2024-01-24 05:05:00
Scrolling through the dial last Sunday, I chanced upon Radio María and stopped when I heard that they were talking about the proposal to raise the VAT by 3 points, from 12 to 15 percent. It caught my attention that a religious radio station addressed that topic, so I stayed tuned.
Well, a person whom the host of the program called Sister Eulalia, ranted about President Noboa’s proposal and said that politicians’ proposals always affect the poorest, because they respond to the interests of the rich. He said why not put a special tax on the exorbitant profits of the banks that exceeded 1.5 billion dollars and also on large companies that make a lot of money. The driver expressed his agreement with the nun and pointed out that, indeed, there are many other alternatives to the increase in VAT, such as, for example, that “the pipeline should have returned to the State on the 12th of this month, which would contribute 60 million a year.” . I assume that he was referring to the OCP that fulfilled the contractual term of 20 years of exploitation but that must not “return” to the State, because it was never its property. The Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline, with the capacity to transport 450,000 barrels per day, was designed and built entirely by private investment and has been an important contribution to the export of crude oil, since Petroecuador’s SOTE did not have sufficient capacity to transport the crude oil called Napo. .
Beyond the unacceptable inaccuracies in anyone who addresses issues of this nature, it seems strange that a radio station dedicated to religious worship maintains these programs – without denying them their right – but that “sister Eulalia” issues superficial criteria, without analysis of who pays VAT, (60% of the basic basket is exempt), who pay the large percentage of the personal income tax, which was 25% and now reaches 37%, which is the only country in which companies deliver the 15% of its profits to its workers, etc. And, above all, it exudes bitterness, resentment and revenge against bankers and businessmen, and those who pay very high direct and indirect taxes, in exchange for very limited public services.
I am a practicing Catholic, so I am saddened by the fact that the church is massively losing its faithful in favor of evangelical groups. The great difference between Anglo-Saxon culture – which rewards success and calls those who do not achieve it a “loser” – and Latin culture – in which success is condemned – explains this reality.
#Religious #tax #populism #Comercio