Living in Türkiye feels like being in a dark comedy. The hunger and poverty thresholds highlight the harsh realities of life. The government’s policies and practices only add to the absurdity.
Are you ready to face the harsh realities of life in Türkiye? Behold the absurdity: according to the United Public Workers’ Union Confederation’s research, the hunger threshold rose by 202 liras in July to a staggering 20,776 liras, while the poverty threshold climbed to 62,302 liras.
How did we achieve this? Through the successful economic policies of our government, of course! Let’s delve into this comedic tragedy together.
Minimum wage: The poor’s dream, the rich’s chuckle
Imagine earning 17,002 liras a month. Yes, that’s the minimum wage in Türkiye. It doesn’t even reach the hunger threshold! As if that’s not enough, let’s consider retirees. Great news! The minimum pension will be raised to 12,500 liras. Once retired, you can forget about dining on shrimp and maybe dream of pasta instead. With a hunger threshold at 20,776 liras, surviving on this amount is nothing short of a comedy.
As a citizen of Türkiye, if you want to travel abroad, you must pay a 500 lira travel fee. It’s like crossing Deli Dumrul’s bridge!
Everyone wishing to travel abroad must pay this toll. Isn’t it creative how the state finds ways to dip into the citizen’s pocket to turn the wheels of the economy?
The art of tax evasion: The masters of large taxpayers
According to the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, 27 percent of 2,815 large taxpayers are under tax investigation. This percentage is expected to increase. Additionally, 735 taxpayers who consistently declare losses are also under investigation. If you want to learn how to declare losses while actually making profits, you can take lessons from these large taxpayers. In layman’s terms, never let a chicken out of sight when you expect eggs in return!
While the president of the taxi drivers’ association pays only 250 liras in annual taxes, a salaried employee gives away more than 40% of their monthly income in taxes and social security contributions. And upon retiring, even with huge deductions from their salaries, they’re expected to rejoice at the minimum pension of 12,500 liras. Is this not the very definition of dark comedy?
Tax reform: A fairy tale
Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek claims that the purpose of tax reform is to collect more from those who earn more and less from those who earn less. It sounds delightful. However, seeing how this reform works in reality doesn’t require a crystal ball. While large companies master the art of tax evasion, small businesses and salaried employees struggle with high taxes. The realism of this statement is open to debate!
The government has made a significant gesture by allowing AK Party Ankara MP Tuğrul Türkeş to visit Gezi trial detainees, with permission granted by the Ministry of Justice. Türkeş had applied to meet Osman Kavala, Tayfun Kahraman, Can Atalay, and Çiğdem Mater. Is this a big step showing the government’s sensitivity to human rights and justice, or is it just a facade? Is this a sincere change or another staged performance?
Time to wake up from the dream
Economic and social problems in Türkiye continue to make life difficult for its citizens. With the hunger threshold at 20,776 liras, the minimum wage at 17,002 liras, the minimum pension at 12,500 liras, additional taxes like the travel fee, and large taxpayers evading taxes, the system’s injustice is glaringly evident. The government’s grand openings and various reforms show that serious steps are not being taken to solve these issues. For citizens to truly achieve prosperity, more profound and fair solutions are needed.
In summary, living in Türkiye feels like being in a dark comedy. The hunger and poverty thresholds highlight the harsh realities of life. The government’s policies and practices only add to the absurdity. Hopefully, one day, this story will have a happy ending.
