Agust 27 of  2007                                         

Once again, when our pockets are touched, we argentinians react in a vehement way and we feel harmed, offended and even “being robbed”.
 

The update on the taxes on properties (ABL) is the best example.
 

We have always payed laughable figures, EVERY owner, and that´s why one of the most important fiscal deficit in tax collections, even at a national level, is tax collection on properties.
 

There´s finally an agreement stating that owners should pay according to the value of their properties, and not that “laughable” fiscal value.
 

But that´s not even so, because if it was they should be paying a lot more money. It isn´t so because it´s just an adjustment and not the real value of the property.
 

This is a hundred-year-old policy that always benefited EVERYONE in general and the rich class in particular, owner of great mansions of which lots of times they don´t even declare the real amount of square meters they have, which is the base from where the tax is calculated.
 

It´s important to notice that the tax is distributive and equitable, and zones of lower value have lower raises.
 

Not to mention country clubs and closed neighborhoods, which is a deeper subject and an actual “swindle”, because they not even declare they have a building in their lands, because it´s the same politicians that live there.
 

Tenants thay pay this taxes should also be considered, since it´s not their responsibility and owners should be obliged to pay instead.
 

The update on the tax also allows a new pricing of the property, so that when it´s sold the proper fiscal taxes are payed and not evaded, which is also a “tradition”.
 

But this people, that spend in one night partying the same amount they are asked to pay nowadays, come out to protest and even talk about “civic disobedience”.
 

Why don´t they protest and use civic disobedience about the poor and destitute?
 

And this is being mentioned already by renowned layers (that are touched by this measure), personalities, people of the fashion world, writers, etc.

I AM ASHAMED BY THEM!!!! And then they ask for a sustainable country and a first world country.
 

Why don’t they protest against the poverty-stricken situation of the country, of the education in general, against the situation of extreme hardship that the public hospitals go through, etc., etc.??

It would be good to use “civic disobedience” in that case and not allow the “argentinity genocide”.
 

And the current rulers and politicians that talk so much about “defending the poor”, who would be helped with this measure because it would contribute to a better collection and assignment of resources, no, they prefer to see everything politically and attack the current Head of Government and the next one (who couldn’t achieve their desired goal) and go against the measure.
 

Even the members of the new government of the City feel attacked in their own “privileges” and are dissatisfied.
 

This the “shameful” Argentina, with people that rebel when someone goes against their “pocket”, go and do the cacerolazo, since their pocket has been touched, they still want “my savings”.
 

And we are talking about Puerto Madero (among other top zones), with properties worth u$s 5000.- base for every square meter, in the first case.
 

I am ashamed by them!!! We all should be, even more when someone who is criticized so much for being rich (and I am apolitical) and does what not even a government with a socialist tone as the current one and even less popular than all the peronist governments we had, not even the conservative radicals, ever dared to do.
 

GENTLEMEN, THIS IS THE “NEW POLITIC”, not the present and the same old politic that goes on with the same corrupt leaders in a grouping of opportunists and inepts, lacking any degree that entitles them to anything, with high ineffectiveness and without the participation of youth. It makes me want to cry and I apologize for the simplicity of it.
 

Or do you ever see a politics TV show where the ideas are discussed by the young?
 

We want a new SERIOUS ARGENTINA and this is the measurement that guarantees that!!
 

People with scant resources are subsidied in Chile with gas and electricity, and the rates for the ones with a priviledged position have been raised. Instead, in this country, we pay almost nothing for gas and electricity (which I find tremendous). The poor have to buy an outrageously high priced gas cylinder and that is not even a tip for people with high resources when they go out for their lunch break.
 

Argentinians, let’s stop being so cynical and individualistic, let’s stop lying and start once and for all fighting to stop being a bananist country, ruled by criminal bands, to be ONE NATION.
 

The choice is in us.

Marijan Pirsic

Editor