|
NATIONAL PARTY NORTH WEST
24 February
1995
Hereby a submission in writing on the new constitution from one
of our members, a Mr R.
Jordaan from Klerksdorp.
We trust that you
will find it useful.
MARTIN PETZER
CHIEF SECRETARY
Dept
Education and Training
14 February 1995
It has been widely announced that we 'ordinary' people may give our
input on the new constitutional dispensation by submitting proposals
for what we
would like to see included in the constitution.
For this reason, and
because it has always been accepted scripturally and from a Christian point of
view that there are differences
between persons, psychologically, spiritually,
economically, intellectually, and therefore that each individual has received
and
promoted certain talents, there has always been those who have excelled in
certain, if not all of the above-mentioned areas. On
this ground I agree with
the principle of no discrimination in any of these areas. Religion
included.
For this reason the differences between individuals, the
inherent composition, etcetera, together with the coherent and obviously
undetermined ability to rise above others or not, is a natural principle. This
underlying principle is, or is supposed to be, drawn
through and applied to
everything. As in the case of equal franchise, equal freedoms with regard to
religion, choices of occupation
and speech, in other words the principle that
each individual has an equal right in these regards, it should also be applied
in all
areas of no discrimination and absolutely equal treatment.
It is
therefore herewith confirmed that, regardless of the inherent differences, race,
ethnicity, gender, religion, inherent abilities,
this basic principle of equal
freedom, franchise etc. applies, in principle, individually. In other words,
the man/woman with an
IQ of 200 and the one with an IQ of 120 all vote, can all
promote the religion in the way they want, say what they want, etc.
In
principle, this applies to all areas, except the economy. With the "Boston
tea-party' the then settlers in America, 16th century,
had the motto: 'No
taxation without liberation". We seem to be in the same situation. Maybe we
must change it to "No taxation with
discrimination'. Taxation on individuals is
not part of the principle of equality as is the case with franchise, freedom of
speech,
etc.
Therefore this means that if I have an IQ of 200 I must be
able to vote more than the person with an IQ of 120, measured against the
present system of taxation. I have the ability, inherently, to generate a
turnover of R200 000 per year, while somebody else on
the whole does not have
this ability, because his/her initiative was not promoted, or simply because
this person does not have this
initiative.
Yet we all pay the same
levies on VAT and fuel, etc. Which leads to larger matters such as the
free-market system. What equality
is there? Does it not depend on the
individual to what he advertises, introduces and manages his enterprise, whether
he is going
to have success? Surely this is obvious. But, why must he
personally be taxed more for his initiative. Why then, if he pays more
than the
others, does he not receive more rights? That he can vote 2 or 3 times? (As an
example.)
This simple example illustrates the obvious discrimination
which exists with regard to taxation on personal income.
The further
disadvantage of this is that a further damper is placed on those who have the
initiative to generate more capital, who
create more job opportunities and who
bring more taxpayers to the fore.
Therefore I would rather see that each
one, each individual who may vote, is taxed equally. If this freedom principle
of equal rights
cannot be applied, discrimination is involved.
To counter
this, alternatives must be created, in order to generate state income on the
same basis through taxation. Rather have
increased VAT but equal personal tax.
Otherwise the individual who pays more personal tax will have to obtain
compensation elsewhere
for the inequality which exists.
Therefore I would
like to know how those people are going to get compensation, more votes or what?
It goes without saying that franchise
as such is not the only option, but indeed
viable. Otherwise also company tax, which must be increased or adjustments
elsewhere
in the capital movement of the pay unit.
Discrimination as set
out here means in principle that with regard to taxation on personal income,
equal rights and freedom do not
exist. Therefore at present one cannot talk
about freedom of the individual.
The hope for a prosperous and
economically favourable future.
R. Jordaan
|
