The Purpose of Taxation, Civility, and Stupidity...

I did a quick research on the purpose of taxation in a society and I was able to identify three reasons why taxes have been imposed over time …. the first is resource allocation, which basically means that the tax revenue redistribution does not bring imbalance to the market, i.e. take more than needed. The second reason, income redistribution, basically means that the authorities take from the rich to give (someway) to the poor. Noble cause one will say. The third reason is economic equilibrium, which means to keep the economy of a country productive, low unemployment, low inflation etc.

I think it is obvious that our government – all political parties (executive, legislature, legal), does not achieve ANY of the above objectives. On top of that, they are imposing unrealistic, impossible, punitive taxes which do not meet or are in line with the above objectives. Basically, the government says … “we will force the citizens to pay through insane and unspeakable taxes for the fuckups, corruption, stealing by government officials and the Bank management, and the Elites and we do not care if our citizens have food for their kids, proper medical care, decent education, and utilities in their homes and we do not even care to develop the environment for job creation etc” …. And the weird of the situation is that the people DON’T react. No reaction whatsoever. And, I am not talking about violent reaction… just any reaction. There is something about civility when it is exercised to the detriment of equality, and fairness … it becomes stupidity … and I believe that we are pretty close to that.

Human Graph ....

Today, while walking back to my car from a meeting, I came across a gentleman who was seating in his yard tending his flowers. I looked at him and I realized that I met him years ago when I was around nine years old. He was friends with my dad. This man always impressed me back then because he was tall, strong, confident, proud with impressive intellect and a physical presence that was dominating. Today I saw a man who was half of the physical size, he couldn't hear me, he didn't remember me or my dad, and he was seating on a chair looking on the ground finding it difficult to lift his head up... and I realized one more time that our fate is defined... Our life graph has been drawn. For some of us will be cut short, it might be a little different from one another, but the end point of the graph has a definite conclusion. Why then do we struggle every day to achieve the mundane, why do invest our time and intellectual resources in causes that do not promote true quality of life and noble causes and values; loving each other, understanding, friendship, family, supporting each other? Why do we give so much focus on material acquisitions that in the end lead to social and economic destruction (see Cyprus economy and how much regular folks are suffering). People are only happy when they strive to become better human beings, when they have a positive impact for a better society, when they say good morning to someone they do not know, when they look into people's eyes with kindness.... Just some food for thought....

The morning after... March 27 2013 in Cyprus

Going morning my friends..... I woke up with this thought.... The western world spends billions every year for military operations and development to supposedly promote, infuse and develop the infrustructure, civil rights and democratic political institutions, education infrastructure, legislative and security institutions, and financial stability in so many rogue nations. The idea is that when people have an opportunity for a better quality of life and security, financial or otherwise, they are civil and happy and they can positively contribute to society. All well....however, i fail to understand why this same western world is pushing Cyprus towards the opposide direction....to instability, unrest, poverty, the collapse of society in all possible ways....all for just 17 billion euros wasted by the stupidity of few individuals with the support of a few incompetent european misLeaders ......does this make sense to anyone? Please don't let Cyprus get to a point where you need to drop to us militsry ration food by air....don't destroy the people of this country so you can come help us later with your 'humanitarian' spirit....do something now please....share this message....pass it along to your MPs, Senators, Congress, parliamentarians....stop the madness now....we will overcome but no need to destroy our dignity first....the regular folks on this island haven't done anything wrong...make supoorters out of this mess, not enemies....have a beautiful day....

Thoughts from the Morning of March 26 in Cyprus ....

Good morning to everyone.... A new day on this beautiful island... I just finished exercising outside and if you didn't know what just happened, you would have thought that it is yet another normal day... The beautiful aroma of freshly blooming citrus trees feeling the air... My favorite time of the year.... Yet, the future course for Cyprus has been changed... It has been shifted as if we are part of a game for which we, the regular folks, have absolutely no control.... I have this surial feeling that we have just been spooked by people raised by the nintento and play station era....no humanity...no emotions....just another day at the office... But we will get up....stand up....and we will overcome adversity as we have done so many times before....to all who can hear my voice....give a helping hand, push someone next to you gently to keep moving, smile a little more today because what we have as people, a big open heart and determination to overcome cannot be taken away....take a big first step today and we will come out of this better happier people ....love to all of you....

Perspectives from a Walk

Εχτές ξύπνησα πρωί και ξεκίνησα περπατητός από τον Στρόβολο και κατέληξα στην Λύδρας ... Κατά την διάρκεια τις διαδρομής σταμάτησα τρεις φορές και κουβέντιασα με τέσσερα άτομα... μια γυναίκα 92 χρόνων που μου περιέγραψε πόσο περήφανη ήταν που μεγάλωσε 4 παιδιά με πολύ κόπο δουλεύοντας στα χωράφια και καθαρίζοντας σπίτια, και πόσο πολύ ικανοποιημένη ήταν από την ζωή της – δόξα τον θεό γιε μου ήταν η πιο πολυχρησιμοποιημένη τις φράση.... 2 φίλους που κάθονταν σε μια στάση λεωφορείου περνώντας το πρωινό τους κουβεντιάζοντας, και οι δυο μεγαλύτεροι των 85... ο ένας εξ αυτών με ένα τεράστιο μουστάκι το οποίο ήταν και η αφορμή τις κουβέντας μας... και οι δυο μου διηγήθηκαν τις δυσκολίες τις ζωής τους αλλά και τις ευχάριστες στιγμές – που ήταν όλες στιγμές φιλίας, αγάπης, οικογένειας, και δημιουργικότητας – και αυτοί περήφανοι και ευχαριστημένοι από τα δώρα που τους επιφύλαξε η ζωή.... και στον τρίτο σταθμό τις διαδρομής μου μιλώντας με ένα νεαρό 20 χρόνων, μουσικό, που ήρθε στην Λευκωσία την προηγούμενη νύχτα για να τραγουδήσει και να παίξει drums .... εκπλάγηκα όταν άρχισε να μου μιλά αισιόδοξα για το μέλλον... μου άρεσε η θετική ενέργεια που είχε.... μου έλειψε τούτο το συναίσθημα τις ελπίδας, και βαρέθηκα την μισαλλοδοξία και την αρνητικότατα... Ένα δίδαγμα πήρα από την διαδρομή της Κυριακής.... κατά την διάρκεια των πιο παραγωγικών χρόνων της ζωής μας, μπαίνουμε σε μια κατάσταση μέθης, άγχους, αρνητικής κατάντιας, βαριεστημάρας, ηττημένοι και δεινοπαθημένοι από το κατεστημένο... όμως όλοι ξέρουμε πώς όταν δουλέψουμε σκληρά, είμαστε θετικοί, και είμαστε διορατικοί μπορούμε να βρούμε τον τρόπο και κανείς η καμιά κατάσταση δεν μπορεί να μας σταματήσει... δύναμη και καλή συνέχεια

Wake the Fuck up .... January 2013

We pay as much as up to 70% of our income in taxes (Income tax up to 35%, Social Security around 10%, VAT at 18%, PLUS trash collection tax, cemetery tax is some areas, tax for owning a house etc) and in return we get fucked up roads, schools that can't teach our kids properly and are not adequate for the needs of today's society, poor health care, poor policing and security, and lack of investments to encourage job creation etc.... YET we do not react and we accept incompetent politicians and civil curators who make and execute the laws, spend our hard earned money inefficiently and ineffectively, and in the end make inconceivable mistakes and ask us to pay even more to cover those mistakes. All this while none is called to answer for these mistakes that cost billions and the tax payer's suffer and their quality of life diminishes year in and year out... What the heck is going on here.... WAKE THE FUCK UP!

January 2013 - On the economy

2013 will be financially challenging for Cyprus... For the friends who are residents of this beautiful island remember every day of all the great things we enjoy here and also know that hope, dreaming big, positive attitude and hard work have no substitute. Even though we are not the ones who created this mess, we can fight our way back if we stand by each other, support each other, encourage each other, cheer on each other, and give each other a helping hand .... Smile every day and keep the spirit up.