Vryheidsfront Plus | Second Reading Debate: Division of Revenue Bill
Tuis | Toesprake | Second Reading Debate: Division of Revenue Bill
Second Reading Debate: Division of Revenue Bill
Terwyl ons elke jaar hier staan en min of meer dieselfde tipe begroting en verdelings debatteer, tel die VF Plus egter seismiese lesings op wat aanduidend is van makro-skuiwe onder die oppervlak wat die land kan oorrompel. Daarom praat ons nie vandag oor syfers nie, maar oor dié seine wat dringende aandag verdien.
Minister, it is our duty to make this House aware of two large trends that, if ignored, can lead to catastrophic consequences. We also need to emphasise that this movement is a global one as witnessed with Brexit and the election of Trump as US President, and growing nationalism in Europe. These events are a reaction to liberal and progressive ruling elites that have lost touch with regular people.
Teen dié agtergrond is die verdeling van inkomste ‘n sinvolle metafoor vir die verdelings in ons land. Al hoe meer belastingbetalers bevraagteken die morele verpligting om belasting te betaal. Belasting word ingevorder op ‘n aggressiewe wyse, maar word verdeel vir korrupte owerhede wat nie dienste kan lewer nie. Almal word geraak, maar die armstes onder ons natuurlik die meeste. Beide die belastingbetalers en die armes ervaar al hoe meer die groeiende afstand tussen hulle en die regerende elite aan hulle sakke en lywe.
Hier is groot seismiese verskuiwings aan die gang: (a) aan die een kant probeer belastingbetalers – swart en wit - al hoe meer om belasting te vermy en (b) aan die ander kant vra die armes waarom hulle enige hoop oor het vir ‘n beter lewe. Beide die tendense bearbei Suid-Afrika vir ‘n rewolusionêre omgewing. Daar is natuurlik sekere mense wat graag ‘n rewolusie wil sien gebeur. Die meeste Suid-Afrikaners is egter verdraagsaam teenoor mekaar en smeek om ‘n toekoms waar daar ‘n beter lewe en plek vir almal is.
But this government needs to take note of the following questions circulating in the minds of taxpayers and the poor:
• Must I pay tax if corruption has become endemic to government?
• Must I pay tax if government can’t protect me on farms and in the cities?
• Must I pay tax if government can’t guarantee SASSA-payments to the poor?
• Must I pay tax if it empowers government to expropriate my possessions?
• Do I have hope that I will ever see a better life without poverty?
• Will I ever be safe from murder and mayhem even though I am poor?
And finally both the poor and taxpayers ask a fundamental question:
• Do we need to abide by the law if the President has set an example of willful disregard of the law by defying the findings of the Public Protector on the Nkandla-matter until forced to abide by the Constitutional Court?
It is evident that the disconnection between government and the regular people of this country is growing fast.
Dankie Speaker/ Adjunk-Speaker/Voorsitter