New taxes: Same old exploitation

THE EDITOR, Madam:

As a member of the most heavily taxed group of society, the middle class, I am concerned about the proposed new taxes on non-alcoholic beverages and digital transactions.

I am a civil servant and mother of four school-aged children. Despite not getting any increase in my salary, I am forced to shell out more money for children’s lunch each September due to increasing prices. At present, my nine-year-old son, who normally saved $100 daily, has not been able to save any money due to price increases at the canteen last September. With the proposed new taxes on non-alcoholic beverages, I foresee further challenges. Will he and many other children choose between eating a patty or buying a drink because they cannot afford both? I am sure no member of parliament’s children have that dilemma, especially with the unconscionable salary increase that they implemented for themselves a few years ago.

And do not tell me about how unhealthy sweetened juices are either because I am sure alcoholic beverages, gambling, and smoking outperform 100 per cent fruit juices in that department! If you want to tax something, why not tax those? Instead, the already struggling working classes are burdened with proposed new taxes. Any proposal for new taxes must be reconsidered.

JESANYA MENZIES