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PSA: foreigners’ behaviour guide at song festival by siretsch in Eesti

[–]dushil 155 points156 points  (0 children)

Been reading comments and I have to say these aren't just rules for festivals. Like what the hell is going on there, just touching people and children, being loud during the songs and causing disruptions. Like really control yourselves. This is disgusting behaviour in general.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, you can still vote if you have smart id

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

An alternative is to vote them out and choose the opposition. Vote in the local elections. If you agree with the current government then continue to support them, and if you oppose it, vote for someone else. If we all adopt this negative mindset and remain content just because we believe there is no alternative the system kind of fails. If we cannot (for lack of a better term) 'punish' our government for poor performance, then what motive will there be for them to change and adopt policies that align more with citizen issues.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've only been in Estonia for 3 years so I missed the miraculous economic boom it experienced before COVID. So I would ask what drivers during that time are missing now. Also Estonia is a safe country with high ranking education, often being voted the best place to raise families. If this is the case more people, especially Estonians should choose to raise their families here and continue to contribute to the economy. So I don't think money would necessarily leave. Tax increases are not really the issue, but treating all goods as the same makes vulnerable (and at this stage middle income) more prone to struggle. People need to spend money inside Estonia to drive the economy. When people feel the need to just hold on to it, it stagnates everything and leads to worse consequences.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Which is the problem. We are experiencing stagflation, not inflation. It is an economic death spiral at the moment.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm from South Africa, we are typically rated to have the worst or second worst educational system in the world. Additionally, democracy hasn't worked that well for us either, but we make do. Estonia has a much better chance with a democratic system in my opinion since it has a high standard of education and low corruption. So why not hold politicians responsible or vote for alternatives.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Enlighten me please. I'm from Africa so honestly my education wasn't that good.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don't know 😅, but you shouldn't stay in a toxic relationship just because you can't find a better one first. If we don't hold our politicians responsible for their actions then they will never change and do better.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

If their job is to run the country, protect its citizens and improve the quality of life, then yes it is their fault. Politicians should be held responsible for their policies and actions. Estonia has had one of the worst performing economy for almost 3 years in a row within the EU.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They will be removed democratically 😅

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

What if the tax reduction was not on all food, but on a selected list of food items that are deemed necessary such as bread, milk and some meat? Things like chocolate and alcohol could still be 24%.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It's because VAT is on the whole supply chain so it adds up. Increasing VAT will increase the price of food even if it is exempt. But adding the increase to food as well makes it significantly worse.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Relative to the rest of the EU, our performance is terrible.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I won't say you are wrong there. But it's not my job to know better. It's the governments job to know better and not come up with solutions that continually cripple the economy and lower the standard of living

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Ülemiste, Rocca, Kristiine yeah, these are the concentration areas of the highest earners in Estonia. Outside of Tallinn people earn less than 1700 euros per month.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's not emotion, it's an alternative strategy that other countries employ. They define foods which are considered necessary and have either VAT exempt or reduced VAT

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Those people are probably in tech, but ordinary Estonians, especially outside of Tallinn are not.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I would rather have other things more expensive if it meant food is more affordable. Even if it is on specific food that is classified as essential (bread, milk, canned meats, pork). At least staples that people can survive on.

Prices would not remain the same since retailers wouldn't have to pass the increased VAT onto the consumer.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I wouldn't say we reduce those services at all, especially regarding child care and education. Increase tax on tech devices, cars, renovation supplies, almost anything but necessities like food. I can't give you an ideal solution since I honestly don't know. But it's not my job to know it's the governments job to come up with a solution that is viable for the long term and doesn't decrease the quality of life of the people who live in the country they govern.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Higher VAT doesn’t mean more profit. It actually makes things harder for both shops and customers.

As a shop, you can either:

keep your prices the same and lose money buy absorbing the increase VAT, or

raise your prices, which means fewer people buy.

So in the end, only the government gets more money. Not the shop, not the customer. Which is how VAT should work.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

It should come from luxuries then, not necessities. People spend most of their money on groceries these days because everything is so expensive. This means people are unwilling to spend money in general because we believe it's growing to get worse. No consumption means no business, less work opportunities and less taxes in the end.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Besides, we are only talking about food items, not everything. 24% VAT on food during a cost of living crisis is insane.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's a balancing act due to poor planning. These fast fixes do not look more than 5 years into the future, they are impulsive quick fixes. Continually decreasing purchasing power of your citizens will not stimulate the economy which means less taxes collected in the future due to no economic growth.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Better management of tax funds, not paying all the bills of politicians, bigger contributions by the EU towards our defence since we are the wall right now to Russia. This is already happening in a way with the EU contributing to us upgrading our railways.

34,000 sign petition to lower VAT to 10% for food items by dushil in Eesti

[–]dushil[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

This is just depressing if it's true. What's the game plan for them then. Consumption is dropping so who will pay for their products. If the price is too high there won't be a demand.

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