Nothing may be more French than the conviction that the government can and should provide for the well-being of its citizens, the Time magazine wrote last week.

Nothing may be more Bulgarian than the conviction that the government can not or does not want to provide for the well-being of its citizens, I would counter back.

And with good reason.

Unlike Western Europe, Bulgarians did not have the chance to bask in the joys of the welfare state - extensive social spending, state protection and regulated capitalism, on which all French citizens, for example, can rely throughout their lives.

That's why when analysts call for austerity measures and warn that the debt crises, aging populations and slow economic growth could end Europe's "belle vie", they should not forget Bulgarians did not live to see exactly what "belle vie" stands for. It is like comparing incomparables.

This is in fact the shortest and most general justification that I can give to those of our readers, who accused me of populism and manipulation following my article "In Darwin Bulgarians (Do Not) Trust". I also want to thank those who raised the absolutely valid question about the lack of concrete suggestions for improvement.

Well, here are my five top reasons for arguing Bulgaria can be a much, much better place to live and work than it is now. These are in fact my thoughts on what should be rectified to make this dream come true.

1. The unwillingness of the government to clamp down on corruption, the fact that it let it thrive, turning Bulgaria into the most corrupt country in the European Union, is its most irresponsible act, which has not just dire but tragic consequences. It is corruption and hostile environment that make investors leave in droves. Pitted against this business climate, Bulgaria's low corporate tax – at 10%, the lowest in the EU - offers little solace.

2. "There is no money" – this is the mantra that the finance minister has been rattling off non-stop. No money? Really? Truth is that even though Bulgaria's gross domestic product is low in comparison with the developed European countries, it is also not shared out in the most efficient manner. Most of the money the authorities have to collect sink in the gray economy and organized crime circles, while those collected is just not used to create and improve the necessary conditions, which will translate into higher economic growth and higher competitiveness.

3. Stadiums or people? The investments the current government made in stadiums, highways and big sports halls are mind-boggling, given the misery plaguing the health and education systems. If you have to choose between buying a table and having your leg cut off because of a delay in treatment, what would you decide?

4. Authorities and journalists are well aware of the near monopoly on the media market. The pressure, both political and economic, leads to journalism's self-censorship. Those who are supposed to serve as a corrective of the government, are guided by fear. It is the journalists' obligation to speak up and serve their duty. Only in this way will they force the authorities to admit their links with pseudo publishers.

5. True, Bulgarians chose the austerity path after their shock from the 1996 economic crisis. But they have been going on this path for years and years, suffered a lot in the name of the so-called fiscal discipline, which led to a heavily stratified society. Bulgaria is not a prudent country, it is just a poor country. But there is a sanitary minimum, which should not be crossed, because it could lead to physical extinction. This is something the finance minister should not forget and find ways to make the economy produce more. After all the murder of a nation is a heavy crime, isn't it?

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