Some people believe that contribution in the form of tax payment is enough to benefit the society, whereas others are of the opinion that there is more for citizens to fulfill their duties. I agree with the latter view.
On the one hand, proponents of tax contribution often emphasize the societal betterment of such an approach. They highlight that tax collection is one of the most substantial financial resources of most governments’ coffers, allowing the infrastructural development and quality improvement of public services like healthcare and education. These investments would improve the overall quality of life for all citizens as they can attend the best schools and hospitals, which could facilitate higher job acceptance and better human well-being. In addition, taxes can also be allocated to funding programs for vulnerable groups, enabling an equitable society where everyone can have equal access to community services regardless of their backgrounds.
However, critics of the aforementioned opinion argue that a well-functioning society can only be achieved when all citizens effectively collaborate. This can be clearly seen during the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam, many dedicated doctors and nurses had spent weeks in the hospitals to take care of their patients as well as new cases of infection at any time. In tandem with this, non-infected people also strictly followed prevention measures. If it hadn’t been for nationally cooperative behaviors, they say, we would have struggled harder to overcome this sudden outbreak. America, in contrast, due to the uncooperative attitudes from citizens, failed to curb the spread of virus despite channeling substantial taxes to alleviate the situation.
In conclusion, while tax payment plays a pivotal role in improving living standards, I believe that societal betterment does not lie solely in this aspect as people’s responsibility to work together is the predominant key to nudge a society toward a sustainable future, where any hardships can be controlled.