Viewpoints
Exploitation unlimited
By Oscar V. Cruz D. D.
Exploitation is a reality that leaves a foul taste in the mouth, a shameful thought in one’s sound value system. It generally connotes appropriating something while giving nothing back in due return. In more plain language, exploitation forwards the shameful phenomenon of taking advantage of someone who is down, or abusing something that is unable to defend itself.
The country is in a repugnant moral standing and in a pitiful social condition precisely because of the systematic exploitation of the already poor people and of still the rich natural resources of the country, in addition to its non-coveted title of the first placer in corruption in Asia—courtesy of the incumbent administration. Moreover, it deserves as well the title of the expert in Asia. Why?
There seems to be no one and nothing exploitable that evades the covetous attention of those exercising supreme and glorious governance in the country. OFWs are exploited in their dollar remittances by the latter’s low exchange rate. Laborers are exploited by meager salaries and even lately still belittled by a pittance of a raise. Even the poorest of the poor are exploited by the infamous 12% E-Vat. And while the avaricious rich are exploited by government gambling operations, the ignorant poor are also exploited by protected illegal gambling all over the land. And in addition to gambling lords, there are the ever-present drug lords who are unstoppable in exploiting the youth.
And there appears to be no natural resources in the country that are spared from exploitation through the admirable and generous courtesy of the government. Never mind the poisoned mining waste nonchalantly left behind after the mineral wealth has been aptly extracted. Never mind the land devastation caused by greedy logging companies. Never mind the health and safety of the people living in the affected places.
Government exploitation is par excellence in the matter of the wanton abuse and misuse of public funds. A good portion of these moneys are in effect “blood money” in the sense that most of it are grabbed from the millions of Filipino people already suffering from hunger and sickness. Indirect taxation spares no one—not the miserable in search of something to eat, not the sick in need of medicine, not even the dead that should have but a simple coffin to lie in.
The present government could have another title—First Honor in Exploitation in Asia!
(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/viewpoints/)
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