Taxes are extremely difficult issue, which Slovenian progeny in no way understands. Many Slovenes indeed understand very little, in general, without exaggerating, although it is obvious to me that now many of them shall reproach me with wickedness or evil behaviour, but taxes are yet a theme, of which common understanding among dear compatriots is almost a mission impossible. Literally. How else should we interpret the fact that on a scale of Forbes magazine Slovenia is the most taxed country in the world; nevertheless, in the mountains a cruel reality still doesn't induce a serious outrage, and above all an actual resistance. Well, Slovenians do get a little awoke, when a super mind of financial ministry France Križanič appears and clumsy proposes to introduce a tax on "nonparenthood"; and this would really be too much, wouldn't it? In general, most people have no idea of how and where their country steals their money from, literally from their pocket. And it really does not matter who is in power and in which direction the authority might ideologically be oriented. Money doesn't stink. Not black, not red, in short - not any.  

 

 

 

 

My column in Croatian Poslovni dnevnik (Business Daily): Croats shall pay the price for past Slovenian nonsense

Slovenian intelligence is really incredibly wise, if it is true that it transferred money of Croatian depositors in Ljubljanska banka into federation, and thus when Yugoslavia was already bursting at the seams.

I'm sorry, but regardless of which points of Croatian-Slovene disputes we are talking we always need somehow to return to the period of our former common state Yugoslavia, which still today is idealized by many people despite the fact that after disintegration of this artificial creation of communist criminal Josip Broz Tito some time ago really it should be clear to everyone that neither to Slovenia nor to Croatia this false brotherhood and unity brought absolutely no good. In the golden Tito's years indeed there was no lack of money. If we would run out of it, simply some more of it would be printed. Simply said. But only for needs of luxurious life of our beloved leader and his parasites. Small and ordinary people, state residents, they all had to live the same life. All equally unpretentious. If they wanted to be at least somewhat financially independent and secure, they had to save. When we save, we want our money to be safely invested, don't we? And this is where the odyssey of Croatian depositors who have entrusted money into Slovenian hands begins. 

 

Price of human dignity 

 

Tomaž Humar has died. Tragically. Although somehow in a way as probably fits best for an alpinist - in the mountains of Nepal Himalayas. The way he lived, the way he died. Well, the inevitable fact is that we are all just human beings, no one has been given eternal life, and sooner or later, one way or another, we shall all die. Each death of course is painful, particularly for the closest relatives, for those who have to live on. Without their loved one. Therefore, my sincere condolences to all who were close to Humar, especially to his family and children. What exactly happened on Mount Langtang Lirung where Humar lived to see last moments of his life, severely injured, will probably never be explained. But it is evident what was about his doings, his passion for mountains and climbing in thoughts of many Slovenians, because what they thought they also expressed - without probably even thinking of what they were expressing. 

 

 
Photo by Delo

 

 

Lazy, insular and invidious 

Why don't Slovenians have European wages? Bitterly question likes to stick over Slovenian society. Every time when people remember that they would like more money, higher wages. And thus is practically non-stop, almost every day. When this or that trade union, a remaining of miserable unsurvived socialism and nowadays, at least in our country, only extended arm of this or that policy, remembers that it should hold a crutch to this or that, one or the same, political option for achieving its own goals, yet for workers and their rights suffices also modest allowance, few Euros. And that's it. A makeshift. For few months, for one year tops - and then the "battle" starts over. Again. For additional small change, for few more Euros. But not to be like pointless paroles of various Semolič kind and him alike, let me first answer question from first sentence in a concrete way:  the fact is, that you Slovenians don't have European wages because you simply don't deserve them. Every little better versed economist could demonstrate that wages can resp. even must grow in proportion to productivity, which represents net labour value; and because productivity in Slovenia is rather low, also Slovenian wages are adequately low; for instance, if we look at EU economy, the productivity of our craftsmen is basically one of the weakest points. So? 

 

 

 

 

Pero Simić is Serbian publicist, author of the book "Tito, mystery of the century", which was released also in Slovenia just a week ago; with a pleasant gentleman we briefly chatted - about the book and Tito - after introducing mystery of the century in Ljubljana.