Thumbs up or thumbs down?

BUDGET

The annual budget is presented every year in June – or sometimes earlier like it was this year – and while the government pats itself on the back and claims another feather in its cap, the opposition boos and gives it a ‘thumbs down’ verdict.

It’s a tit for tat exercise that takes place every year and is an expected part of the proceedings – the majority of the public who watch the budget speech on television is now immune to these shenanigans of the politicians and ignore them. They only take interest in what relief or extra burden on their family budget is in store. While some are happy others are not – to quote a popular saying, ‘you can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all the time,’ applies here – and comments about the budget will come from various quarters for days on end.

Viewing various channels during the breaks between the budget speech and after it concluded, you must have heard the same story from every member of the general public interviewed by all anchor persons. The most common reply was and usually is, ‘There is one person to earn and ten mouths (or whatever number is relevant, though it is never anything below half a dozen) to feed. It is very difficult to manage.” Yet most of these people will be fooled into voting for the same old faces when elections take place, because they are gullible and easily taken in with false promises.  

Watching the finance minister explaining the why’s and wherefore of the budget – and even earlier when he was presenting it – you couldn’t help noticing how desperate he appeared but did not resort to shouting, unlike many political entities who  yell at the top of their voices as if by shouting they will be more convincing! A majority of people will not have understood the intricacies of what the budget has in store for them even after reading about it in black and white or hearing comments on TV but the reality will soon hit them when they go to the markets and receive their utility bills. Its only when the wallet is opened and payment is made that the realisation dawns how much its contents have shrunk in buying power! Be prepared to hear many complaints from everyone around you, while the general public will keep wondering what hit them, since it expected unrealistic miracles to be performed by the ‘popular awami government!’

But, hey! Why fret? Protests on this score achieve no results unless there is a mass boycott of certain items, which is impossible as we are far too divided as a nation to act together. Life goes on and grumble and grouse we may, but a majority of us – both well to do or otherwise  –  will still be heading for the markets and celebrating Eid as if there was no tomorrow, mark my words!