Imam Ali (A.S.) also
anticipates that because of reduced taxes, revenue would fall and the state
would face difficulties. The difficulties get compounded further when the state
is required to make huge public expenditure to solve economic and social difficulties
of its subjects.
Such a situation would
make the ruler depress. Imam Ali (A.S.) however, has a different view when he
writes:
“Decrease in state
income due to such reasons should not depress you, because the best investment
for a ruler is to help his subjects at the time of their difficulties. They are
the real wealth of a country and any investment on them even in the form of
reduction of taxes, will be returned to the state in the shape of the
prosperities of its cities and improvement of the country at large, at the same
time you will be in a position to command and secure their love, respect and
praise along with the revenues. Will not that be a lasting happiness? Remember
Malik! If a country is prosperous and if its people are well-to-do then it will
happily and willingly bear any (amount of tax) burden”.
Public Interest and
Private Interest
Several socio-economic
ills may be attributed to a situation where clear lines are not drawn between
public and private interests and where the private interest is promoted at the
cost of public interest.
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