The controversy that unleashed Kun Agüero: a tax on selfishness

Taxes keep us up at night, do we agree? Maybe but certainly in a different way depending on each person’s situation. The tax issue is purely politics and it affects us a lot but in general, we don’t talk about it much. Our education on this matter is also limited. Interesting discussions and debates can only be opened when the topic moves into the world of popular media.

Last Tuesday, famous footballer Con Aguero released a statement that sparked controversy: “There are countries that charge you for having money in your account or anywhere in the world. They charge you annually… So, now I ask you a question. Why are they charging you fees, if you already pay taxes? But you make money, if you generate money, that’s okay, you pay. But what doesn’t convince me is that you pay an annual percentage of the assets you have. I think it’s crazy anywhere in the world.”

The question is interesting, dear Kon. Rather, it is a debate that is emerging more and more in the most powerful countries in the world regarding which citizens have the most money. In many cases, people who have been very wealthy for decades. The question is: Why would people who have more and more want to pay less tax? Many would probably think that it is understandable for a millionaire to stand up for the interests of other millionaires. They may even think it makes sense. Surprisingly enough, there are a lot of people defending them who are not millionaires.

In general, these property taxes are fair because they touch those who have the most and the gap between those who have the most and those who have the least is much larger than the gap between those who earn more and those who earn least. That is, the difference between those who have more and those who have nothing is much greater than the difference between what they both can earn. This situation can be corrected through property taxes.

What I’ve noticed is that in general – and especially in the case of a pandemic – there is a lot of bounce back from statements like this, when there is talk of a 1.5, 2 or 3% tax on big fortunes. They always go above and beyond and generate a lot of discussion. But did you realize that no one discusses the value-added tax, which is 21%? Something we Argrntinxs pay for with everything we buy.

Why should the poor or the very low-income have to pay for a bag of milk like people who have more? Nobody questions how unfair and unequal it is for the poor in our country, almost 50% of the population, to pay a value-added tax of 21% for their food and nobody says anything. Isn’t that up for debate? Why are taxes like VAT still charged to those with the lowest value? We all know that rich people have many tools to avoid and stay rich. And no one wonders if everyone who used the previous flight really needed the funding. Certainly there were many people with more than met needs who used the feature and it seemed fair. Wouldn’t all these discussions be fun?

I don’t know the universe. I know he is a great athlete and seems to be a good boy, but it surprises me that a person who was born into poverty, like many footballers, and knows very well what needs are today, thinks like a rich man.

This is the victory of the great millionaires: they have convinced many people who do not belong to this world that their interests are the same as theirs. While they are actually quite the opposite, because every pesos they don’t pay as taxes, for example on wealth or heritage, is a pesos that the remaining 99.9% of the population has to pay.

According to some economists, wealth taxes on the wealthy are low. Palaces, fields, or extensions of land pay little in Argentina in relation to what they paid at other times and in relation to what they pay in the first world. Of course, it’s also fair to claim that with revenue we really have a return in education, health and infrastructure (Aguero himself was referring to the condition of the roads and he’s right) as we often see it happening elsewhere. I understand that many pay their tax bill accordingly and I feel that is not reflected in the current state of things. But then we do not confuse the allegations? Why isn’t there so much rage and resentment against structural corruption or ineffective administrations?

I welcome this discussion, and hope you can think about poverty without prejudice or social stigma. For me, it makes sense that taxes should help those who have the least and, above all, improve the lives of their fellow citizens.