Life in Armenia

[Artashes]

Re: Life in Armenia

IMO, the pension plan opens the door (again) to fraud.
We all know the gas price at the border is significantly less than at the individual consumer end.
We all know at least one of the 50 or so greed ridden families has their hands in this.
I suggest that a percent of every gas sale be taken for pension funds.
Everyone uses gas.
The percentage taken from gas sales should not raise the gas price but rather come from the manipulative gaugers pocket.
This gas from the border to the consumer needs to be scrutinized by independent evaluators and exposed.
The money for fair pensions is in fact actually there.
It is being fraudulently stolen by the likes og gago or whoever has the "sweetheart" deal.
Artashes

For that matter, all mineral wealth exported from the country should have a percentage deducted for pension and medical costs.
This wealth also belongs to the country & people.
The benefits should be utilized as such.
Artashes

At the very best, it's a well intentioned endeavor that will do much more damage than good. At the not so very best, it is exactly as you say: another attempt at theft.

Considering the more complex well intentioned route:

The United States of America, the country encouraging this campaign, a country that also happens to be the world's most powerful country, cannot itself maintain such a program. The Social Security Program has become an abused government nuisance on the road to bankruptcy that nobody seems to know how to reform. What would lead us to believe that Armenia would be able to a manage such a program that America cannot.

Even if the plan is executed perfectly and years down the road we see the benefits, it wouldn't matter. Armenia's most pressing issue is right now. Things are most dire now. People are having the most trouble making it by now. Emigration is happening now, not in 10 years. When you make it harder for people to be able to afford basic essentials now, it doesn't matter what it'll be like in 30 years, they care about being able to make it now, and in Armenia the margin is not big enough to save for 30 years later.


You are driving away your youth, your most talented, your highest earners.


At worst, and most likely scenario, it is nothing but fraud. It is nothing but more government funds that will be used in ways not intended to be used.

Again, I'm agreeing with your above post.
My point is that there is enough money being generated by the Armenian economy to to fund an appropriate pension fund & health fund.
The money's are being extracted by the wealthy manipulators for their own benefit & to the detriment of the country & it's people.
We in the diaspora know this and many times can point to where the fraudulent, incideous extraction of the public wealth is occurring.
We, as a community need to clearly identify, innumerate & document this.
As it stands right now, we are talking and accusing & nothing more.
We in the diaspora need to flex our muscule, brain power, expertise, & finances in conjunction with those at home who are being overwhelmed.
We need to tackle this corruption problem with a fineness that we can (CAN) muster.
If we don't, the problem will continue.
I see no diaspora think tank with clear strategy & tactics backed by our best brains & finances.
----- WHY ---� ???
The problem is not (NOT) going to fix itself.
Defining the catastrophic effects of such greed ridden conduct is one thing.
Straight forward, blunt addressing the causative factor(s) is another & separate issue.
Artashes

[londontsi]

Re: Life in Armenia

Private pension schemes by definition are voluntary. On the other hand state pensions are compulsory.

This plan is being forced on the people primarily to satisfy the appetite of the financial community rather than serve the people.
If the government believed in this system it should have made it voluntary as it is in most countries and look at the take up.
The only additional action that would have been appropriate was to educate the population of its benefits. Never force.

The reality on the ground is that current state pensions are so appallingly low they hardly contribute to the pensioners’ sustenance.
This responsibility traditionally has fallen on their adult children/relatives.
So they are already paying for the pensions, in the form of upkeep, of their elder dependants.
To be forced additional financial burden with no immediately visible benefit is pushing the already hard-up population too far.


.

[londontsi]

Re: Life in Armenia

....
We in the diaspora need to flex our muscule, brain power, expertise, & finances in conjunction with those at home who are being overwhelmed.
We need to tackle this corruption problem with a fineness that we can (CAN) muster.
If we don't, the problem will continue.
I see no diaspora think tank with clear strategy & tactics backed by our best brains & finances.
----- WHY ---� ???
....
Artashes

Fine thoughts Artashes, sadly the reality is this,

It does not matter how bigger engine you put in a car, fit it with the best mod cons available,
what matters who controls the steering wheel, accelerator and the breaks.

Everything starts from fraudulent elections.

I read a comment that Serj Sarkissyan is not as bad as Robert Kocharyan.

Apparently Kocharyan has bought a Greek island for himself.

http://news.am/eng/reviews/4234.html

.

[londontsi]

Re: Life in Armenia

Fine thoughts Artashes, sadly the reality is this,

It does not matter how bigger engine you put in a car, fit it with the best mod cons available,
what matters who controls the steering wheel, accelerator and the breaks.

Everything starts from fraudulent elections.

I read a comment that Serj Sarkissyan is not as bad as Robert Kocharyan.

Apparently Kocharyan has bought a Greek island for himself.

http://news.am/eng/reviews/4234.html

.

http://www.privateislandsonline.com/

You may wish to set the filters appropriate for an ex president who served for eight years,
set up and maintained the oligarchic system, got rid of anybody he did not like and
did very well for himself, thank you very much.

Of course he never stopped being patriotic.

Let you imagination loose!!

[Artashes]

Re: Life in Armenia

------- kocharian buys Greek island -------
------- kocharian vacations in Greece -------

Truly disgusting.
While. Armenians dream of Armenia, this bigoted criminal wants to live somewhere else.
He has clearly shown his colors. He's a sellout. He is indistinguishable from the other greed ridden. As common as dirt.
However, I still think the diaspora can & should tackle the corruption problem in Armenia as well as any & all other problems our country faces.
Unfortunately, in my lifetime I've had to get assertetive with the driver of the vehicle & take control.
I don't let someone else risk my life or others because their behind the wheel.
In my youth, I used to carry a claw hammer on my belt like some would carry a buck knife. Found a hammer to be highly effective.
W here there is a will, there is a way.
Brains, concerted effort ... A difficult, daunting task ---� I still say ... Gather the forces and prepare for an assault.
It's gotta be done, period.
Let nothing dissuad use from grappling with this monster, period.
Artashes

[londontsi]

Re: Life in Armenia

Anybody who thinks corruption levels are not at unacceptably high levels should listen to this.

However whilst it is obvious that Serge is pushing the blame on to HIS incompetent prime minister,
he is also showing lack of leadership by not replacing HIS prime minister for failing to deliver after four years but
instead insisting he should deliver.

Just pathetic.

.

[Haykakan]

Re: Life in Armenia

Anybody who thinks corruption levels are not at unacceptably high levels should listen to this.

However whilst it is obvious that Serge is pushing the blame on to HIS incompetent prime minister,
he is also showing lack of leadership by not replacing HIS prime minister for failing to deliver after four years but
instead insisting he should deliver.

Just pathetic.

.

What is pathetic is that these issues exist but the fact that they are brought up in that format could mean something may finely be done about some of them. Dont expect miracles but some things are improving and probably will continue to but the heart of the problem (corruption) will not and cannot go away so long as capitalism reigns in Armenia at the expense of all else.

[londontsi]

Re: Life in Armenia

What is pathetic is that these issues exist but the fact that they are brought up in that format could mean something may finely be done about some of them. Dont expect miracles but some things are improving and probably will continue to but the heart of the problem (corruption) will not and cannot go away so long as capitalism reigns in Armenia at the expense of all else.

I do not think you heard the president's words or read my comments.

This has nothing to do with capitalism or socialism.
There are capitalist countries that are corrupt an not so corrupt.
The same for socialist countries, it all depend on governance.

What is ( laughably ) pathetic is he says we will get the leaders ( or the heads ) forgetting him and the guy sitting next to him
are the “heads” therefore fully responsible for state affairs.

.

[Haykakan]

Re: Life in Armenia

I do not think you heard the president's words or read my comments.

This has nothing to do with capitalism or socialism.
There are capitalist countries that are corrupt an not so corrupt.
The same for socialist countries, it all depend on governance.

What is ( laughably ) pathetic is he says we will get the leaders ( or the heads ) forgetting him and the guy sitting next to him
are the “heads” therefore fully responsible for state affairs.

.

No i got it all fine and i agree with what you are saying about the "heads". I also agree with "it depends on the governance" but my point is capitalism leads to the oligachical structure which is the root of this issue.

[Haykakan]

Re: Life in Armenia

INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN ARMENIA SLASHED BY 16 PERCENT OVER THREE YEARS TO 9.8 CASES PER EACH 100,000

YEREVAN, February 7. / ARKA /. The infant mortality rate in Armenia
has slashed by 16 percent over the last three years to 9.8 cases
per each 100,000 children, down from 10.7 in 2012 and 11.6 in 2011,
Karine Saribekyan, head of the maternal and child health department
of the health ministry said today.

Speaking at a news conference she said the number of maternal mortality
has dropped by 17 percent when compared to 2008-2010, when the rate
was 23.2 per 100,000 women during pregnancy, childbirth and after
it. In 2013 the figure was 19.2.

She attributed the decline to a string of government-financed programs
to detect asymptomatic diseases at earlier stages.

According to the National Statistical Service (NSS), 411 cases of
infant mortality were reported in 2013, down from 458 in 2012. Also
last year 41,770 babies were born, up from 42,480 in 2012. -0-

- See more at:

http://arka.am/en/news/society/infant_mortality_rate_in_armenia_slashed_by_16_percent_over_three_years_to_9_8_cases_per_each_100_00/#sthash.Ka4FoLEf.dpuf