Dear Editor,
Given the lawlessness, boorishness and general lack of basic common decency that pervades the society, I welcome serious consideration of any reasonable measure to ameliorate the continued social decadence in our land.
Perhaps with sheer cynicism, however, I wonder whether the latest efforts by the Government to massively increase certain fees and penalties are aimed at bringing back a sense of order to the society, or fundamentally more a convenient way to increase and collect well-needed tax revenue through the back door.
Unquestionably, a lot of fees and fines are woefully outdated, owing largely to government incompetence over the years in not allowing more manageable or gradual increases to keep up with inflation and such factors.
However, one has to wonder at the wisdom and equity in, for instance, the issue of the proposed increase of the admittedly paltry $10 fine for public intoxication to a whopping $250,000 in one fell swoop.
Given the prevalence and convenience of rum bars across the land as outlets for so many highly stressed and idle people, it is unlikely that such a cultural shift in the more responsible use of alcohol in public will occur overnight. Thus, several people will likely run afoul of the law. How many such people, mostly unemployed or underemployed, will be able to afford to pay the $250,000 fine?
That, frankly, is a classic case of madness, especially considering the long-running mismanagement of the affairs of this country by our governments.
Government should focus more on maximally educating and training our people and developing meaningful growth strategies to improve the platform for them to be provided quality employment opportunities and decent employment so they may spend less time getting drunk and being otherwise socially deviant.
Kevin KO Sangster
sangstek@msn.com
Don't just fine the drunk
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Given the lawlessness, boorishness and general lack of basic common decency that pervades the society, I welcome serious consideration of any reasonable measure to ameliorate the continued social decadence in our land.
Perhaps with sheer cynicism, however, I wonder whether the latest efforts by the Government to massively increase certain fees and penalties are aimed at bringing back a sense of order to the society, or fundamentally more a convenient way to increase and collect well-needed tax revenue through the back door.
Unquestionably, a lot of fees and fines are woefully outdated, owing largely to government incompetence over the years in not allowing more manageable or gradual increases to keep up with inflation and such factors.
However, one has to wonder at the wisdom and equity in, for instance, the issue of the proposed increase of the admittedly paltry $10 fine for public intoxication to a whopping $250,000 in one fell swoop.
Given the prevalence and convenience of rum bars across the land as outlets for so many highly stressed and idle people, it is unlikely that such a cultural shift in the more responsible use of alcohol in public will occur overnight. Thus, several people will likely run afoul of the law. How many such people, mostly unemployed or underemployed, will be able to afford to pay the $250,000 fine?
That, frankly, is a classic case of madness, especially considering the long-running mismanagement of the affairs of this country by our governments.
Government should focus more on maximally educating and training our people and developing meaningful growth strategies to improve the platform for them to be provided quality employment opportunities and decent employment so they may spend less time getting drunk and being otherwise socially deviant.
Kevin KO Sangster
sangstek@msn.com
Don't just fine the drunk
-->