A tip for PC

I wouldn't like to be in PC8217;s shoes. Not even for a million dollars. "Who is P.C?" a squeaky voice disturbs my train of thought. "PC, m...

I wouldn8217;t like to be in PC8217;s shoes. Not even for a million dollars. 8220;Who is P.C?8221; a squeaky voice disturbs my train of thought. 8220;PC, my friend,8221; adds the voice, 8220;stands for many things, animate or inanimate. Police Constable; Personal Computer, Political Correctness8230;8221;

PC is none else than the hon8217;ble finance minister. I wouldn8217;t like to be in his shoes. Not even for a million dollars. Not when he is finalising the Budget proposals and will be presenting them on February 28. The leaders of the Left parties are barking their heads off, telling the finance minister that he should take note of their political compulsions and formulate the Budget in accordance with their ideological preferences. 8220;Don8217;t take us for granted,8221; they assert.

The old proverb, barking dogs seldom bite, has no relevance in the present times. The new breed not only barks, but also bites where it hurts the most. Let PC, they add, make no mistake about it.

There are pressures from every sector. The traders are saying, 8220;We won8217;t accept a VAT regime,8221; though very few people know what VAT is anyway and what havoc VAT will cause to the common man. I, for one, have seen more than 40 Budgets come and go, without personally improving my financial position in any way. Budgets are not meant to improve the common man8217;s lot. It is just an exercise to find out how much deficit financing will be needed to meet the rising expenses of the administration.

No, I won8217;t agree to be in PC8217;s shoes. Not even for a million dollars. Nay, the stakes have gone up, so I won8217;t take the job for even for a trillion dollars. But I can give him a tip.

It is not an original idea. Nor am I inclined to pass off borrowed ideas as my own. But I know a good tip when I come across one; and I am not a selfish man, generally speaking. A bevy of film actresses tells me that they approve of my decision. Why should one keep such a tip under wraps?

I am sure that our hon8217;ble finance minister will benefit if he takes the cue held out by the tip. It comes to me from Cicero 106-43 BC. Here is the tip: the budget should be balanced, the treasury should be refilled, public debt should reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled and assistance to foreign lands should be reduced lest the state become bankrupt. The people should be forced to work and not depend on government for subsistence.8221;

So there, PC, just take that tip.