Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

On security and taxes

This refers to the article “Beyond the ‘no security, no taxes’ slogan” (Dec. 13). It is true that the people have no faith left in politicians. It is only natural for them to express their disenchantment with the system. But the way out for them is to take part in democracy, rather than stand on the sidelines and intermittently raise slogans slamming the system. It is time the self-indulgent middle class looked beyond its interests and became an active participant in nation-building. If voices are to be raised, they should be raised for a more efficient, inclusive and corruption-free democracy.

Siddharth Shankaran,

Bangalore

While the entire media space is grabbed by the so-called security and political analysts and social activists crying for police reforms and accountability of national leaders, the larger, inconvenient truth is ignored — that it is our misdeeds that have let loose the system on us. We love to rant about our politicians’ inaction and egregious failures in every walk of life but how many from Generation X have bothered to enter politics and set the system right? This generation has to go much beyond thronging the streets with candles and placards making ridiculous suggestions — abstain from voting, no-security-no-taxes, go to war with Pakistan, etc. A responsible citizenry should stand united with the government pledging all possible cooperation.

Sambit Priyadarshi,

Cuttack

The article warns us of the dangers of jingoism and war-mongering which sneak into the middle-class psyche under the guise of criticising the failure of the authorities. Those who chant war mantras and resort to politician-bashing should learn from Pakistan’s experience. A dictatorship is not as exciting as phone-ins and sms campaigns.

M.B. Zaman,

Malappuram

Slogans such as ‘no security, no taxes’ should be strongly condemned. They assume that an individual’s obligations to society (like paying taxes) are somehow contingent upon society delivering what the individual demands. People are free to question the way the taxes are spent but they cannot refuse to fulfil their obligations.

The rich may bear a disproportionate share of tax liability, but they also receive a disproportionate share of society’s services and they are certainly not the ones who provide the manpower for these services. Few in India are fooled by shows of “patriotism” by the elite.

Ganapati Rao Pudipeddi,

Hyderabad

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh did a disservice to the nation by apologising for the Mumbai attacks because the fault was not entirely that of the government. In fact, a large share of the blame should go to us. A sneaky coward becomes a terrorist after you and I become the terrorised.

If Dr. Singh wishes to husband his flock, I would reiterate what I wrote in a letter to his office over a year ago — the next time he goes to pay his respects on January 30 or October 2, he should travel without escort. Reducing terrorism — it can never be eliminated — or practising ahimsa requires a delightful sense of arrogance coupled with a high level of courage.

Jasbir Singh Malik,

New Delhi

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

No shortcuts to victory
Vigil on balance of payments
Public health strategies for suicide prevention
Pakistan: first casualty, people-to-people contact
Rwanda, Congo authorities fuel disaster, says U.N.
Middle East musical harmony
Act tough
On security and taxes
Internal threats
The Mumbai massacres and Pakistan’s new nightmares

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu