We ask citizens: Can you make a living? 

2021-07-06 11:53:07


	 

	 

	Öznur Değer 

	 

	ANKARA - Citizens who returned without getting what they wanted from the market, or who could buy with piece, criticized the economic policies carried out and emphasized that there was inequality in income distribution. Underlining that the solution is the change of power, the citizens pointed to early elections.

	 

	In Turkey, with a population of 83.000.614, one of the biggest problems of citizens is the economy. With the Covid-19 epidemics, the livelihood problem has deepened even more. According to the data of the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) for April 2021, there are 4.000.511 unemployed in the country. According to the April 2021 report of the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions of Turkey Research Center (DİSK-AR), there are 9.000.837 unemployed people in the country. DISK-AR announced the unemployment rate in the country as 27.4 percent. In the country where the minimum wage is 2.825 TR, according to the May 2021 poverty line research of the United Public-Business Confederation's R&D unit KAMU-AR, the hunger limit for a family of four is 3.472 TL, and the poverty line is 11.863 TR.

	 

	Both the seller and the buyer are not satisfied

	 

	While unemployment rates are increasing day by day, the economic policies of the government are becoming more compelling. At the Cebeci Public Market, which was established in the Cebeci town of Ankara's Çankaya district, we handed a microphone to the citizens going shopping and asked; ‘Can you make a living?’ In the answers given, neither the marketer is satisfied with what they sell, nor the citizens are satisfied with what they buy. Both the buyer and the seller are disturbed by the rise in prices and the economic policies being implemented.

	 

	‘I will buy eggplant and parsley, but not fruit’

	 

	A citizen named Sibel, who sells eggs, beans and peppers in the market, states that she does not want to speak into the microphone, expressing that she cannot make a living. Retired banker Gönül Özdemir, who came to the market to buy fruits and vegetables, also criticizes the increasing prices and economic policy. Stating that she prefers the market because the prices are more affordable, Gönül notes that the market prices have also increased. Gönül said: ‘’I come to the market with 100-150 RL, but 100 TR goes. I will buy cucumber, eggplant, and parsley, but not fruit. Prices should be checked. I bought a tomato from the greengrocer for 12 TR, but from here for six liras’’. Gönül pointed to the price gap between the greengrocer and the market.

	 

	‘What we pay exceeds what we get’

	 

	Emphasizing that they have a hard time living in the current conditions, domestic worker Gülden Temiz is among those who are uncomfortable with the economic policies being implemented. Emphasizing that the prices are high, Gülden says that she pays 10 TR for three kilos of tomatoes even though it is the season. Expressing that she prefers the market because it is more convenient than the markets, Gülden said: ‘’It is not easy to make a living, it is very difficult. What we paid exceeds what we get. Since we are faced with a new raise every morning, the incomes do not cover the expenses. The state must come up with new policies. We determine our receivables before coming to the market. For example, we cannot buy fruit because it is very expensive. We can only take half a kilo. I have 50 TR left in my pocket without buying anything else. We also take a small amount to get what we need. As citizens, we are not satisfied.’’

	 

	‘There is inequality in income distribution’

	 

	Unemployed, university graduate Aylin Temiz, who draws attention to the inequality of income distribution, says that they can only meet their basic nutritional needs such as tomatoes and cucumbers in the market. Stating that they can buy fruits with pieces even though they are in season, Aylin said: ‘’Inflation is very high. This affects our entire buying. I am a university graduate but unemployed. This affects us psychologically. Unemployment is too high. There is inequality in income distribution. Justice is never equal.’’

	 

	‘Government needs to change’

	 

	A citizen who did not want to give her name and came to the market to shop also states that they have a hard time to make a living. The citizen, who says “Life is very expensive”, emphasizes that marketers are also right. Stating that the government does not control, the citizen stated that in this case, nobody but the government is to quilty and said: ‘’They must come and visit the market and talk to the public. First, the government needs to change. It cannot go in the same order. That is why people need to vote regularly.’’

	 

	‘There must be an election as soon as possible’

	 

	Saying that she paid five liras for tomatoes and three liras for peppers, the citizen states that she bought a small amount to buy a wide variety. Stating that people with a large population have more difficulties, the citizen continues as follows: ‘’The nation is devastated. There are those who can, and there are those who cannot. Our future is not good, so there must be an election as soon as possible. There will be elections, this order will change. We are tired now. Same thing for 12 years, the country is ruined. What he would spend on Canal Istanbul, let him spend on the nation. They are doing whatever it takes to change the agenda, but we are conscious people, no one can deceive us. We have a lot of unemployed people.’’