Come Back at the End of the Month
Political squabbles in the US tend to have little direct affect on the lives of average people. Mostly, from my limited perspective, life goes on no matter which e-mail scandal is giving the talking heads something to pontificate about. And unless they are talking about cutting taxes for average working people, few pay much attention to US government machinations.
This blog, as my 2-3 readers know, regularly reports about Ukrainian politics. Ukrpolitics take my attention because it does have a closer link to the average person here, even though many of those average people may not think about it much. For example, the government has basically been fighting about who will be in charge since April 2006. And it looks like the "coalition" is going to be recreated again now that the president's party has gone into the opposition. (How the president's party can function in the opposition--beats me--but I am glad they made the move.) Thus, significant legislation remains in papkas instead of breathing life into the economy. Now that "big business, pro-industrial, pro-Russian" forces are trying to run the government, there is almost no hope of them doing anything about making it easier to run a small business or in reducing taxes in order to bring money out of the shadow economy. If the UEC wants to pay someone $100 a month to work there, we actually pay about $154. Yep, that's right, about a 54% tax rate. Most businesses officially pay very small salaries, pay taxes on that, and give the rest in an envelope in cash. We are trying to do the right thing by paying taxes but it's a crazy-high tax rate. The previous government had made multiple steps toward improving this situation.
Another example. The budget. The budget is still being discussed and debated. And since there are concerns that tax collection won't go well and no one is paying much attention to governing since they are all still fighting for power, the government starts to run out of money. My father-in-law went to pick up his monthly pension of about $80 and they told him that they would only give him 40% and he would come back later in the month to get more and then later to get the final amount. The UEC's part-time bookkeeper also went to get her pension this week. They just told her that there is no money, come back at the end of the month. And how exactly is she supposed to live this month? She can still work part-time jobs but what about the elderly who can't.
I hope for this country a government that will work, provide basic services, and do its part to create a just social and economic environment.
This blog, as my 2-3 readers know, regularly reports about Ukrainian politics. Ukrpolitics take my attention because it does have a closer link to the average person here, even though many of those average people may not think about it much. For example, the government has basically been fighting about who will be in charge since April 2006. And it looks like the "coalition" is going to be recreated again now that the president's party has gone into the opposition. (How the president's party can function in the opposition--beats me--but I am glad they made the move.) Thus, significant legislation remains in papkas instead of breathing life into the economy. Now that "big business, pro-industrial, pro-Russian" forces are trying to run the government, there is almost no hope of them doing anything about making it easier to run a small business or in reducing taxes in order to bring money out of the shadow economy. If the UEC wants to pay someone $100 a month to work there, we actually pay about $154. Yep, that's right, about a 54% tax rate. Most businesses officially pay very small salaries, pay taxes on that, and give the rest in an envelope in cash. We are trying to do the right thing by paying taxes but it's a crazy-high tax rate. The previous government had made multiple steps toward improving this situation.
Another example. The budget. The budget is still being discussed and debated. And since there are concerns that tax collection won't go well and no one is paying much attention to governing since they are all still fighting for power, the government starts to run out of money. My father-in-law went to pick up his monthly pension of about $80 and they told him that they would only give him 40% and he would come back later in the month to get more and then later to get the final amount. The UEC's part-time bookkeeper also went to get her pension this week. They just told her that there is no money, come back at the end of the month. And how exactly is she supposed to live this month? She can still work part-time jobs but what about the elderly who can't.
I hope for this country a government that will work, provide basic services, and do its part to create a just social and economic environment.
posted by Kyivmission at 1:52 AM
1 Comments:
Hi Chris and Lena,
How's the renovation? We think of you often. Scott is going to Memphis this weekend for his report. Hope you are no longer having stomach troubles, orange juice and coffee (not together!) seems to work for some people. And lots of water. Maybe your body misses Diet Coke, ha ha.
We miss you. Much love,
The Broadways
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