Onerous is an adjective that refers to something burdensome, heavy or annoying . In general, this term - from the Latin onerosus - is usually associated with excessively high monetary expenses that do not belong to the set of basic needs for life.
In the field of law , an onerous contract is one that implies some consideration . This type of contract generally involves the existence of reciprocal benefits and encumbrances, with an equivalent sacrifice on both sides. Purchase and sale operations can be governed by onerous contracts since the seller obtains a return for what he sells and, in turn, delivers something, while the buyer receives what was purchased and must pay something in exchange.
An onerous cause , in a similar sense, is one that involves a commutation of benefits. Another common concept in law is that of onerous title , which involves reciprocal benefits between those who acquire and transfer; It may be a business or a legal act carried out by two or more parties, delivering goods of equivalent value, which constitutes a situation opposite to profit .
The onerous in the State
The idea of onerous is usually used in political life to refer to certain state expenses. Governments must responsibly manage public money since it belongs to all citizens; Therefore, they cannot use it according to their own discretion. When opposition political parties and the media talk about onerous expenses, they are referring to those they consider unnecessary or of little use.
It is public knowledge that no government is made up of a totality of honest people, and citizens often express their complaints regarding the great waste that is characteristic of the leaders of many countries.
Excessive expenses
Below, the most notable onerous expenses are studied, although the list is longer and many of its elements are more "subtly disguised" to appear justifiable.
Firstly, governments are known to spend millions (or, rather, billions) of money on materials and supplies, such as office equipment, food, clothing and fuel for various official means of transportation. Without talking about any country in particular, it is especially alarming that these colossal expenses do not usually show any type of coherence with the economic situation of the historical moment in which they are made; Many times, they increase exaggeratedly after an official statement promoting belt-tightening.
It is contradictions like this that unleash anger in people, especially in the working sector, which does not have special contacts or any type of financial help; Those people who must allocate a large percentage of their week to carrying out hard tasks to access a standard of living that borders on subsistence are not happy when they read that their government has tripled the budget to buy computers and uniforms for its officials.
Expensive ceremonies and trips
On the other hand, there are official ceremonies , which not only entail the expenses of carrying out the event itself, but also those related to the transfer of personnel, their food and their stay. In this case, it is more difficult to convince citizens of the need to allocate the billions of money associated with these presentations.
How do you explain why politicians can't lead normal lives? Are they perhaps demigods, coming from a higher civilization to impart their wisdom to save us from our "mistakes", or simply people whose job is to organize the life of a country? Our culture is full of preconceptions and protocol rules that constitute real barriers that prevent us from putting an end to a large number of injustices, and excessive spending by the government is a clear example of the consequences of these rigid structures.