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Derailing TRAIN
By Tonyo Cruz

Published January 15, 2018

Last week, an economist claimed that it is an “oversimplication” to say that President Duterte’s tax reform law
is anti-poor and pro-rich.

The economist went on to say, quite duplicitously, that “those who dismiss TRAIN as such, without a deeper
explanation and a reasonable justification, are ideologically driven, are opposing for the sake of opposing, are
misinformed, or are not equipped with the analytical tools to dissect TRAIN.”

I say duplicitous because these are mainly ad hominem arguments that we don’t expect from an economics
scholar. The economists, especially ones who favor TRAIN, are virulently ideological especially on trickle-down
economics, low taxes for the wealthy and neoliberal policies of deregulation, liberalization and privatization.
They consider these as gospel truth.

Such virulently ideological economists are trained to misportray their views as “sober” and “unprejudiced.” In
their self-serving and warped conception of politics and economics,.8 (er)15.4 (v)-v.3 (i)-ervere “,.8 (er)15.4 (v)deoogonal”,.8
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The taxes would be slapped and collected, regardless of ideology. Fortunately for the well-paid economists
serving the oligarchs and the wealthy, their generous incomes and grants from consultancies and projects
promoting TRAIN would shield them from the new reality they help impose on everyone else.

It is quite clear why some academics are acting this way. TRAIN is not the end. It is only the means to raise
revenue for government. Duterte and Congress have long said TRAIN revenues would go to funding the BUILD
BUILD BUILD projects which oligarchs cannot wait to take advantage of, in the same way they took advantage
of the MRT. The “sober” and “unprejudiced” academics would also be there to partake in the blood money as
consultants of government or oligarchs.

Aside from the oligarchs, the International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and creditor banks are happy with
TRAIN. They have asked the government to expand the tax base (meaning, raising consumption taxes and
other indirect taxes) before giving any form of tax cuts. TRAIN gave them both and more: TRAIN assures them
that government would have money to pay for old and new external debts, more money to give to PPP projects
they prescribe, and some money for temporary doleouts.

In most of the world’s countries, citizens have a fairly simple yardstick when looking at any so-called tax reform
being proposed by the government. Their first and most important question is: Would this tax reform measure
give tax cuts to the wealthy? If the answer is yes, it immediately becomes toxic and would be roundly rejected
by citizens. Because they know that tax cuts for the wealthy mean tax hikes for everyone else. Somebody has
to pay for those tax cuts for the rich.

That is among the questions the ideological economists supporting TRAIN are afraid to hear and to answer,
point blank. And which we should courageously ask now: Who will pay for the lower donor, estate and income
taxes for the wealthy? Who will carry the burden of the new and higher consumption taxes the wealthy have
promised they will pass on?

Lest we forget, aside from further enriching the oligarchy and widening the income gap between the rich and
the poor, TRAIN would serve the kind of politics that authored and produced it. The middle-class and the poor
would be made to shoulder the burden of financing a corrupt and tyrannical regime now aspiring to rule
indefinitely.

Reference:
Cruz, T. (2018, January 15). Derailing TRAIN [Editorial]. Manila Bulletin. Retrieved from
https://news.mb.com.ph/2018/01/15/derailing-train/

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Tonyo Cruz
Blogger, columnist and strategist
NCR - National Capital Region, Philippines
Marketing and Advertising
Current TweetUpMNL, Manila Bulletin, tonyocruz.com
Previous Movent, Netbooster Asia, TBWA\Santiago Mangada
Puno
Education University of the Philippines
Recommendations 9 people have recommended Tonyo Cruz
Websites Blog
Company Website
Company Website
Summary
Tonyo wears many hats -- blogger, columnist, and strategist, among others.

He is active in social media: promoting digital for communities, organizations, entrepreneurs and media;
championing tech for social good during disasters and elections; campaigning for rights and welfare of
consumers; and inspiring collaboration among tech-related or cause-oriented various groups.

He is a conspirator of TweetUpMNL, the organizing team behind the Social Media Day events in the
Philippines since 2012.

His blog tonyocruz.com received honors in the 2008 Philippine Blog Awards. In 2012, the Philippine tech
website The New Media (TNM) feted him and his colleagues with a “Digital Hero” Award for outstanding
use of social for calamity response (#RescuePH, #ReliefPH).

He has been invited either as speaker or Philippine representative to events, summits and conferences in
the Philippines, and in Asia, North America and Europe.

In 2012-2013, Tonyo was Chief Social Media Strategist for Movent Inc., the country’s biggest digital
agency. In 2011-2012, he served as Digital Consultant and later Digital OIC for TBWA\SMP, one of the
most awarded creative agencies in the Philippines.

He writes a weekly Op-Ed column in the Manila Bulletin, the Philippines' leading newspaper

Causes Tonyo cares about:

Civil Rights and Social Action
Economic Empowerment
Education
Human Rights
Disaster and Humanitarian Relief
Politics
Poverty Alleviation
Science and Technology
Social Services

Source: https://ph.linkedin.com/in/tonyocruz

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Source: https://www.adsoftheworld.com/media/print/diamond_coffee_school_bus_driver

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Agency Network: Leo Burnett, Hong Kong
Published: July 2011
Description: Print advertisement created by Leo Burnett, Hong Kong for Diamond Coffee, within the
category: Non-Alcoholic Drinks.

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About Leo Burnett, Hong Kong:

Leo Burnett Creative Philosophy – Humankind

Creativity has the power to transform human behavior.

This is the core belief of what we call HumanKind. It’s not about advertising or brand propositions or selling
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and work that not just builds brands and businesses, but wins international and local awards and accolades.

Source: http://leoburnett.hk/about-us/

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