Tagged: assembly
who I will vote on May 6
I usually write the main idea on the first line of my post, however this one will be different.
Firstly, I will explain why I do not like certain parties and movements competing for your votes on May 6, 2012 National Assembly (Parliament) elections.
I will not vote for Republicans, because this is the mightiest and most powerful party nowadays, nevertheless they could not manage to write a mind blowing program and filter their rows before appearing to public again and begging for votes. Yes, the party is reforming, but I can hardy find one reason to vote for Republicans. Numerous social issues, such as Mashtots Park, Teghut, etc. as well as economic failures make every thinking person doubt. Yes, the country is the only one in the region that has no political prisoners, but this is really the only achievement we can register.
I will not vote for Prosperous Armenia, because this is a “one man show” and the party is based solely on financial, personal and charismatic characteristics of its leader. The party is headless without Gagik Tsarukyan, and this is the biggest danger. In addition, the party was in power all these years and equally shares the responsibility for any negative development in the country. Most importantly, having all this wealth the party again did not manage to come up with a smart program to help the country out. And the country is in shit – no secret.
I will not vote for the Congress, because instead of concentrating on presenting future steps, the Congress blames Republicans. We all know Republicans are guilty, but this is not the reason to vote for Congress. The leader, Mr. Levon Ter-Petrosyan claims his main idea is to stop the “regime”. He swears he only needs three years of presidency and then he will resign. Well, if someone wants to stop the regime there are easier ways to do that. Offering an alternative and smart program, for example.
In addition, if Constitution forbids being a president more than twice – then the “regime” is stopped. This way neither Robert Kocharyan nor Serj Sargsyan can become presidents more than twice. So if Mr. Ter-Petrosyan is really concerned he should offer this to be in the Constitution. But….this will stop him from being elected too, as this will be his third time.
Most importantly, the Congress program for election is no different (and sometimes is worse) than Republicans.
I will not vote for Heritage party because this is the “show off” party. The party has recently joined the dirtiest and most commercial part of ex-Levonists. Obviously, no one can explain this step, but many can guess.
The party has always been supporting social movements, but never started one itself. There are numerous questions to the leader of this party, Mr. Hovhannisyan both about his sons never serving in Armenian army and about problems within his party which came out after proportional lists were published. The party started playing with Republicans just recently, and many people again explain this by mentioning the “commercial” wing of the party. And again, most important thing – instead of drafting a proper program, Heritage prefers pseudo-influential PR campaign for elections.
I will not vote for Dashnaks (or Tashnaks) because of super unreal program the party has presented. The party promises “at least 200 000 new jobs”. Let us leave alone the questions “when” and “for what kind of salary”. The party does not answer those.
BUT.
The second president, Robert Kocharyan had a milestone of 40 000 new jobs when there was no recession. He hardly met that target, together with Kirk Kirkoryan’s Lincy Foundation, Northern Avenue construction, etc. In 10 years. (During all those years Dashnaks were ministers in the government).
Today, Armenia has officially registered 69 400 jobless. Part of these people are working illegally, but they still get pensions form the state.
When, for example, the new jobs approach 100 000 in US the stocks go up and the country improves big time. Reminder, US has a population of 309 mln.
Dashnaks promise “at least 200 000 new jobs”. No comment.
;
I will not vote for Orinats Yerkir party, because this is again a “one man show” party that talks a lot about prosperity. The leader of this party, Mr. Baghdasaryan tells how it should be ideally. “The pensions should …., the education should…., the jobs should….., the disabled should…., the country should….”. Never “how”, “when” or “how much”.
I will not vote for Communists, because I don’t smoke pot.
I will not vote for Democrats, because this party has nothing to offer to public.
I will not vote for United Armenians party.
So, I will go to elections but I will have to make my voting bulletin invalid. This will be my vote, my voice and my approach to all parties, their weak programs and helpless policies.
By doing this, I am trying to “educate” our parties and make them think more (more than talk, I mean). I believe every thinking citizen should offer this lesson to today’s competing parties. So they change, for us and for themselves.
true story
The car with Venezuelan or maybe Romanian flag (not Armenian, as Armenian flag has horizontal stripes, not vertical) drives through the steers of Yerevan and agitates for… no, wrong word, agitates AGAINST Republicans.
I hardly kept my laugh when I saw this.
It’s hard to understand the following:
1. What is this flag?:)
2. If Republicans are so vividly bad, why should one try so hard to show that?
3. What do these people offer instead?
4. And finally, who are these people?:)
I never saw any similar thing in Armenia, I mean, I never saw any public agitation like this against one of the parties taking part in elections.
Does anyone know what this is all about?:)
happy
A little victory has been registered by me today. I am following pre-electoral speeches these days made by all parties and candidates.
I am happy to report that many parties use parts of these 17 steps, some exaggerated, some quoted literally.
As an example of exaggerating I witnessed promising an apartment to all those who has 5 and more kids. While I spoke only about 500 sq. m. of land. (As lands add lots of direct and indirect value).
While I am super happy our politicians finally appreciate exact, specific and target-oriented steps. I would be happier if those speeches could also be precise.
Just as examples, if we promise apartments, we need to mention when and where those apartments should be provided. If we talk about diaspora investments, tell people of exact timing these steps will enter parliament as changes in the law, etc.
I absolutely do not care which party takes my ideas. These ideas are for my country.
Hurry, parties. Your competitors use these 17 steps very actively.
love
Why there are so many prominent politicians and parties in Armenia and so few prominent economists, lawyers, doctors, journalists, musicians and football players?
Because you need to work hard to become a doctor, economist, musician or sportsman. While to become a politician in Armenia all you need to do is talk. Your only skill should be speaking. You don’t have to have any background in any specialty to become a politician.
No one will care about your successes in the past. If you or your party were or are responsible for miserable Armenia in the past or present – you just talk. Talk, and you will be right.
Parties and people promise paradise today. One may ask, what stopped them from making the country a paradise when they were in power? What stopped the Congress, Comunists and Dashnaks when they had ministers, deputy ministers and heads of departments in power? What stops Republicans, Prosperous Armenia and Orinats Yerkir now?
They’ll find millions of answers why. Because they can talk. Remember, they are talkers. They will talk to you with naive, honest and crying eyes.
Dear politicians, there is no need to beg and make those “Shrek cat” eyes. We know you are angels and you come to save us from hell. We believe you could become professional economists, musicians, doctors or sportsmen, but you chose to serve your people and get the lowest possible salaries, because you love us.
We love you too…
the reality
Just recently the electoral commission refused to register Khachatur Sukiasyan as a majoritarian candidate for Armenia Parliament elections 2012.
This triggered many protests, reflection in the media, citing the law and expressing many contradicting opinions.
The law says that the candidate should be in Armenia during the last 5 years. However the law does not specify if this clause is violated if, for example, the candidate enjoys his/her 20 days vacation in Greece. Is it a violation of 5 years rule? As many other laws in Armenia – this one is also imperfect.
The society knew that after staged and fake presidential elections in 2008 Mr. Sukiasyan was hiding in Emirates for some 8 or 9 months before he received guarantees of freedom from the state.
Then he returned, oligarchs like him never go to jail for political views. Money and links talk. Actually no one is in jail today for political views in Armenia (thankfully), but many opposition leaders were then.
So why didn’t the commission register Mr. Sukiasyan as a majoritarian candidate? Because everybody knew Mr. Sukiasyan was not only absent for vacation, but for a longer period, and registering him would reveal the current deal between opposition and the power holders. In reality the deal is to play enemies until elections and stage conflicts for public.
Eventually, the commission registered Mr. Sukiasyan’s brother as a candidate instead and Mr. Sukiasyan consequently appeared as No. 10 in the proportional list of our opposition. He will be an MP in any case.
Mr. Sukiasyan is a prominent businessman, and the law forbids involvement in business if you are an MP. The opposition was very vocal about this, but nevertheless it makes an exception for oppositional businessmen.
No doubt, the Republicans have plenty of businessmen in their list, however from now on any mentioning of businessmen involved in parliament will immediately trigger mentioning Mr. Sukiasyan’s name.
Another oppositional hypocrisy that makes everyone disappoint with opposition.
P.S. after I posted this Central Electoral Commission excluded Mr. Sukiassian from the proportional list too, based on the same justification, i.e. he was not permanently in Armenia during recent 5 years. Now opposition can openly criticize businessmen in Republicans’ list.
who I will vote this spring
The spring has come and usual political blah-blah-blah has come with it.
This spring, instead of presenting their programs first, our political parties present the names of those who will support those yet non-existing programs. As if it is more interesting. More intriguing.
Now, who will I vote for in upcoming elections? And what I will advise to you, my dear non-zombie reader.
Unless you are a party member and unless the party leader is your husband or wife, vote for the program, but not for a party.
Why should you vote for any party, if you are not a member of that party? Right, because you think the party has an excellent program. So vote for that program, whichever party it is.
When you are told about party program, ask questions. When you’re told your salary will increase – ask for how much and when. When you’re told the jobs will be created – ask how many, when and how. When you’re told Artsakh issue will be solved – ask how and when. When you’re told corruption will vanish – ask how and when. Make them be specific. Ask for exact timeframes, methods and figures.
Do not allow standard blah-blah zombify you. Be smarter, be progressive and forward thinking.
So who will I vote this spring? Right, the party that has specific, measurable, ambitious, realistic and time-bound program.
Whatever is the name of that party.
scared of dumb people
As everyone expected, election season in Armenia is full of wrong perceptions, wrong questions and wrong expectations.
Voters are more interested in who is in proportional lists of parties, rather than in what are those parties’ programs.
People, faces, relationship, sympathy and hatred are more interesting for an average Armenian voter than the actual “to do list” of any party.
I may say a cruel thing now, but this voter does not deserve a progressive, effective and ambitious parliament. Because a person who is interested in who will sit in an MP seat more than what that person will actually do – does not deserve any sympathy and appreciation.
It’s like being interested in what is your driver’s name more than what is the route. Like being interested interested in your insurance agent’s name more than in insurance prices. Like being interested in your hairdresser’s name more than in how well s/he cuts your hair.
Are you guys crazy? Do you elect your hairdresser or dentist based on name criteria? Wake up.
It doesn’t matter who is in the party proportional list. What the party will do in next few years is what matters.
Read the programs. Stop being Pakistan and Uzbekistan, for Christ’s sake…
when evil is masked
I’m ok when evil behaves like evil, but I can’t stand when evil pretends good. I hate masks, hidden bottoms and hidden agendas. I respect straightforward deeds, even if they come from the “dark side of the power”.
The biggest pain is disappointment. Disappointment with evil, pretending good. As you never expect bad, and you believe, and you trust, and you hope. You better know it’s bad from the beginning.
Seeing our impotent, useless and weak government (think evil) I understand that this is what evil is and this is what evil is able to do. However, when I see our opposition (masked evil), I disappoint even more.
Why? Because I am looking for an alternative to our current government and I can’t find it. Because I am listening to them attentively, trying to dedicate my time and give my voice, and all I hear is “give us the power and the glory”.
It’s “we want to be in the parliament” instead of “we want to change the country”.
It’s “current rulers are evil” instead of “this is what we plan to do”.
It’s “we are right” instead of “we will try our best”
It’s “they are bad” instead of “this is what we’d do differently”
It’s “they are mafia” instead of “yes, we were mafia in the past”
It’s “they lose Artsakh” instead of “this is our solution for Artsakh”
It’s “they are guilty” instead of “we have our portion of guilt”
I don’t find honesty in opposition. This is [probably] why they gather fewer people around, this is [probably] why they have less than 200 likes in Facebook, this is [probably] why they don’t even bother to offer a smart program. This is [probably] why they don’t update their program for already two years.
And this is maybe why they need more zombies, idiots and fighters instead of romantics, analyzers and new leaders.
…14, 15, …..
In addition to these 13 steps, let me bring two more
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).
and
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%.
This is basically it, yet.
steps and leaps
Since I discovered that Armenian opposition had only 132 followers on Facebook (now they have 134) I thought of brief review of their 100 steps, that is called PROPOSAL/PROGRAM FOR A SYSTEMATIC REFORM OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC POLICIES”.
The 100 steps were published on February 22, 2010 and were never updated since then. You can find them on Armenian National Congress (ANC) website here http://www.anc.am/en/60/358/.
After this analysis that covers tax and customs policy part you are encouraged to compare these 100 steps with 13 steps presented here, the latter does not have any monopoly and can be used both by opposition and our helpless government.
Here is what opposition’s 100 steps say:
“Redistribution of tax burden from SMEs onto big businesses”, and then later “even distribution of tax burden”.
It’s self-contradicting. You cannot burden big businesses and claim that the tax burden is even. Burdening big business means burdening big employer, big procurer, big investor, sometimes even big charity. It’s better not to burden anyone but provide solutions.
Next: “Bringing minimum salary closer to the size of average salary”.
It is unclear how close ANC wants to bring it, 3%, 10%, 20, 50 or 70%. Or maybe closer. The document of this importance and magnitude should be more precise.
Next: “Overtaxing of highest salaries“.
I’m afraid if we start to overtax high salaries no world-class professional will come to Armenia, because his/her salary will not only be taxed, but “overtaxed”. And again, it is not clear what ANC means by highest salary. Clear figures would help to understand this.
Next: “Taxation of elite construction. Subsidizing construction in the peripheries. Taxation of properties sales. An average 10% construction tax should be set up. This tax will be differentiated by the territorial principle: 0% (in some cases even -10% if the state subsidizes the construction) for peripheries and 15% for instance for the center of Yerevan.“
This means no affordable apartments in the center of Yerevan. If they are expensive now, they will be much more expensive after additional construction taxing. Young families, especially those having corporate ties with the center of the city will not salute this. In addition, investors will have to increase prices for residential or commercial property rent.
Next: “Special taxation of big landowners. Big landowners (50 hectares and more) should be taxed with the same regime as industry, trade etc. In this case the mechanism of harvest and income valuation should apply instead of land cadastral valuation.”
This is unfair. If an individual has 50 and more hectares of land, but has no income – he/she should not be taxed only because he/she has that land. The same applies to harvest, if an individual has 50 hectares, and that’s a forest or a mountain, the state should not (and simply can not) valuate his/her harvest or income and tax him/her.
Next: “State control of the gambling business. Existence of non-state lottos, lotteries and dice should be excluded. The exclusive right of exploiting such institutions should be granted to the RA Finance Ministry. Operating totalizators, gambling (cultural) institutions should work under supervision of state representatives. In all casinos and such enterprises the state should be a share holder and have its representative.”
The state, especially a liberal european state should not control business. The proposal says that all gambling and lotto businesses should work under supervision of state representatives. I don’t want to compare, but even China does not do it.
Next: “Exclusion of tax remissions. No subject carrying out economic activity (funds, religious organizations, any charity) should have tax privileges.“
During all these 21 years of independence Armenia heavily depended on Diaspora charity. Now, Armenian opposition wants to tax that charity.
Overall conclusion: I will have to say that to my disappointment the document has many vague passages and does not precisely specify strategic figures or percentages. It calls for more taxing, overtaxing and overburdening. Instead of offering alternative solutions that ease taxation burden, spark entrepreneurship and invite investors, Armenian opposition wants to make it harder, heavier and more expensive, it discourages charity and wants more state control over businesses.
I would want this to be my opinion. But this is simply what our opposition says.
Make sure to check these simple alternative 13 steps too.
