As much as you and I have had our differences, I have to agree with you. But the resentment among Pakistanis is understandable. In the US when you pay your corporate taxes, you get a lot in return. Whether it's the protection of your intellectual property with the patent laws or ease of just doing business. And even starting a business, it takes just what 2 hours to start a business by just going to the local state controller office and getting the tax number.
In Pakistan unless you grease the palm of numerous officials you'll never be permitted to legally function. Combine that with the resentment that the billionaires pay just 5,000 rupees in taxes while wielding the influence of the State to harass opponents. The ability to go to NYC for a "routine" medical check up, own property worth millions in the urban centers of London or Paris. While the common man pays 100 rupees for a phone card which only gets the value of what 75 rupees? Can't get his children a quality education necessary for the 21st century. Or even the right to receive medical attention at a hospital until they can pass over wads of cash.
Taxation is a State's given right to collect. But only when everyone is playing by the same rules. This same resentment is in the US now. Corporations selling themselves to their subsidiaries registered in Canada or in EU so they dont pay corporate taxes in the US, while enjoying the powers the US laws give them. The Pentagon paying for the fuel of private jets owned by CEOs of Silicon valley.
The State isn't prefect not by any standards of measurement. But the ability to address change is what makes Democracy great, and that Democracy is missing in Pakistan where politicians buy votes for a mere 1,000 rupees. Sometimes even threatening their fiefdom peasants to vote for anyone other than the noble's selection. Democracy of what is present in the US now isn't what is was originally. Only the rich land-owning men could vote, then men in general could (as long as they could read), then women, African-Americans who could jump through the laws that prevented them from voting, then naturalized citizens, then ..... then....
That is what might be required in Pakistan. A person with the cognitive ability to understand the implications of his/her vote.
You are mixing too many things in here. Some of your logic is valid, and some doesn't hold water.
1) The Pakistanis have resentment because a SYSTEM was never allowed to be setup by people who ruled through power. So in the absence of it, the country became the jungle with jungle rules. Whoever has the most money and them might can rule like a lion. So when a system never existed, when media wasn't open and liberal enough to report whatever it finds in terms of corruption, etc, when people didn't even know they deserved better jobs, healthcare, basic facilities like Metro buses with cheaper transportation......how do you expect that system to work? Of course people will be paying a lot of bribe because there was no system with checks and balances.
2) While we talk about the "resentment" you also have to understand that there have been three elections since 2012, from the top level down to the basics. And in each, people have picked the current leaders (minus the ethnic card states). ALL trade and commerce indicators show a bullish economy for Pakistan. The Western economic houses are counting Pakistan's stock market's returns and its in the top 5. The Chinese, the Russians, the Americans and the British either have, or are about to pour billions into the system. So a SYSTEM was needed to fix these issues.
3) The billionaires abusing money, I assume you are referring to the current government in Pakistan?? You have to give me an example of it that an "absolute fact". I don't go with gossip. And if there are facts available, how come the opposition hadn't taken them to the court? There are insane hawks in the opposition and both you and I know it. So unless there are material proofs, I don't want to get into gossip.
4) By the way, don't forget, the SAME billionaires in power, have transformed Pakistan and and a new Pakistan has been born since 2013. The proof is in the market, economic expansion, profits, investments, etc, etc!!
5) There has always been resentment against Taxes in the US. I, personally, like most Republicans, don't like too much taxes and agree with the fact that a standard percentage like many running for the office have proposed, would be better. But while we may think the taxes are too high, we still PAY them. We are not a nation of 1% tax payers and having issues with the tax structure
.
6) The value of money, the Healthcare, Education, and all.....I know you follow IK, but let's face it. How is IK going to fix this mess? He doesn't have any agenda or even common business sense. And I mean it, the guy isn't business oriented and this isn't because I hate him. He's a good hearted guy but not a good leader. Anyone else will ALSO need taxes to run a country with so much population and literally a working tax based system. Angry men sound good for movies. Not for leadership, politics and setting up direction for a country. Those who do this serious business, and are used to it, do these things in all situations, whether opposition, sit-ins, earth quakes or military operations. If the current government just wanted to make corruption related money, they didn't have to start ONE project. They'd do what Zardari did, which is, do nothing and make $$$$ and go. And probably still come back 5 years after based on the vote bank.
But the amount of work being done, hasn't happened in all 70 years combined!!!! So SOMEONE wants good things for their country so you guys should wait democratically and let those good things start to come. Again, angry men can ONLY talk, not deliver. People who criticize everything, are called critics. Not leaders. Leaders face opposition and keep making progress, no matter what!!!!
The BASICS to solve Pakistan's issues lie in her people's ability to willing to respect their country and pay taxes. Once a tax based country starts to exist, within a few years, these issues will start to go away.
