Have you noticed how prices have gone up? How we can barely survive? It used to be that things were a little more bearable. Now, it seems like we’re are on an uphill battle.
That’s the effect of inflation.
But do you know what’s more frustrating than inflation? Taxes.
Everyday, it’s getting harder and harder to convince yourself that working hard is the answer. You do your work. You save a little. You feed your family. In spite of the rising prices, you somehow managed to survive.
You do your part as a responsible citizen of this country by paying your taxes. We’re supposed to pitch in, each with a little part of our earnings. Our money pooled together through tax, is supposed to benefit the whole community…the whole country. Supposedly. But reality is harder to swallow than fiction.
It’s not that people are lazy. The system is rigged.
The poor gets taken cared of…with the “ayuda” of the government. The rich get to have their own perks in tax breaks or favors from the government. But the middle class takes all the beating, they get taxed the most without getting any “breaks” from the government.
As an employee earning a decent income, you get taxed 25-35%. You add to that the numerous deductions from Pag-ibig, Philhealth and SSS. Both Philhealth and SSS take a huge dent into your already taxed income. Let’s assume it takes 5-10%. That’s already a total of 30-45%.
Now, of course you want to spend to enjoy life. After all, you worked hard to earn it. When you spend, you are slapped with a whopping 12% VAT, the biggest in Southeast Asia.
If you add that up, you’re already taxed up to 57%.
Imagine that, more than HALF of what you earned is taken by the government.
You don’t even get to choose. You can’t say NO. They take it before it reaches your hands. It looks and feels like getting robbed in broad daylight. And they don’t even say thank you.
You wished taking half of your money would be put to good use. Then you hear the MASSIVE CORRUPTION happening in government and your frustration turns into disgust and anger.
And after all this, what do you get? Endless queues. Chaotic public transportation. Traffic. Polluted rivers. Bridges and roads breaking down. Surging prices of basic goods. Over supply of condo while everyone cannot even afford a decent place of their own.
Why are we even paying taxes? Why do we take this shit? Why are we so easily duped into complying?
Who is benefitting from this? Who benefits if things stayed as they are? Who has vested interest in making sure that the country doesn’t progress to where it should be?
What can we hold on to? What do we aspire to? What do even hope for?
How can we “finally” move forward as a nation? How can we start believing in the future again? How can we end the heartbreaks and frustration?
When do we start realizing that we are the ones feeding this rigged system? When do we stop feeling hopeless and start fighting back? When do we say enough is enough?
Endless questions. Your answers are as good as mine.