How the "rich" force the poor to pay for the crisis

 Street demonstration by trade unions

João César das Neves

According to João César das Neves, 

a professor at the Faculty of Economy at the Catholic University, 

the poor always has to suffer the brunt of austerity measures.

In an opinion article which he regularly writes 

for the "Daily News", César das Neves, wonders how you can justify 

these results with the fact that all measures, 

from the tax hikes to the benefit cuts, 

adversedly effects those with a lower income, 

coming to the conclusion that

  the most influential are forcing the poor to pay 

an invoice which is completely disproportionate 

to the austerity adjustment in progress.

"The problem arises, not from policy options, 

nor external impositions or cyclical trends, 

but by the very nature of the sociopolitical system 

that brought us to the crisis and which remains." 

The major beneficiaries of "the debt that strangles us" 

are also those with "more ability to defend themselves from suffering." 

"They are protesting in the streets and aggravate the situation, 

forcing the government to cut, not where it should cut, but where it can possibly cut. 

And the easiest target, because of a lack of influence, 

are the poor," he says.

"Those who protest are not the hardest hit, but the most influential."

"The economic, political and financial elites protect each other 

and have easy access to the few business opportunities, 

the financial support, and available credit, 
using influences in the current recession. 

Moreover, state services, state employees, medical professionals, 

the military, teachers, police, all have very strong trade unions, 

which use all forms of pressure and, 

although much affected by the recession, and benefit cuts, 

always soften the blow. 

These unions are the ones who complain the most, 

using street demonstrations and strikes 

to voice their grievances and influence. 

"At the same time," they claim to be the main victims, 

ensuring that what harms them (austerity measures), 
is actually ruining Portugal. 

 "However, the real poor, the needy,
being voiceless and totally unprotected,

do not open their mouths, 
they are just suffering in silence. "