If you want to find out what the people’s attitudes are, you have to sit in a taxi at least once per week. One year ago, taxi drivers would say, “They all rob this country and everyone escapes. No one stayed behind in this country. They stole everything from our people.” Six months ago: “Go away, leave, can’t you see that these people don’t want you?” And now, “Eh, these youngsters weren’t able to fix anything.”
I did not accept extremely negative evaluations in the past or now. I also do not agree with the opinion that the new authorities did not do anything good. But I understand that, regardless of all positive changes, dissatisfaction will remain among the people. They will talk, and they will start speaking about robbery and stealing from the people again in a year. Just like I did in the past, I want to once again speak about my friendly observations.
It is not necessary to speak about things that will not become a reality in the near future. For example, the two new metro stations in Ajapnyak will not open for at least another five years. It is better to say nothing and to present a lovely surprise than it is to make promises and then make justifications as to why that did not happen.
No one needs to say and do things that, while they may not be breaking the law, are also not necessary. For example, the Speaker of the National Assembly finds it to be of utmost importance to live in one of the government’s summer villas. Why didn’t the last two Speakers live in villas? The Speaker of the National Assembly is not the kind of position in Armenia that needs a high level of security; the Speaker does not make fateful decisions. The Prime Minister needs such levels of security because he or she is the one who makes all the decisions, and secondly, there are many external and internal influential forces who do not want what’s good for the Prime Minister, to put it lightly.
Doing something wrong does not demand looking for reasons to justify the wrong. Giving out bonuses was the kind of fault that came from the inertia of the past. A secretary who receives a salary of 80,000 AMD should receive a bonus, twice a year according to the law, based on the positive conclusions of the superiors (by the way, I agree that the amount given in bonuses in this case should not be published). An official who receives a salary of 400,000-500,000 AMD should not receive a bonus, and they especially should not be receiving bonuses of several million drams. They should simply accept that and move forward.
And just the opposite- when the government does something right (for example, optimizing the government or banning street markets), it should not become used as a populist tactic, nor should the government change its mind. The level of trust is such now that there are many things that can be put on the right path. Later, it will be too late.
I would suggest to the citizens that they shouldn’t admire the government nor should they get disappointed. They should not be too overcome with hope, nor should they be hopeless. Just as with most issues, it is necessary to find the middle ground between two extremes.
Aram Abrahamyan
