On March 10th, the Portuguese will be called to the polls to vote. The feeling is that the line is coming to an end. Socialism, which I have come to call “traditional”, cannot continue.
The Socialist Party has governed for practically 22 of the last 28 years.
3 out of 10 young people between the ages of 15 and 39 have decided to emigrate. The loss of our young people implies an aging population that reinforces the unsustainability of social security, and the compromise of reforms (considering the Ponzi system that is the Social Security, some pay for others).
It is safe to say that young people, who coercively contribute to the pensions of our elderly, will in the future have no one to pay for theirs, but in the meantime, none of the political parties can point out the unsustainability of this system, they only promise that the pensions will be greater: And there is something for everyone in this populist fair of goodwill.
Left and right agree: Taxing profits and taxing the “shadow” economy serve to fulfill all these promises.
The unsuspecting Portuguese end up forgetting that the “parallel economy” refers to all economic exchanges that are not taxed. If a politician talks about taxing this economy, he ends up meaning that something as simple as selling an object that he no longer wants on an online platform, or between friends, should be taxed.
This politician also never explains how he will account for these “parallel transactions”. What are they going to do? Spy on your bank account to see if you received any MBWay that should be taxed?
Impose a tax amount on the final price every time you put your item up for sale on an online platform?
Are you going to be forced to pay taxes if you voluntarily agree to give lessons at home to a colleague who is having difficulties?
Why should we do this? Portugal is the 4th country in the European Union where the tax effort is highest (salary received in relation to the taxes we pay).
It is frightening that this is a proposal from the left to the right, with the sole purpose of obtaining votes.
From the Left to the self-proclaimed Right, the solution is always to tax, always ignoring the fact that wherever they decide to apply the heavy hand of the State, it is the citizen who will literally pay: They will be charged higher prices, and if they are an employee, who knows, they may even be fired. A reduction in working hours.
But at least our politicians can play Robin Hood with our lives while directing theirs.
All parties that will sit in parliament after March 10th fantasize about the “common good” and the collective. Even those that seem to be more economically liberal want the State to use its heavy hand to implement a social engineering plan in which all identity politics, matters of intimate and personal importance, come to define an individual and are imposed on everyone else, in the name of a so-called “respect”. Respect is taught by families and human dignity is intrinsic. Anyone who is the target of a crime that threatens their life, freedom or property, regardless of their race, gender or sexual orientation, is still in a State governed by the rule of law.
Separations and artificial wars, why should we accept them?
For a politician to have votes.
Your choice is between Socialism, and Socialism.
This is not the time to get rid of Socialism.