
If this attitude prevails, then a better approach would be that given a believed option is undesirable but deemed necessary, the minister should first acknowledge that the intended action is undesirable and therefore, is not a path that will be continued and would be reversed as the situation improves.
Then humbly ask for the support of us, the citizens, as a short-term measure to alleviate our crisis with the least impact on the poor. Then honour their word.
resorting to the IMF
It is sad that we had to again resort to the IMF, but, on the plus side, it is forcing better fiscal practices and our need to address areas that weak political will did not address long ago and still skirts around some.
5. Our current crisis demands that there are some things that we will not like yet are necessary for us to do. In order to cushion the tough times and to navigate the country through the turbulences requires honest, humble, and sensitive inspirational leadership - governance we can trust, governance of integrity to their word and the best interest of the people. Our people have not for decades believed, and still do not perceive, that this is the governance of our historical experience, hence the disillusionment.
The nation's hope and success lie in fresh, emerging leadership that will earn the right to be trusted so that the negative perception of the populace can be changed.
Al Miller
Pastor, Fellowship Tabernacle