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Retro. The `Elite' decided to become a little bit richer
August 9 2013
Yesterday, I was in the fixed-run minibus number 8 (which, by the way,
did not have a note saying AMD 130) and paid 150 AMD but the driver
did not give me the change of AMD 20. Naturally, I felt shame at
arguing with him for AMD 20. I can allow myself not to squabble with
the drivers, but there are people, for whom this 20 drams is vital,
and this uncertain 130 drams is going to create unnecessary tension
among our citizens. The price rise of fixed-run minibuses, in general,
is an immoral step people whose income is 15-20 thousand drams, and
the loss of additional 2-3 thousand drams per month is substantial for
their family budget. There are prices that cannot be increased in
these social conditions. It's one thing when the price of the VIP
service `Limuzin' per hour is increased, or the trout served in a
luxurious restaurant. The bread or fixed-run minibuses are another
thing. The latter does not have an alternative, the buses `cover up'
the minor part of minibuses, a resident of millionth city cannot do
without using public transportation. With regard to increase of
transport fare, free but responsible TV companies vent all their anger
on the Mayor. This, of course, is a `permitted' courage. The mayor is
not the President of Armenia, nor the Minister of Defense, he can be
criticized on the air, Armen Gevorgyan will not call him to the
presidency because of that and will not give him a `severe reprimand'.
And, objectively the City Hall has its own share of the blame, because
it did not refuse the owners who applied with the issue of increasing
the prices. But the most important thing is why it did not refuse.
Because, the business of fixed-run minibuses is one of the most
profitable businesses in Armenia, and the `lines owners' are not
random people, the ministers, generals, deputies and oligarchs do not
avoid to be engaged in this business. And so the whole `elite',
probably thinking that they do not `squeeze' too much income from the
route lines, decided to become a little bit richer at the expense of
the pensioners. The City Hall cannot refuse the claim of such
influential people. Consequently, the problem, as it is accepted to
say, is `systematic.' In fact, it is well understood by our fellow
citizens. In the same minibus, an elderly man told me,- `Ay, we so
complain about how bad they are. In reality, we are bad, because we
give this 30 drams to them.'
Aram ABRAHAMYAN 12.08.2005
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/09/155925/
From: Baghdasarian
August 9 2013
Yesterday, I was in the fixed-run minibus number 8 (which, by the way,
did not have a note saying AMD 130) and paid 150 AMD but the driver
did not give me the change of AMD 20. Naturally, I felt shame at
arguing with him for AMD 20. I can allow myself not to squabble with
the drivers, but there are people, for whom this 20 drams is vital,
and this uncertain 130 drams is going to create unnecessary tension
among our citizens. The price rise of fixed-run minibuses, in general,
is an immoral step people whose income is 15-20 thousand drams, and
the loss of additional 2-3 thousand drams per month is substantial for
their family budget. There are prices that cannot be increased in
these social conditions. It's one thing when the price of the VIP
service `Limuzin' per hour is increased, or the trout served in a
luxurious restaurant. The bread or fixed-run minibuses are another
thing. The latter does not have an alternative, the buses `cover up'
the minor part of minibuses, a resident of millionth city cannot do
without using public transportation. With regard to increase of
transport fare, free but responsible TV companies vent all their anger
on the Mayor. This, of course, is a `permitted' courage. The mayor is
not the President of Armenia, nor the Minister of Defense, he can be
criticized on the air, Armen Gevorgyan will not call him to the
presidency because of that and will not give him a `severe reprimand'.
And, objectively the City Hall has its own share of the blame, because
it did not refuse the owners who applied with the issue of increasing
the prices. But the most important thing is why it did not refuse.
Because, the business of fixed-run minibuses is one of the most
profitable businesses in Armenia, and the `lines owners' are not
random people, the ministers, generals, deputies and oligarchs do not
avoid to be engaged in this business. And so the whole `elite',
probably thinking that they do not `squeeze' too much income from the
route lines, decided to become a little bit richer at the expense of
the pensioners. The City Hall cannot refuse the claim of such
influential people. Consequently, the problem, as it is accepted to
say, is `systematic.' In fact, it is well understood by our fellow
citizens. In the same minibus, an elderly man told me,- `Ay, we so
complain about how bad they are. In reality, we are bad, because we
give this 30 drams to them.'
Aram ABRAHAMYAN 12.08.2005
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/08/09/155925/
From: Baghdasarian