Get Your Premium Membership

Taxing Away Any Kindness

They call them value added taxes. In New Zealand it is called Government service tax and it is on everything. I call them the unkindest taxes of all, Any tax that punishes you for being kind to your neighbour, Gives the tax man their cut if you pay for a homeless person's lunch, Or takes a percentage of a a child's pocket money And wonders why they are not saving like they used to, Finds me hard pressed to say anything positive in their favour. Worst of all if anyone gets behind with a bill and has to pay a penalty Wants their share of that, As for taking care of your assets, These taxes make that task even harder. Of course there is a way to avoid them, If you don't mind begging, Or living off a friend or relative. The problem for government is compounded, When they find the people who paid the value added tax need it back, But administration costs have already taken some out. When prices go up the value added tax brings in more , Which means they have a choice of lower prices and less tax, Or higher prices and more tax. They said it would lead to everyone paying their fair share of tax, So how come they are now looking at a capital gains tax as well, See if you can make sense of it, Because I refuse to let them start taxing my brain.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 11/30/2018 1:11:00 PM
Taxes often make no sense, David, and the US system isn't much better than what you have in New Zealand. It appears to make you as angry as I get. Especially when very wealthy people find ways to avoid paying any taxes at all -- even politicians at the highest level who create the tax policy. Very interesting poem. Best wishes, Carolyn
Login to Reply
Smith Avatar
David Smith
Date: 11/30/2018 2:57:00 PM
Little did Henry Ford know that his vision of a mobile population would lead to breakdown of community. Strong communities mean less need for High taxes and less govt. Hope you are comforted by the messages of hope that are in so many great poems on the soup. Poetry keeps hope alive in my heart, sharpens my wit and recharges my batteries so once more into the breach . . Thanks for taking the tme to read, I will return the favour. Very best regards David in NZ
Date: 11/30/2018 12:16:00 PM
Excellent depiction and analysis of taxes my dearest friend, David! Fortunately you do not live in Greece that lives an economic crises for twelve years now fact that has cut down our income by , at least, 40% and has raised taxes by 60%! Almost half population lives under poverty line and more than half population cannot pay their taxes! Twelve thousand have commuted suicide and more than 100 thousand have attempted suicide! I do not know if mafia would do worse than that! Cheer up! haha!
Login to Reply
Smith Avatar
David Smith
Date: 12/1/2018 1:34:00 AM
My Prayers for Greece in time of need. Hope your inspired words are reaching local ears as well as ears at bottom of world. Appreciate your comments. Very best regards David

Book: Reflection on the Important Things