私は本当に形だけの、会社とはとても呼べない、一人ぼっちの会社を経営している。20年前に立ち上げた頃は私の他に一人だけ従業員がいて、そのうち10人くらいまでスタッフを増やすことができたらいいなぁなどと意気込んでいた。そんな夢はアッという間にはかなく散り、今はこうして一人で寂しくやっている。
一応会社なので、買ったものや旅費、車両費なども経費として計算するので、領収書やレシートを取っておいて、スクラップ帳に一枚一枚丁寧に貼っておく。そして一年に一度の決算時に、これに加えて発行済みの請求書、クレジットカードの使用明細、購入品目のリスト、通帳のコピーと残高証明、払った外注費の請求書、棚卸表等々、とにかく金庫内の現金と一円も誤りが無いようにきちんと税理士に報告する。そして決算書を制作し、計算してもらった税金を納める。売り上げが上がったら上がったで、税金が多くなり、結局突き抜けて劇的に売り上げが上がらない事には、手元に残るお金はほとんど変わらない。実際は少額でも手元に残った年は珍しく、毎年赤字スレスレを行ったり来たりしている。まぁ経営は苦しいと言わざるを得ないだろう。
つまり自分の給料を自分でしっかり満額払えていないという事。今年度からはインボイス制度というのが入ってきて、消費税も誤魔化すことはできず、キッチリ取られる。全ては税務署から見透かされているのだから、税金の支払いが苦しくとも、正直に申告した方が良い。
私たち庶民や零細企業を営んでいる人たち、また地方の中小企業で働く方々もそうなのかもしれないが、本当に一円を大切にしている。何とか一円でも儲からないかなと、懸命に生きている。そうやって日々闘いながらも、他方でほとんどの人たちがきちんと税金を納めていると思う。本当に日本人は世界に誇れる、真面目な国民性ではないだろうか。
ところが政治家の偉い方たちはそうでもないらしい。ちょろまかした裏金を懐に入れて申告していないそうだ。という事は税金も払っていないという事。これが今始まったことではないというのだから、とんでもない話だと思う。怒りさえ覚える。国民の見本となって、率先して税を払うべきであろう。そういう人たちが権力の座にいるのだから、この世は狂うはずだ。政治に興味のない私でさえも、さすがにこれは看過できない。
長い間権力の座に座り続けている人は腐敗する。人間とは総じてそういう生き物なのだと思う。前にも書いたかもしれないが、政権を握っている人たちが失敗したら、すぐに差し替えられるような緊張感が政治の世界には求められるのだと思う。汚職しようが政策を失敗しようが、何をやっても安泰という状況が良くない。
だがしかし、日本の野党は弱い。野党第一党の支持率は10%に満たない。これで政権交代が起こるかもしれないという緊張感を世間に呼び起こすことができるだろうか。今度の日曜日に国政選挙がある。これでまた与党に過半数を与えてしまったら、せっかくのチャンスをフイにしてしまう。与党は今回の不祥事を反省し、一旦下野して己を顧みるべきだと思う。
今まで自民党に入れたことは、無いかも
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The Wind of Tension
I run a company that is really just a shell of a company, and I can’t really call it a company at all. When I first started it up 20 years ago, I had just one employee, and I was full of enthusiasm, thinking that it would be great if I could increase the staff to about 10 people. But those dreams were scattered in the blink of an eye, and now I’m doing it all on my own.
Since it is a company, I calculate things like the cost of things I buy, travel expenses, and vehicle expenses as expenses, so I keep receipts and invoices and carefully stick them into a scrapbook one by one. Then, at the time of the annual settlement of accounts, in addition to this, I also report to the tax accountant in a way that ensures that there is not a single yen of discrepancy between the cash in the safe and the cash in the bank, including issued invoices, credit card statements, lists of items purchased, copies of bank books and balance certificates, invoices for subcontracting fees paid, inventory lists, etc. Then, we produce the financial statements and pay the taxes that have been calculated. If sales go up, the taxes go up too, and in the end, unless sales go up dramatically, the money that remains in hand will not change much. In reality, it is rare for even a small amount of money to remain in hand, and every year we go back and forth on the brink of a deficit. Well, you could say that management is difficult.
In other words, I can’t even pay myself my own full salary. From this year, the invoice system has been introduced, and it is no longer possible to cheat on consumption tax, which will be taken in full. Everything is seen through by the tax office, so even if it is difficult to pay taxes, it is better to declare honestly.
I think that this is true for ordinary people like us, people who run small businesses, and people who work for small and medium-sized companies in rural areas. We are always trying to make sure that we make the most of every single yen. While we are struggling like this every day, I think that most people are paying their taxes properly. I think that the Japanese people are a hardworking people who can be proud of their character to the world.
However, it seems that this is not the case for the politicians in high positions. They are said to be pocketing the slush funds they have embezzled and not declaring them, which means they are not paying taxes either. This is not something that has just started, so I think it is a terrible story. It even makes me angry. They should be setting an example for the people and paying their taxes first. The world must be going crazy because people like that are in positions of power. Even I, who have no interest in politics, can’t ignore this.
People who have been in positions of power for a long time become corrupt. I think that’s just the way human beings are. As I may have written before, I think the political world needs a sense of urgency, where if the people in power make a mistake, they are immediately replaced. It’s not good to have a situation where no matter what you do, whether it’s corruption or a failed policy, you’re safe.
However, the opposition parties in Japan are weak. The support rate for the largest opposition party is less than 10%. Can this create a sense of tension in the world that a change of government may occur? There will be a national election this Sunday. If the ruling party is given another majority, it will be a wasted opportunity. I think the ruling party should reflect on the recent scandals and go into opposition for a while to reflect on themselves.
I don’t think I’ve ever voted for the LDP before.