The ConstructDiscourse, Society, Language, New Media, and I

Extortion can simple be defined as “an exorbitant charge.” And guess what’s exorbitant nowadays.

I’ve had it with the government’s ramblings on budget deficit. Combine that with the resignation of the National Treasurer. Brace yourselves, people. A lot of shit is heading our way.

I raise this concern out of my personal frustration with recent events in my life. I’m just appalled by the lack of social services like health care in our country. And imagine all the tax a person pays all his life through all the channels the government uses to rack up tax money.

Let’s face it, every one who buys something is a taxpayer (through VAT and other taxes ). Never mind if the person’s employed (which means there’s the withholding on compensation) or not. Grand ergo, the government seems to waylay us every time. When we work, when we play, when we buy some ice cream to ease our pains away, we get taxed for it.

Correct me if I’m wrong, economists. In so many confusing terms, budget surplus is technically the government’s profit. Which means, it has some extra when all the expenditures get subtracted. Deficit means that it’s spending more than it earns. Lugi in Tagalog.

So since there are only two ways to fight off deficit/profit (1) increase revenue and 2) cut expenditures) guess what measures will our government do next? My guess is both. Increase in revenue means that once again, they’ll jack up the taxes. And they’ll cut spending too, that’s for sure. But guess which branches whose budget would they trim. My guess would be social services. As always.

Hmm… Here’s a meme. Let’s create a list of all the possible ways the government can cut down on unnecessary expense or gain some revenue (without having to jack up taxes). Crazy ideas are most welcome. In these trying times, who knows what crazy is.

• Cut politicians’ travel and transportation expenses – Yes, those SUVs and escorts. Do away with them. All of them. Imagine how much savings on gas. Make them walk.
• Have fat government officials and policemen undergo liposuction, process their fat and export these as beauty soaps a la Fight Club – Have someone play Tyler Durden. Chiz perhaps.
• Use the Armed Forces as call center agents – How many soldiers do we have? How many wars are we fighting? And they’re on the payroll! Arm them with headsets and accents.
• Have every Pinoy cellphone user send P1 to a social services fund – That’s an easy P40+M. Pasa Piso Para sa Pilipinas.
• Plant quality hemp and export them – Hemp as in… Go figure.

Supposedly I’d have no problems with taxes if and only if I see better social services. Well, I’m sure some people will point out that I’ve been a moocher to the government since I’m a UP graduate so I should shut my claptrap. Yeah, sure.

Oh yes, and how about that NTC’s memorandum circular regarding websites… Jee… Given me the “What next?”