Peter's Viewpoint

The current Greek government in their attempt to protect their own livelihood is forcing the economic destruction of people of Greece.

They have failed to incarcerate those the responsible political party members, the major tax evaders, and now they are imposing numerous “emergency” taxes upon the same people that cannot avoid taxation, the private sector on payroll and the retirees.

I often read the comments that are written in the New York Times and other foreign news papers by people and am saddened by the stupidity of the people that are misinformed and uneducated as to the truth about the lifestyle in Greece and in their own countries for that matter.

Between this year and next year, the Greek government will have imposed over 10 new major taxes and reduce tax deductions that will absorb over 6,000 euros from every taxpayer.  These taxes are above and beyond the taxes that are charged yearly.

A taxpayer in Greece is any person or entity that owns a car or property or receives a paycheck or retirement.  In contrast, many of the elite that own companies in Greece do evade paying taxes and that is because Greek auditors are subject to the whims of the political system that protect the elite.

Taxes for 2011 include:

• A special guarantee tax varying from 200 to 600 euros
• An increased road tax on cars
• Vat tax increased from 11% to 13% and then again increased from 19% to 23%
• Commercial and residential property tax based on the total property size and area valuation with a multiplier of 0.50 to 20.00 euros
• Taxable income will be based on 12,000 euros as minimum income
• Income tax with deductibles reduced from 12,000 to 5,000 euros
  

Taxes for 2012 include:

• A new real estate tax that will range from 500 euros and up depending on the size and area value of land and property assets owned whether you live in Greece or not
• An emergency tax on employees and retirees ranging from 300 to 500 euros
• Taxable income will be based on 5,000 euros from 12,000 as minimum income
• Income tax deductibles reduced to zero (0)

Current taxation laws include:

• Taxation of rental income without deductions for maintenance is 40%

Many of the newly inspired taxes will be billed through the electric bills thereby forcing the people to pay or have their electricity cut.

All the while that this is happening, Europe has found that there are over 2 billion euros deposited in Swiss banks that belong to the infamous Greek tax evaders.  The number of businesses in Greece that have closed is a record high along with unemployment.

A Minister that once declared, that a list with over 3,000 names of tax evaders now says that no such list exists.  There is no end to the insult that the government’s political failure in logic when at a time where money has evaporated to pay city workers for garbage collection they now announced that they will pay private companies to do the same work.

It is interesting to see the comparison between the issue of dictators in other countries and how governments react but when the issue is that of financial dictatorship, everyone places the blame on the people of a country that cannot change its future without the possibility of a revolution.

Even some of the ministers actions are being censured!

Pasok MP announces “I can't be part of a parliament in which I cannot make a decision.”