The concept of social justice

The conscious young man said: What is the concept of social justice, Doctor, as it has become vague and undefined before us?

I said: I see that there are two different philosophies dealing with social justice: the first philosophy deals with social justice as a result that must be reached regardless of the justice of the means, as did communism, and as some politicians claim in Egypt now, and the second philosophy deals with social justice as justice Equal opportunities and rewarding effort, and at the same time providing certain services and rights to all, such as education, health care, public transportation, sanitation and clean water, for example, regardless of income disparity. It is the philosophy closest to my mind and conscience in achieving a known limit of rights, and at the same time rewarding work and acknowledging the plurality and difference of abilities and livelihood.

Studies and experiences have proven that economic policies that support investment in manpower and equal opportunities contribute to supporting economic growth and employment and achieving social justice more than just taking from the most capable of the distribution at least the ability.

Equal opportunities are achieved through spending on a basic education system that does not differentiate between the rich, the poor or the marginalized, a basic health services system that does not discriminate between classes, dignified public transportation to work through investment in infrastructure, and a transparent business climate that prevents monopoly and protects and guarantees small business owners In the productive process and in creating decent job opportunities and generating income for their families. If the government plays its role in laying the brick of equal and transparent opportunities for all, everyone contributes through their work to achieving economic growth – increasing the size of the pie – and income growth for all workers by reaping the fruits of economic growth in which all workers contribute – that is, a larger share of the cake for every diligent person . Through the fruits of this growth, the opportunity to redistribute a proportion of it to the marginalized, as they have been defined.

His colleague asked: Who is responsible for achieving social justice?

I said: The achievement of social justice in this concept falls on the state as an organizer and guarantor of rights, and on the citizen who is able to use his money to create new job opportunities, and the worker with his effort and mastery of his work to achieve more income and well-being for him, his family and society.

Such policies directed to achieving economic growth and social justice need huge resources, efficient management, and a clear vision for the state and policy makers.

The first young man returned to ask: Where is the tax system located in achieving justice?

I said: Establishing an efficient and equitable tax system faces several challenges in developing countries, which represent small businesses and informal businesses that do not contribute to paying taxes the largest share of the economy, in addition to the evasion of many self-employed people in light of a weak tax system that is not possible, and therefore is not Capable of inventory and official collection through receipts. For example, we will find in Egypt that less than ten percent of institutions pay more than eighty percent of taxes, not only because the collection system is inefficient, but because these individuals and small enterprises are outside the scope of the regulation and follow-up radar.

Taxes are not an end in themselves, nor are they a punishment for the rich simply because they make a profit, because the state is not a for-profit corporation. Therefore, the required levels of tax revenue differ from state to state, according to its ability to provide services decided by society. The goal of social justice is originally determined by the areas of public spending, and taxes play an important role in achieving this goal.

Therefore, the role of taxes in achieving social justice is achieved by efficiently financing public spending in a fair manner for the poor and the able alike. Taxes are equitable to the poor as they are mutually supportive.. meaning that the poor have a share of the income of each hardworking earner who participates in a specified percentage of his income for public spending to support social solidarity and equitable empowerment of opportunity, and is equitable to the one who is able to achieve economic efficiency, so it does not eliminate the incentive to work or cause investment flight Job creator.

We must bear in mind that Egypt competes with other countries in attracting investment to the Egyptian market, because our own capacity, at least at the present time, will not be able to create one million job opportunities annually to accommodate the needs of the growing population. The growth of investment and the collection of taxes from its profits contribute to the provision of services and a business climate that enables everyone to produce, innovate and grow. The higher the ability to work, produce and achieve profits, the higher the growth rates and the economic cake, and the tax base expands – that is, the tax levels increase due to the increase in the number of workers on the one hand, and the increase in incomes resulting from economic growth – hence, it is clear that the tax policy must achieve an optimal mix of Economic efficiency and social justice.

According to my unprofessional understanding, taxes fall into three basic types: income taxes, consumption taxes, and service users’ taxes. In industrialized countries, the largest share of financing comes from income taxes, then consumption taxes of all kinds, such as sales tax and value added, as these countries consider consumption taxes unfair taxes because they are imposed on goods purchased by the poor and rich in the same proportion. The only way to be exempted from this tax is “non-consumption,” that is, avoiding purchase, and the poor may avoid buying milk and meals for children, and thus the poor are harmed more by it than the rich. Therefore, the percentage of this tax must vary according to the type of product and how society benefits or harms it in order to achieve justice.

In Egypt, consumption taxes have the largest share of tax revenues, and they achieve the purpose of increasing revenues without achieving the goal of solidarity.. If the government wants, for example, to achieve social justice through the tax system, it must re-examine the current tax mix and how to achieve the optimal mix between economic efficiency

Financial and social justice.. But we must first start with how spending can achieve the required social justice, then what is the optimal tax mix that achieves a balance between economic efficiency and equity for taxpayers and social justice. The most important thing, as I see it, to achieve justice is the efficiency of the tax collection management system.

Social justice comes through providing citizens’ rights from public services, as I said in education, health care, public transportation, infrastructure, law enforcement for all, and equal opportunities for every citizen based on his abilities and skills, not just his presence. Everything I mention here needs funding from the community, efficient management from the government, and control over public spending to achieve its declared goals. If a government comes and installs excess employment, or spends profits that were not realized, or arbitrarily closes a factory or production unit, even if it satisfies a group of society, it has definitely violated the philosophy of social justice for all for the benefit of a group, although it has a right from our point of view and its view.

Through this article, and I am not a specialist, and I speak the language of the citizen who studies and scrutinizes what is being circulated politically on the scene, I wanted to share opinion and understanding of phrases that are being circulated and explained without their meaning, which leads to the opposite of what is intended. How many crimes are committed in the name of social justice in Egypt.