Should we help the disabled soldiers and the families of the soldiers fallen during the military operations? Definitely, yes. And what about the Syrian Armenians? And what about the ones living in the domiks in the zone of disaster? And what about the pensioners living with 50 thousand AMD?
Aren’t we going to build the North-south road? And what about the Iran-Armenia railway? Aren’t we going to increase the quality of education? Aren’t we going to buy new and advanced weapons? I can keep the list going by illustrating a thousand of very important and strategic objectives. All this requires money, doesn’t it? How are we going to raise this money? Generally, there are two ways: thru the taxes and donations of citizens. If the income tax is raised by 1000 AMD, say it openly, it is a matter for discussion. Although I, personally, am in favor of not the income tax but the more “detailed” breakthrough of the property tax. The property tax of my although modest private house and the one-room apartment in the 7th district of Masiv area need to be significantly different.
The second way is the VOLUNTARY payments by the citizens. I am ready to pay my thousand AMD and also lift this burden of my other 9 co-citizens. But this must be properly organized and propagated. First, I must be sure of the “fate” of my 10 thousand drams. Secondly, reputable and spotless people should be found whose calls for helping the army would be hearkened and perceived by our citizens and all Armenians in general. And finally, the payment methods should be simple and free from red tape. People, for example, can be too lazy to go to the bank.
A foundation can be established for the mentioned goals and to announce the names of trustworthy and spotless persons (even those who are living outside Armenia) who will be the trustees of this foundation, and periodically, at least once a month, to report where every penny is spent. Managing such foundations and attracting funds is a separate science.
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In short, I am in favor of finding rational solutions. “Let them return to the people what they have devoured, and all these problems will be resolved”, let us leave this kind of expressions to Arshak Sadoyan, he is the major specialist for the “fight against devouring.” These expressions are not wrong but just words in the air for collecting applauses. In this sense, 90% of the Facebook is Arshak Sadoyan.
And the most effective way of solving social, including the soldiers’ problem is to have a developed economy. In that case, people will receive higher salaries and will pay more taxes. Everything is simple.
Aram ABRAHAMYAN
