BY EDISON MARTE SICAD
“It is no longer a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. But a government of politicians, by politicians, and for politicians.”—paraphrasing Mary Elizabeth Lease
POLITICIANS generally think only of two things.
First, the next election: an incumbent has the advantage of serving the public and campaigning at the same time. Second, optimization of political clout: power guarantees impunity and paves the way for other family members to win elections. In a democratic society, these objectives need the participation of the citizens.
Citizenship is (supposedly) professionalism in civic involvement. In other words, citizens are expected to be competent in exercising their rights and conscious in taking into consideration the social consequences of individual actions. It is altruism for the common good, a quality often prattled but rarely exemplified by politicians and their supporters.
“Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must, at all times, be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and efficiency; act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.” (Art. XI, Sec. 1, of the 1987 Philippine Constitution.)
Last week, the increase in real property tax set off a brushfire of financial concerns and uncertainties among the Ilonggos. How can business owners cope with the (more than) 100% sudden increase? Will investors welcome such an added (in some instances, multiplied) burden? Is this good governance? Or such a measure is oppressive and confiscatory?
Mayor Jerry Treñas gave the following explanations (as reported in PN), to wit:
1. Increasing the real property tax was long overdue; there had been no increase for the past 18 years;
2. The Mandanas Ruling of the Supreme Court further devolved many national government responsibilities to local government units (LGUs);
3. It primarily aims to generate revenue for LGUs to fund their operations, public services and development initiatives such as infrastructure projects;
4. There was a decrease in the city government’s national share of internal revenue, with a significant additional expenditure of around P500 million due to the pandemic. This revenue drop necessitated a reevaluation of tax rates;
5. The national government’s revenue collection also dropped during the pandemic, affecting local funding; and
6. The tax increase was a necessary response to these financial challenges and is proportional to the rising value of properties.
Mayor Treñas insisted that the increase was reasonable and had not prompted complaints from major taxpayers (emphasis added).
The Lifeblood Doctrine
Known as a basic principle in taxation, the Supreme Court provides that “the existence of government is a necessity; that government cannot continue without means to pay its expenses; and that for these means it has a right to compel its citizens and property within its limits to contribute.”
In other words, taxes are “the lifeblood of government and should be collected without necessary hindrance. Without taxes, the government would be paralyzed for lack of motive power to activate and operate it.”
Others would voice out their concerns not with the collection of taxes — for indeed it is an inherent power of the government — but with the corruption associated with it. The so-called “This is where your taxes go” has widened the gap in wealth, power, and opportunity.
What are we in power for?
To what extent are government officials accountable to the personal development and problems of their constituents?
The English philosopher and psychologist Herbert Spencer is known for his doctrine of Social Darwinism. Simply put, social development is the “survival of the fittest.” Only the strong will survive; the weak will perish — a sort of collateral damage. Social progress then is exclusive, a clear delineation between the Haves and the Have-nots. The Haves have no responsibility to strengthen the weak. And the Have-nots have no right to blame the strong.
Politicians have a saying (attributed to the late senator JosAvelino, Sr.) for this: “What are we in power for?”
And they are our representatives. Our servants. Our voice reverberating in the august halls of Congress, standing in stark contrast to reality: plenty amid poverty.
But I am an optimist. I still believe that there are those who sincerely help the “unlucky ones” despite the prevalence of hypocrisy. Recently, I was almost scammed by a collection agent (this is another story). But still, I hold on to the presumption of regularity or people acting in good faith.
A lesson to keep in mind: When people perceived weakness from you, either they will toughen you up by personal corrections or victimize you through threat and exploitation. And though the State protects its citizens through the doctrine of parens patriae (a public policy power), self-empowerment is still essential to overcome the nefarious elements of our society.
But our gilded honorables, legitimized by fanatics, are of its own kind — a sui generis. A necessary evil. Be wary of them.
“Gilded is not golden. Gilded has the sense of a patina covering something else. It’s the shiny exterior and the rot underneath.”—Nell Irvin Painter/PN
