Prabhupada: Taxes = 25% of produce

[Guest guest]

On 03 Jan 1999, Hare Krsna dasi wrote:

 

> The very, very important point that is almost impossible for us to grasp

> is that Srila Prabhupada is talking about this taking place in the

> varnasrama society that he envisions, which is a subsistence-oriented

> society, not a market-oriented society.

>

> This kind of tax is not at all possible in our current market-oriented

> society. Say a farmer has a 400 acre grain farm. If he had to give all

> the production of 100 acres as taxes, he would have to go out of business.

> How would he pay the shipping on his grain? How would he pay for seeds

> and fertilizers? How would he make his mortgage payments, or rent

> payments on the land? How would he pay his insurance? How would he pay

> for expensive planting and harvesting equipment? How would he pay his

> fuel bill?

 

 

An important consideration in all of this is what does the Ksatriya GIVE BACK

to the citizens in return for levying taxes, fines, tolls, etc. I don't think

we abandon technology - we engage it - and gradually transition to more

practical means. It shouldn't stop us from doing things right now. A ksatriya

can take 25% of one vendors goods or money (if he is involved in banking,

etc.) and redistribute services/products in an equitable manner to

maintain/protect all citizens.

 

It is similar to bartering. In a city close to Syracuse, Ithaca, where Cornell

University is, they have instituted a very successful "currency" called Ithaca

Dollars. Doctors, dentists, insurers, grocers, farmers, retailers, all sorts

of people give their "produce" for equal trade for other needs. This can be

nicely administrated by a leader.

 

 

The only thing missing is leadership and a concerted effort. Either the

current "leaders" of ISKCON will have to finally grasp the basic, simple and

fundamental need for recognition of varnasrama-dharma/Vedic Culture within

this society of aspiring devotees or they will have to be replaced by

qualified leaders who will, or this paradigm shift will NEVER take place in

ISKCON. It may happen elsewhere where leadership-oriented people have grasped

this elementary strategy and realize it is the FIRST order of business - varna

first, asrama later. ISKCON's "leaders" are that in name only. Most of them

are sannyasis who are supposed to be giving up all cares about society and we

have them in charge of society! Their "followers" are suffering everyday from

their stubborn resolve to plod along as they have for the last 24 years, 9

months and 21 days and ignore the most basic needs of those innocent and

sincere followers.

 

Leaders make the age, the age does not make the leaders.

 

In the interests of the greater Krsna conscious society this conference should

be lobbying, actively, the present "leaders" of ISKCON to take up this task

immediately. Individuals may implement VAD within their own personal lives as

the result of this valuable teaching tool conference but to think that ISKCON

is going to change by our tiny conference membership is a bit impractical. We

become a mutual admiration society with little or no practical implementation.

 

 

Let's organize a mass email/snail mail campaign to the GBC and all temples to

recognize VAD and start teaching it in every center, to every bhakta (that's

all of us), everyday. Start by reading out loud everyday Srila Prabhupada's 4

day morning walk conversations in Vrindavana of 1974, and his 1977 Valentine's

day massacre/VAD conversations with Hari Sauri et al. Hare Krsna devi's VAD

book should be coming out soon - add it to the list. We'll see action amongst

the "voting" population of bhaktas, I guarantee it.

 

 

Jd