Tagged: opposition
guilty!
You know what makes me disappoint with our opposition, even more than with our government.
I find no difference between these two. Both are super hypocritical and fake.
The government tries to turn any positive social change towards politics, praising Republicans and celebrating their victory. Any positive thing that happens – Republicans are there, even if that story is not political and they had nothing to do with that victory.
The opposition would turn any ugly story towards politics too. If someone raped somebody, or went bankrupt, or robbed a bank – Republicans are guilty. And the president is personally responsible.
I can imagine Obama blamed for every store robbery.
litmus test
This Sunday Hrazdan and Spitak cities will elect their mayors. Not small cities for Armenia I must admit. I was trying to find if opposition has candidates for those two posts and discovered that opposition ignores Spitak and concentrates on a bigger city, i.e. Hrazdan.
I don’t know if this is done because opposition sees no chances to win in Spitak or maybe opposition has no proper candidate, nevertheless allowing Republicans to win in a city like Spitak without any competition is …. stupid? Or does this mean opposition doesn’t care about citizens of Spitak? It claims that current government is a “criminal and corrupt gang”, so why not try to compete for power? Why not to try to save those citizens from criminals?
Ok, let’s come back to Hrazdan. The opposition offered its candidate, Sasun Mikaelyan.
Mr. Mikaelyan was jailed after March 1, 2008 bloody events. He was clearly a political prisoner. It is shame, but until very recently Armenia had political prisoners. So opposition thinks that the image of a person who suffered for his political position will make Hrazdan’s citizens vote for him and, consequently, for opposition in general.
I respect Mr. Mikaelyan for his unfolded will and strong character. But he is an uneducated rebel. He is not a person who can run a modern city, who knows what human management is and who is forward-looking and progressive. I would propose to give him a medal for his time in prison, but he is not the best candidate for any local government position. The position that requires knowledge, experience and clear program.
Speaking about program. Of course opposition has none. No one has seen any program or plan on what needs to be done in Hrazdan city if Mr. Mikaelyan is elected. I was searching for Sasun Mikaelyan’s program on ANC website as well and to my “great surprise” I did not find it. And the most dangerous thing is – no one needs that program. Citizens will elect candidates based on their personal perception, family ties, benefits or sympathy. That’s it. Not that the current mayor is any better or has any precise program. It’s very pity to realize that no one cares about program.
Now, this election will be a litmus test for big Parliament elections this spring. And here is why:
a) If Mr. Mikaelyan wins the election – means for the first time from 1991 ruling government has organized free and fair elections.
b) If Mr. Mikaelyan doesn’t win the election and opposition is silent – means opposition accepts the results, but more importantly it means current government and opposition are negotiating about upcoming Parliament elections and they reached some agreement.
c) If Sasun Mikaelyan doesn’t win the election and opposition is singing the old song about “criminal gang” – this means either elections were not free or Hrazdan’s citizens have opted to chose another candidate. But this also means that there is no clarity between opposition and government about Parliament elections this year.
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.
categorize it
Speaking to people supporting our opposition (not only Armenian National Congress, but also Heritage, Dashnaks, etc…), I came to conclusion that they [these people] are pretty different. Even though they have one target, however their motives and methods are pretty antithetical. Just like in that old joke: “3 million Armenians have 3 million points of view”.
So today I thought of categorizing people supporting Armenian opposition, as this analysis is important for understanding them and choosing the language to speak to them. This will also help to save energy, as some people will never listen and will never change. Here it goes:
zombies: these are people who never listen. They just gather for the sake of gathering, they mostly stand there like zombies, just for the sake of being there. A call of duty. They do not have their own opinion, but follow the opinion of the guy with the microphone. They don’t know what’s right and what’s wrong, they don’t have to know it.
idiots: this is maybe the most dangerous category within opposition. They say: “idiots are dangerous not because of their stupidity, but because of the remaining of brains they still carry in their heads”. These people are those who blame the country doing nothing to change it. They like talking about how bad and negative Armenia is, how helpless and useless everything is. They naively believe change of power or revolution will make the country a paradise and they like repeating it everyday. These people see solution in revolution by meeting any problem, late taxi, bad hairdresser, slow civil servant, no success in business – revolution will help. We need another president. They love comparing Armenia to US and EU but only mentioning Armenia’s negative sides.
fighters: these are brainless people who will fight police and army every single time they are said to do so. They will attack presidential palace or Parliament if they are simply given an order. Being fanatics they see solution in battle. They believe that only physical fight and crucifying of president and all ministers, MPs and oligarchs will make Armenia the land of their dreams. They don’t believe in system change they believe in the power of punishment. Every soldier, every policeman is their enemy. (Irrespective of being Armenian).
romantics: this is the purest category within the opposition and it takes country’s problems too deep. These guys are those who want to see the light and they preach light and love. They are very few within the opposition and they are mostly people of art and culture. They will create poems, music and paintings to show their protest and thus will call people to change. Obviously they don’t want to kill anyone.
analyzers: the category with the least quantity of people. Unfortunately. This is the category who reads, watches, participates and analyzes. These are people who offer solutions and try to show the way. These people may not even be active, however they perfectly know country’s challenges, weaknesses and they can offer quick fix. Analyzers are rarely engaged in opposition’s program building, as nobody reads programs in Armenia nowadays.
bankers and investors: these are mostly ex-ministers, corrupt officials and ex-oligarchs. Naturally, every movement, especially fight needs funding. These people actively participate in oppositional events and they have solid expectations. In case of complete power change – the portfolio of the minister, and in case of seats in the Parliament – the MP seat. They may be in a shadow as well, however the funded power will help them freely manipulate state authorities and make decisions in their own favor.
leaders: this is the category that compiles zombies, idiots, fighters, romantics, analyzers and investors. The only difference is – these are with leadership skills.
…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.
bad heritage
The Heritage party is actively following and joining civil society protesters, be it environmentalists or small business boutiques, old monuments’ protectors or army violence victims.
This is good. If only protesters cared. They [protesters] seem indifferent and actually it is understood. They have their own agenda and all Heritage can do is just to stand near. Heritage can not influence airing the protest via media, as our media (especially electronic) is airing it in any case. Heritage can not solve the issue in the parliament as they are the minority there. Heritage can not force any minister, and they do not try either.
In any case standing near protesters is at least a sign of participation and care. Heritage tries to be near civil society.
Out of curiosity I went to Heritage website. This is what greeted me.
Armenian part of their website works only with specific font and only with Google Chrome. In other words, you can not view the website on Firefox, Explorer, Opera or any Apple device. In addition, party wants us to recall its leader as a fit man with mustache. While he is quite thin and has no mustache now.
But it is ok. Many may argue that outdated and impossible-to-read website shows party’s attitude towards visitors, voters, citizens, and others will say that updating the website has nothing to do with party’s actual motives and plans.
As English part of the site worked ok I wanted to see what party thinks about Artsakh issue. Why? Because this party is the one shouting and offering Armenia to recognize Artsakh as a sovereign state (independent country) every time there is anything related to Artsakh in the air.
I was hopping that the party shouting about acceptance and recognition of Artsakh as a sovereign state should compulsorily highlight that in its Manifesto, it should clearly say that it favors the settlement of conflict where Artsakh is a sovereign state. Or at least favors the settlement where Artsakh’s people has a right for self-determination. The whole story started with that demand 25 years ago and goes on until now.
This is what I discovered in Heritage’s Manifesto:
I don’t know if this is what party demands via media, this looks more like what we actually have today. Artsakh is not under Azerbaijani dominion and Armenia has a reliable territorial connection with Artsakh. I also can not explain the third criteria for settlement, I could not find any relation with Artsakh here.
In any case I was looking for what Heritage was calling for very actively, i.e. “Artsakh is a sovereign state, recognized by Armenia”. I did not find that in their Manifesto. I also did not find any demand for Artsakh’s people’s right for self-determination.
Can one claim Heritage is a party of hypocrites?
I would say a party of careful politicians. See they call it “Motherland” in one passage where it says about uniting and “Republic of Armenia” in another passage where it says about the road. They call it a sovereign “entity” in their Manifesto and never a “state” or “country”, as they demand from Armenia’s parliament every time they talk about Artsakh.
I saw many (really many) other issues there, но это уже совсем другая история.
Heritage party, update your Manifesto. It does not fit with what you say. And update your website too.
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.
Armenian opposition has 132 likes on Facebook
To continue posting thoughts about Armenian politics and upcoming elections, that started here (in English) and went on here (in world’s most beautiful language) I went to our main oppositional movement’s website and visited their Facebook page. Yes, I talk about Armenian National Congress.
I’m used to analyzing facts and figures, therefore I wanted to see how many Facebook users all around the world like Armenian National Congress. It appears their Facebook page is liked by 132 people.
I’m sure the supporters of ANC are many. You can witness at least 3,000-4,000 people in their rallies recently. I remember times when they managed to gather 50,000 people around them. I understand that not all of them have Facebook accounts. I also understand that not all Facebook users are ready to reveal that they actually like ANC.
But I also need to take into account that Facebook is an international phenomenon, and we have around 10 million Armenians all over the world, only 132 of which actually liked our opposition on Facebook.
