The Constitution and the Poor

[daveza]

Alec the Idiot was on the news discussing the electricity tariff hikes and mentioned they were looking at ways of providing relief for the poor.

The constitution states

The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.

Note that it does not mention wealth or poverty. Does that mean one could discriminate against either the wealthy or the poor ?

What are the criteria for being 'poor' ?

 

[Fudzy]

I would imagine it's defined by living under a certain income level.

 

[bwana]

Alec the Idiot was on the news discussing the electricity tariff hikes and mentioned they were looking at ways of providing relief for the poor.

The constitution states



Note that it does not mention wealth or poverty. Does that mean one could discriminate against either the wealthy or the poor ?

What are the criteria for being 'poor' ?

Of course - tax brackets would be an example.

 

[Kokop]

Come on, we should all make an effort to uplift this countries poor. It's needed.

I have no problem being taxed for this.

My problem arises when my/our taxes are not spent on the poor. Somehow I feel that these "rich" taxes are not reaching the people we agree to "support"

Arms deal/Hellkom/Eishkom?/roads etc

Wish there was more transparency, too much to ask for I guess with the scorpions gone.

Oh Fook, now I am actually worried I think about it.

Hmmm, getting ready to look at my EU job offers again against my wishes.

!@#$%^&*

 

[air]

+1 [points at post #4]

 

[Pilgrim]

... against anyone on one or more grounds, including race...

Hmm, "including", not "limited to". Perhaps discrimination based on wealth and "income bracket" is against the constitution.

 

[eltherza]

Capitalism thrives on people needing money. It requires majority to be poor. Besides, why would the government want to empower the majority, if they did that then there would be no promises to make when it's time to campaign.

Food stamps are now out there, but as soon as ANC wins, they'll remove that mistreat the population, blame someone else for it, provide aid when elections come around again.

Why arent we uplifting the poor? Because it's not profitable.

 

[Moederloos]

Come on, we should all make an effort to uplift this countries poor. It's needed.

I have no problem being taxed for this.

My problem arises when my/our taxes are not spent on the poor. Somehow I feel that these "rich" taxes are not reaching the people we agree to "support"

Arms deal/Hellkom/Eishkom?/roads etc

Wish there was more transparency, too much to ask for I guess with the scorpions gone.

Oh Fook, now I am actually worried I think about it.

Hmmm, getting ready to look at my EU job offers again against my wishes.

!@#$%^&*

I have every problem being taxed for it. As it is, my taxes are wasted - now it is proposed I get taxed more / my taxes are wasted even more?

fark dat.

 

[milomak]

the efficiency of the state in spending our tax money is a serious issue. i would be interested to see what other economic models people would suggest SA could follow.

 

[Nod]

Capitalism thrives on people needing money. It requires majority to be poor. Besides, why would the government want to empower the majority, if they did that then there would be no promises to make when it's time to campaign.

You must be thinking about socialism, where there is only two classes (rich and poor). Capitalism would prefer that everybody are rich, as that would increase the amount of buying power.

 

[xrapidx]

I have a big problem with this...... I already pay enough taxes.... I don't need to pay more.... I don't like the idea of paying more taxes, more for fuel, more for food, more on interest rates, more for bread, more for milk, apparently more for potato's....and after all this more... I'm still getting the same nothing back.

 

[eltherza]

You must be thinking about socialism, where there is only two classes (rich and poor). Capitalism would prefer that everybody are rich, as that would increase the amount of buying power.

Well, it's argueable if Capitalism would prefer everyone rich. If everyone where rich, there would be no labour. Prices would increase and those that are "rich" will become relatively poor. How I feel is that capitalism thrives when the majority of the population is poor providing to the minority of the rich people.

But my point is that helping the poor is non-profitable and thus not in capitalism (and corruptly) driven countries best interest.

 

[Albereth]

Alec the Idiot was on the news discussing the electricity tariff hikes and mentioned they were looking at ways of providing relief for the poor.

The constitution states



Note that it does not mention wealth or poverty. Does that mean one could discriminate against either the wealthy or the poor ?

What are the criteria for being 'poor' ?

You are already discriminated against based on your income - sliding tax scales.

But it suddenly raises an interesting notion. You may not be 'unfairly' discriminated againt.... This implies that it is fair to discriminate fairly. But there is no consitutional right for the state to be able to discriminated based on income. If there was, you'd have the statement about not being able to unfairly discriminate based on wealth.

So, who is first for having a go at the tax tables being unconstitutional?

 

[xrapidx]

The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.

WTF is BEE/AA?

 

[Albereth]

WTF is BEE/AA?

It is believed to be 'fair' discrimination.

 

[andres101]

I have a big problem with this...... I already pay enough taxes.... I don't need to pay more.... I don't like the idea of paying more taxes, more for fuel, more for food, more on interest rates, more for bread, more for milk, apparently more for potato's....and after all this more... I'm still getting the same nothing back.

It is called inflation.

I heard an interesting quote the other day that I think Government should keep in mind:

Making the rich poorer does not make the poor richer