winter is a beautiful time of the year too … if you allow nature to show it
Out of my “citizen call” few months ago I started thinking about what would make me vote for any political party in upcoming parliamentary elections this May. This question had and still has only one answer – party’s program. As I did not see and still don’t see any tangible, smart, time-bound program presented by any political party – I thought of drafting some simple program. Steps, which I called “steps to win elections”. And I invite all parties to copy anything they like here for the elections program. Feel free (it’s for everyone, after all).
Now, after recent events in Mashtots park, another step comes into life under No. 17.
And I thought I’d paste all other steps here as a reminder for political parties.
1. Tax-free all Diaspora Armenians investing in Armenia for a period of more than 3 years and ensuring jobs for at least 15 people with minimum salary of US$ 750/month for each employee.
2. Tax-free all foreign investors investing in Armenia for a period of more than 5 years and ensuring jobs for at least 165 people with minimum salary of US$ 650/month for each employee.
3. Tax-free importing (customs taxes and fees) any food production equipment given that a) equipment is new, unused and of most recent technological standards, b) engages at least 7 employees to run.
4. Tax-free for 3 years and offer co-investment (as government share) of at least 20% (but not more than 49%) if any of “Fortune 50″ IT companies invests in Armenia.
5. Tax-free any internationally or locally patented know-how for 5 years, given that “country of origin” of final produced goods and services will be made in Armenia and production will start in 3 months after successful patenting.
6. Offer to co-invest (as government share) at least 30% (but not more than 49%) in any new IT company, given that a) the company shows successful sales of its products or services for at least 6 months, b) company sells produced goods or services to EU or USA.
7. Demand by law to seal/mark “Made in Armenia” on any product made in Armenia.
8. As the state never trained its ministries and other state institutions on how they should spend public (taxpayer’s) money, train public servants who procures using state funds on how to procure using state funds.
9. Reduce road transit fees for logistics from Iran through Armenia to Georgia (or further) for 40%.
10. Put a minimum annual trade threshold for a newly built tax-free zone at the airport. (Example: “Dear airport, you remain tax-free zone for the next year if you trade at least EUR xxx,xxx,xxx annually”). Don’t mix up with actual duty free zone in the airport.
11. Publicly auction any new land provided by Yerevan municipality for commercial or residential construction by advertising the auction in official newspaper (“Հայաստանի Հանրապետություն”) and Public TV at least 5 weeks before the auction. Make the actual auction electronic and live webcast it on municipality’s website.
12. Companies employing 20,000 or more people with a minimum salary equaling US$ 390/month do not pay taxes for their lifetime.
13. The biggest employer and the biggest taxpayer of the country can address Parliament once a year with 30 minutes speech.
14. Limit the maximum interest rates for bank loans. Although limitations are not for liberal economies, however banks in a country like Armenia charge enormous interest rates. So bringing it closer to European standards is just what we need. The law should clearly say that the maximum allowed interest rate for house loan is X% per year (for example 7%), car loan is Y%, business loan is Z%, agricultural loan, etc. (Logic: construction boom+happy families+lower risk of no return for banks+business loans boom+cheaper products and services+less bankruptcy).
15. Compulsory medical insurance for all employees, irrespective of place of employment, (i.e. state servants or private companies). In private companies employees will pay 20% of insurance and employers will contribute the remaining 80%.
16. Provide land to all those who have 5 or more kids. The law should guarantee provision of 0.5 hectare (i.e. 5,000 square meters) of land to all those who have 5 or more kids.
The method of land selection and provision will be discussed and agreed in writing with happy father or mother, i.e. the usage of land should not violate any national or local rules and regulations, etc.
People living in marzes and having 5 or more kids will chose the land in the same marz (or neighboring marz, except Yerevan). People living in Yerevan and having 5 or more kids may chose the land in any marz, except Yerevan or marzes neighboring Yerevan.
The law may be in force from 2013, i.e. the 5-th kid should be born in 2013 or after.
17. In case of any new construction in Yerevan or in any other city in Republic of Armenia, be it residential or commercial project, road or kindergarten, at least 15% of the project space should be occupied by “green”, be it newly planted trees, bushes or just grass. This should be a condition for giving official approval for any new construction.
My to do list starts scaring me, and this is only a professional one, it does not include family-related or personal deeds.
On January 31 I posted a thought called “Taron’s secret”, where I expressed my anger and astonishment with the decision to move boutiques from Abovyan str. to the heart of the city, i.e. to Mashtots avenue. I finished that thought with the guess, either forces behind those boutiques are stronger than our current mayor, or our mayor is a genius.
Since I haven’t seen any prove of the second, especially after irresponsible city management related to the snow and traffic issues, my opinion is – our mayor can not influence any decision related to boutiques’ removal. Rumors say ex-mayor, Karen Karapetyan left his post because of this conflict too. My sources say those boutiques belong to the family of another ex-mayor, Gagik Beglaryan. Obviously, the current mayor won’t disturb his ex-boss.
Since I published my post the topic became really hot. Artists and people of cultural circles joined the group of protesters. A 24/7 monitoring of the site is organized. The construction is indeed ugly, dangerous, in a wrong place, clearly anti-human, as it is right near the hospital, anti-city and anti-country.
Whoever solves this conflict is destined to become a “public hero”. At least for some time. Who is smart enough to become a public hero right before parliamentary elections?
We all know (or we all hope) that media should be independent, impartial and only broadcast whatever happens around. But it is never so, neither in Armenia, nor in any country. In a small country like Armenia you can witness plenty of newspapers, websites, radio channels and TVs. None them are independent.
I divide political news media into 3 parts:
a) regressive
b) propaganda and
c) independent and impartial (this one, as said, simply does not exist)
So how do you distinguish regressive media from propaganda. It’s easy. You simply count. Simple mathematics. Let’s count together.
If out of 10 broadcasted news 8 are bad news and 2 are good or neutral news – the media is regressive. If out of 10 news 8 are good and the remaining 2 are neutral or bad – its propaganda.
Both regressive media and propaganda do not lie. Remember, they never lie. If they lied they’d lose their audience in an instance. They provide you the news. It’s only a matter of balance.
Some call regressive media anti-Armenian, some call propaganda anti-Armenian. In reality, both do not add to Armenia’s prosperity.
If you follow the news happening in the world, you will find equal quantity of bad and good news. So, in reality, if our political media were independent and impartial the balance of good and bad news would be 50/50 (or at least 55-45 or 60-40). But unfortunately they are not.
If you watch, listen or read only regressive media 24/7 you become zombie, the same will happen to you if you watch propaganda 24/7. No difference.
So be careful:)
P.S. Read this post twice
I have just discovered that Yahoo means something bad in Armenian
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