The substantial difference between commercial and governmental economic activities is the fact that an enterprise cannot simply decide and collect its incomes, but it has to work and to negotiate with the customer for it. Taxes were always raised by various societal groups – called tribute, tithe, toll, indulgence or temple tax. Some people did not shy away from exploiting the most bizarre sources of income. A good example is the emperor Vespasian, who justified himself with the saying „Pecunia non olet “(Money does not smell). He had imposed a tax for the public convenience. Amazingly the same creativity survived until today.
Clients have the choice and adjust the prices simply by evaluating the relationship between price and performance of the offered products or services. If the ratio is not beneficial, they waive it – and the price decreases.
In contrast, the citizen has only occasionally the choice. By voting, they hand over control to political officials, who make in the course of their tenure what they want – well packed in statements like “We must only promise things that we believe that we can do.” „I believe that people understand“. In the absence of acceptance of the citizens for new taxes, they are called now income, fee, supplementary or special tax. Current examples are:
- The extension of the solidarity surcharge
The solidarity surcharge for the reunification was eventually accepted. But to maintain this supplementary tax is a good example, how politicians try to increase their budgets. If costs will occur in the future that should be taken by the society, then the right of digging into the pockets of the taxpayers is questionable – above all, if they cannot fend off. - Highway toll (Maut)
Many countries have a fee for the use of highways – even for a few border kilometers. So far the collection of the highway toll is OK. A compensation for Germans car tax is certainly appropriate. How foolish to take back this compensation before the adoption. Thus, the toll is a hidden tax increase. - Cold Progression
The cold progression is the thimblerig of the Treasury department. The citizen always has to pay extra and even does not receive an appropriate adjustment for the inflation of the past years. Eventually, the cold progression helps the government to reach the black zero.
The list of the examples could be extended, from the Riester pension to the fees for the health insurance. At the same time the employers are relieved with the justification that it secures jobs. This goes so far that enterprises can reduce their HR expenditures by benefiting from low wages and temp work. Are these the safeguarded jobs?
Bottom line: Politicians do everything possible, in order to increase their incomes at the expense of the citizens and lower the costs for the industry. This modern form of waylay will not function for a long time. The following generations will have to carry the bill. Will they then still show solidarity with the older generation? The consequences for the pension system are already foreseeable – certainly without consequences for the pensions of the politicians, who create the future problems today. Of course – money still does not smell.
