A man once said insanity was doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. I have come to the belief that this is the plight of our present government.

For the third time this year they have come to the Jamaican people with more taxes. The first two times they said how much they expected to earn, and have fallen short both times. Someone is obviously not doing the correct arithmetic.

Once again they believe that by implementing a new tax package they will garner the earnings that they expect. My belief is that this won't happen as once more people will tighten their belts even further and spend even less than they were spending before. That is why they have not reached their estimates at all.

New approach needed

I suggest that the Government goes about this another way and stop taxing the same people over and over. By removing some basic items from the GCT exempt list they only hurt the poor and ever-shrinking middle class. They can increase GCT but why not widen those exempt items so that the poor are not hurt. Why not make a more valiant effort to get those tax dodgers? How many people and private companies are not compliant, and get away with no consequence, while there are others who continue to do their civic duty ?

Some of the policies that the present administration have implemented are also part of the reason the Budget cannot be balanced. Free health care needs to be amended. Why not make it free for those under 18 and over 65. The others should be working and can make a contribution to their own care. No one was ever under pressure to pay their bills and no one was ever turned away due to lack of funds when they needed to be treated.

These are difficult times, indeed, but it seems as though there is no clear path being outlined by our leaders. I get the general feeling that a concrete plan of action is not in place and, because of this, the poor and ever-shrinking middle class will continue to bear the brunt of the load.

I am, etc.,

KEVAN SMITH

sk2115@yahoo.com

Kingston 6