The Rich Should Be Taxed More, but the Government Should Function Better

      Curtis W., 15, HKIS

       The economic condition of Hong Kong in the year of 2011 is faring quite well. The housing market is booming, unemployment is low, and everyone seems to be moving along just fine. In fact, many are struggling just to put enough food on the table every day. According to a report compiled by a welfare body, 1/5 of Hong Kong citizens live below the poverty line. So what we can do is increase the taxes of the rich so that the money can then be used to help soothe the pressures of the poor. But even if the government had a lot of money, if it didn’t know how to use it properly it would all go to waste. So a more effective and smart government will have to take control.

        2011 so far isn’t going so poorly. People seem to be making money. A lot of investment and trading is happening in housing, and most people have jobs. The problem is inflation has been going wild over the past few years. Hong Kong does not have much of an industry left, which means that all we use I in Hong Kong is probably imported from all over the world. So any increase in the price of anything will also mean we will have to pay more for that product. Not everyone needs to drive, own 60-inch LCD televisions, and grand pianos from Germany, but we all need to eat. Food primarily comes from China, and as the cost to produce food has gone up, along with the increasingly high value of the RMB, inflation of food prices increases in Hong Kong. People can’t even afford to eat properly anymore.

        This is where the rich step in. It seems quite odd to me that the rich pay the same tax rate as the poor people who pay taxes too. It would have less effect to tax a person earning 1M a month 15% than it would someone earning 15,000. As we are all equal and part of the HK society, it is the responsibility of those that are better off to step in during times of difficulty and pay more taxes. This won’t bankrupt the rich, but rather it will divert some of their money to help those desperately in need of cash. In a city known for its insane competitiveness and bustling economy, it is a great shock that 1/5, 20% of our population, live under the poverty line, which is extreme poverty. How can we, those who are civilized, wealthy and educated, watch as our less fortunate and well-off counterparts starve and have to worry just to scrape by? Rich people should pay more taxes, as Warren E. Buffet, one of the most wealthy, generous men in the world, explained in his op-ed. It is the responsibility for those who are rich to also take a share in helping fight off problems, not just those who are of working class and live normal lives. This tax is not going to endure for the rest of eternity, but rather it is a way to aid those under the poverty line until they can escape it. Rich people should be proud that they are able to pay taxes to help those in need, because it proves they are capable and successful members in society. They are not being punished for being rich, but being recognized for it.

        But all this money cannot be useful unless the government that receives it knows how to use it. We need a more capable leader. The government head is like the head of an organization, and no company can run well without someone who is capable. Apple wouldn’t be Apple without Steve Jobs, Microsoft wouldn’t be Microsoft without Bill Gates. With a capable government that understands the people, understands how to change social situations, and has the courage to foster change, then the money rich people pay will be well spent. Otherwise, we will have paid for money to go to waste, and I say that we should not give a single cent. I am not a miser, and most people aren’t.

        It would only be appropriate and morally right that the rich people of HK do their job as citizens and members of society to pay more taxes, but only if the government we are giving it to has good plans and effective civil servants to make it happen. If we are paying taxes simply to fulfill the politicians’ cries, then the government’s bending to their wills, and we would have paid in vain.

The Approaching Storm

Isabelle Y., 11, SIS

The sky was painted a dark shade of gray. Layers of storm clouds began moving in and surrounded the cottages with thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. I stood outside the village, watching the storm. Little Sister and Little Brother stood with me, cuddling their soft toys. Soon, the hurricane would take over the village. We then had only a few minutes to escape. The same deadly hurricane had struck a few years ago, killing half the village including our parents. We definitely don’t want to end up in the same track as them.

The storm approached rapidly.  Little Sister and Little Brother huddled around me. It was time for us to leave. With only a backpack containing limited amount of water, five loaves of traveler’s bread, and a jacket for each of us, I wondered how long it would take us to reach Aunt Carla, our mother’s sister and our only living relative alive. It was a long trip to make as Aunt Carla lived along the Missouri River. We made our way along the rocky and bumpy path and watched our hometown vanish into the horizon.

Nightfall approached and the air grew chilly. Gusts of wind blew across the skies. We found shelter in an inn owned by a kind couple. They let us stay overnight as long as we did not get into trouble. Already, we had finished off our first loaf of bread and a bottle of water.

We squeezed into a small corner near the fireplace and fell asleep quickly. Well, Little Sister did. I lay wide awake with Little Brother on my right.

“Ally, are you awake?” His tiny voice wobbled as he whispered. I gave a slight nod and said, “Mm hmm.”  We started talking on about what we planned to do. Frankly, there was no plan. Nevertheless, if we were to find Aunt Carla, there must be a plan anyhow. We had to get to her or we would have no place to stay. I thought through that and soon, I fell asleep, leaving behind the cackling fire and the soft rug, and going to a world of my own.

The sound of horse carts and the early market woke me. A faint smell of bread loaves and butter filled the cozy inn and wafted out of the window. I sat up to find Little Sister and Little Brother still fast asleep. I dragged myself up out of bed, seated myself on a chair and waited for them to wake up.

The journey lasted like that for five or six days. We always found an inn to stay in, and we woke up the next day to continue our journey with a little more food from the owner. I figured that by this rate, we should be able to get to Aunt Carla’s in another half a week or so, since Little Sister and Little Brother always took long, extensive naps.  I liked the fact that we were almost at Aunt Carla’s and was pleased with our progress.

 “I’m bored. Can we play a game?”Little Sister asked.

“Let’s do At the Zoo.” Little Brother almost yelled out. It was his favorite game.

“Okay. I’ll go first,” Little sister volunteered. “At the zoo, I saw an ant-ee-lupe.” She stumbled over the word.

“Antelope,” I corrected. I then continued, “At the zoo, I saw an antelope and a bear.”

Suddenly, Little Brother took off running. His short stubby legs carried him further and further. Little Sister and I tried to catch up.

“Little Brother! Luke? Are you there? Little Brother! Luke!”We called out. Traces of hope left us as he seemed to have vanished.

Tiny cottages lined up in a row in front of us. I wondered if this is where Aunt Carla lived. Losing Little Brother was too sad for Little sister and me to bear. It was as if a part of us was missing. We wandered aimlessly ahead and arrived here. We walked up to the first house and I bravely knocked.

A short woman with curly auburn hair answered the door. My heart stifled a scream. She looked exactly like Mother. “How may I help you?” she asked.

“Um, we have lost track of our Little Brother. He has, um, has yellow-brown hair and he is a short four year old. Have you, um, seen him?” I stuttered. She questioningly looked back at me and asked whether I knew who Alison Anderson was.

I knew. I am Alison Anderson. She opened the door to reveal Little Brother. He stood behind her, clutching our food supply. The woman was Aunt Carla.

It turns out Little Brother had dropped our food pouch and was chasing after it. Aunt Carla was returning home and noticed the boy who resembled her sister. She helped Little Brother retrieve the pouch and led him to her house. Little Brother told her about us and had been scared of not being able to see us again ever since.

I am really glad we have a new home and a new guardian. Still, I plan to visit our old home when I am older.

Procrastination Today

Eugene F., 12, GSIS

        I agree that it is unrealistic to think that any group of people can function peacefully and productively without some kind of authority. Think of why teachers are present when students are working. The temptation to wander off and do something else is so great that students will not hesitate to procrastinate during a teacher’s absence.

        I have firsthand experience with this because this happens constantly at school. Students like us sometimes have the urge to procrastinate whenever possible. When you procrastinate, two parts of your brain are actually battling. One causes you to think that because the teacher is gone, you have the right to go crazy. The other makes you work. Unfortunately, in most cases the part which urges you to do something else is considerably stronger, so students tend to procrastinate more. In my classes, whenever a teacher leaves, everyone starts babbling. In no time, the classroom turns to absolute pandemonium unless order is restored.

        Teachers or authority is needed mostly to help people keep on track. To be organised and neat are also important. If there isn’t any leader at all, there is chaos. Everyone will be yelling and fighting. In Egypt there were many recent riots because of the fact that there was no one to govern them. The laws that kept them at bay became too lax. Chaos broke out and order could not be restored until evasive action was used. Leaders are needed to sustain the laws, to make sure that no chaos is formed. Even now, during the riots in Hong Kong, police are keeping them calm to prevent them from running around and blocking roads.

        In conclusion, order is essential when people want productivity. Otherwise chaos is omnipresent.

The Meaning of Success

Christie L., 14, St. Paul's

        The meaning of success is different to everyone. Some may think that having a high-income job is successful. Some may think having a harmonious family, a nice spouse, one or two (or maybe a dozen) children is successful. Or maybe, having a high education is successful too. To me, a successful woman in today’s society means having a stable job or a family. But the most important thing is that she thinks for herself.

        I have heard a story about what people think about “successful” in a race. The first one thinks that he can join the race and that is successful to him. The second one thinks that he is successful when he can finish the race. The third one thinks that he is successful if he receives a prize. The last one thinks that he is successful when he can be the champion. This shows that everyone has their point of view toward the word “success.”

        However, in today’s society, many people aim to be a millionaire or have a house. People think women have the strength to earn money with a high-income job, have a high social status and be independent. Truly, in today’s society, money and power symbolize success. Some of my friends think that my school principal is a successful woman. Although she is old, she still participates in all the activities. She has got the greatest power. Also, she has built up the reputation of our school. She fights for all the challenges the school faces. To some of my schoolmates, she is a successful woman.

        I have an auntie who was once a director of an investment bank. At that time, she thought she was successful. After some years, she felt really tired. Then, she went to a religious organization to be a volunteer worker. She prayed for needy people every day. This makes her day fruitful. When she recalled her memory, she told me that her life now is definitely more successful than the past days. She said that helping and influencing others is successful to her. She thinks praising God and helping God is successful to her.

        To conclude, the definition of a successful woman is different to everyone, but to me, being happy and having religion as well as being independent are the qualities of a successful woman.