May 18, 2014

Corruption is bad not the taxes

The AAP wave in Punjab politics is mainly based on slander and hate speeches against the system. Although, to a great extent what was alleged was correct, hate energy seldom yields fruitful results and slander as a rule boomerangs.
Usually the state governments of various states levy taxes on fast moving items like sales tax, toll tax road tax etc. Which means that if tax is not paid the items would not be allowed to move. Now guess what would the government do if people do not pay the house tax next year? Would the government drag the citizens out of their houses. There can be charges for water supply. But what if someone does not pay the severage bill? Would the authority go and cut his severage connection? The house tax and property tax were something like the last straw on the camel's back.
Recently Bhagwant Mann's speeches have made people start hating taxes altogether. Are taxes that bad? In fact taxes are good. Tax money helps us to have better facilities. Only thing that is wrong is the misuse of the tax money. Hating corruption can be valid but not the taxes. Tax money is misused when our police stops serving us and instead start serving the VIPs alone. Our Patwaris, Tasildaars, SDMs, etc should serve us with utmost respect and efficiency. They are paid out of our tax money. Our leaders must draw only reasonable salaries and prevent wastage of public money in any manner. The grants that reach the villages and wards must not be looted midway.
It was only the hatred of the public towards the inefficient system that made four AAP candidates win from Punjab. But how can hatred alone take the society forward? What is needed is a constant struggle for transparency and accountability in the various departments.