In the West, it is often said that only two things are certain in life - death and taxes. It is said jokingly, but it is a truth that almost no one questions. Indeed, taxes are not seen as a topic for discussion there, but as an integral part of life. The question, in fact, is not whether taxes must be paid. The question is what is gained in return.
If taxes are seen as part of a contract between the state and citizens, which in principle they are, then its essence is simple: we give the state a portion of the funds we create through our own efforts, and it provides us with certainty. Order. Rules that apply to everyone. A framework within which one can plan life, not just react to problems.
In orderly societies, that contract is not constantly explained, because it works. People don't think about where their taxes go every day, because they see the results. Not perfect, but clear enough to know that the system is working in their favor, even when it makes mistakes.
With us, the situation is reversed. The obligation exists, but the sense of contract does not. Taxes are paid, but certainty is absent. Rules are changed, arbitrarily interpreted, or circumvented. Instead of trust, caution develops. Instead of security, a constant need to be careful, check, and manage.
The problem is not the obligation itself. Most people have no fundamental problem with contributing to the community. The problem is that we all know where a good deal of money ends up - or at least we assume with great certainty - and it is not where it should be, when a significant part of what we all give is lost in non-transparent decisions, privileges and interests that have nothing to do with the public good.
In such an environment, suspicion of corruption does not arise from malice or distrust of the state as an idea. It arises from experience. And when processes are not transparent enough, suspicion ceases to be just a personal attitude and becomes a responsibility. Civic, but also institutional. Because a system that does not allow insight, itself creates distrust. It seeks distrust.
That's why the issue of taxes in our country is never just a fiscal issue. It's a question of relationships. Does the state see citizens as partners in a contract or as a source of income and votes that don't have to be explained? Does taxation serve to build certainty or maintain uncertainty?
We are not looking for perfection. We are not looking for a state that solves all our problems for us. Finances are a personal responsibility and there is no dilemma there. What is expected in return is a minimum of order: that the system functions, that the rules apply, that institutions do their job and that the community moves forward, not in circles.
Paying taxes only makes sense when there is a sense that the contract is valid for both parties. Without that, the obligation remains, but the meaning disappears. And a society in which the meaning of mutual giving disappears, slowly ceases to be a community.
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