Prepare Yourself For 16% Tax Added Onto Food And Medicine
The PRI got their way, and IVA the 16% National Sales Tax has been added to FOOD and MEDICINE. I have already noticed some price increases in other industries (mostly tourist oriented).
Forum Discussion
"Mexico Is Doing Better"
Well shucks, I would have hoped to read the Mexican PEOPLE are doing better.
You know those homeless guys standing on USA freeway ramps holding signs? Well they make about TWENTY TIMES the amount of money as hardworking poor farmers in Mexico. I could care less Juan Fulano can now afford a 42" flat screen to replace his 36" flat screen TV in Monterrey. That's "how" they manage to say "Mexico Is Doing Better".
115,000,000 people here eat every day. They now pay 16% tax for that privilege. That's a lot of money. Instant money for the government. A month passes. A huge storm hits endangering a lot of people. What does the government do? They did not send out messages saying the army was bringing food and the government was going to fall all over itself to try and help. No. The president goes on TV, radio and cell phone text messages ASKING FOR DONATIONS.
The movie star, and her husband el presidente, are going to depart their sexenio (6-year term of office) wealthy beyond their dreams. So will all the secretarias.
When you have a government official who has a claimed salary of say 35,000 US dollars worth of pesos with a stable of 4 luxury cars, five luxury homes all over the country, something stinks. Can't ask his wife - she's in Europe shopping.
Look the problem here is gringos DO NOT SEE THE POOR when they come here. They see Jose the owner of the RV park and Juan the fugitive from East L.A. working the blender to prepare your Cuba Libre. The hammock or sunglasses sales people hit the beach then disappear. Your environment is sterilized. Gringos tend to congregate with other gringos and not blend into a Mexican fraccionamento, Colonia, or barrio where you get to see "Where The Other 99 Percent Live".
When you go to the Mega, or Soriana, or Wal-mart you are seeing 3% of the population who can shop these stores. Go to an honest tianguis, an open air market and see the real Mexico. Where people still discuss the price or goods and arrive at a solution that satisfies everyone.
When I drive back across the border next month, it's going to be with a trunk packed with heavy winter blankets for unheated houses. No I am not going to declare them and no, the buyers are not going to pay 16% sales tax so someone in Mexico City can buy another 7 series BMW. The retail price will be lower. The 16% slashed and a hell of a lot of the profit margin markup normally charged by a USA store. The poorer folks around here will have a comforter instead of dressing in everything they have before going to bed. I would have neither the guts nor the stomach to prey upon the poor. Sorry, I don't have what it takes.
Well shucks, I would have hoped to read the Mexican PEOPLE are doing better.
You know those homeless guys standing on USA freeway ramps holding signs? Well they make about TWENTY TIMES the amount of money as hardworking poor farmers in Mexico. I could care less Juan Fulano can now afford a 42" flat screen to replace his 36" flat screen TV in Monterrey. That's "how" they manage to say "Mexico Is Doing Better".
115,000,000 people here eat every day. They now pay 16% tax for that privilege. That's a lot of money. Instant money for the government. A month passes. A huge storm hits endangering a lot of people. What does the government do? They did not send out messages saying the army was bringing food and the government was going to fall all over itself to try and help. No. The president goes on TV, radio and cell phone text messages ASKING FOR DONATIONS.
The movie star, and her husband el presidente, are going to depart their sexenio (6-year term of office) wealthy beyond their dreams. So will all the secretarias.
When you have a government official who has a claimed salary of say 35,000 US dollars worth of pesos with a stable of 4 luxury cars, five luxury homes all over the country, something stinks. Can't ask his wife - she's in Europe shopping.
Look the problem here is gringos DO NOT SEE THE POOR when they come here. They see Jose the owner of the RV park and Juan the fugitive from East L.A. working the blender to prepare your Cuba Libre. The hammock or sunglasses sales people hit the beach then disappear. Your environment is sterilized. Gringos tend to congregate with other gringos and not blend into a Mexican fraccionamento, Colonia, or barrio where you get to see "Where The Other 99 Percent Live".
When you go to the Mega, or Soriana, or Wal-mart you are seeing 3% of the population who can shop these stores. Go to an honest tianguis, an open air market and see the real Mexico. Where people still discuss the price or goods and arrive at a solution that satisfies everyone.
When I drive back across the border next month, it's going to be with a trunk packed with heavy winter blankets for unheated houses. No I am not going to declare them and no, the buyers are not going to pay 16% sales tax so someone in Mexico City can buy another 7 series BMW. The retail price will be lower. The 16% slashed and a hell of a lot of the profit margin markup normally charged by a USA store. The poorer folks around here will have a comforter instead of dressing in everything they have before going to bed. I would have neither the guts nor the stomach to prey upon the poor. Sorry, I don't have what it takes.
