Bad Conservative
October 15th, 2008The IRS Loves You
Can I tell you something crazy, since it’s Tax Day? I actually enjoy paying my taxes. I mean, sure, I like money. But America does a whole lot for me, and I like contributing. Somehow that’s true, even though I know taxes are too high, and that they are killing productivity and leading us to socialism. When in doubt, I deliberately overpay. I just hope they took my money and spent it on really big guns.
I don’t mind the government having money. I wish it could pull in ten times the amount it does now. But I also wish they would quit spending it on stupid things, and that they weren’t leaving so little for us. And those wishes don’t go together too well.
Writing the check is not that bad. What I hate is the work, and the knowledge that if I screw up AND someone in the government figures it out, my life will be hell until the situation is resolved.
October 16th, 2008 at 12:26 AM
Well, good for you. You’ve probably in a much more positive mental state than I am after reading that.
But I’m still working my way up. I’ve lived off beans and spam for the privilege of putting a tiny bit of money away. I’ve put off dental work in the same month I’ve written a check to the IRS. And I decline to feel good about sending money to DC so the beaurocrats can take their cut in wages and expenses and send the remainder back to the states for welfare projects and wealth transfers.
And I’ve got no love or patience left in me for anyone on the left, right or center who tells me taxes aren’t so bad. I’m self employed, I’m not on a corporate or high earning career track, and I may never hit it big. I’m doing what I’ve chosen to do, what makes the most sense for me now, and I should be all right in life if I continue to live beneath my means. But I’m paying an inflation surcharge, built into our currency by the Federal Reserve, on top of an appreciable combined tax rate. And every dollar I pay in taxes is a dollar I can’t invest to provide for myself, which is just about all I want out of life right now.
I’ve heard “taxes are the price we pay for civilization,” but that’s not quite right. Taxes for roads, courthouses and foreign defense may be, but we could cut our bill by 1/3 to 1/2 if that was all we paid for.
Somehow its the people who have made it, from Warren Buffet on down, who say they don’t mind paying what they do or could pay more. But somehow the same people never make out a separate, voluntary check payable to the IRS.
No particular need to let this out of moderation, its more a vent than a manifesto.
October 16th, 2008 at 1:13 AM
I think I agree with all that, but I am still glad I’m helping fund America.
October 16th, 2008 at 1:18 AM
I don’t mind paying my taxes, either. But I agree with you that they need to stop spending it on stupid things. Like artists. If an artists are good, they won’t be starving. It isn’t up to the taxpayers to subsidize them. There should be a Council for the Elimination of Stupid Programs that has to vet each budget item.
October 16th, 2008 at 2:08 PM
Plenty of great artists starve and flounder in obscurity. That being said, it great art will find its way out without our tax money.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:10 PM
Having worked in and aroud government all my working days, I can say that I don’t mind paying a reasonable amount of taxes.
That said, the more I pay locally (municipal, school and local service districts such as parks or libraries) versus county to state to federal, the better. The fed wastes money as if that were the actual main mission. The state is not far behind, Local stuff is much more efficiently spent (if the populace is semi-smart and paying any attention).
I like to put it this way – if you had a complaint about a government service and wanted to get through to the CEO – who would you be more likely to be able to actually get in touch with to complain about something – your Mayor?Park Distrcit president/Library Board President or your COunty Board Chairman or your Governor or the Presudent. Nuff said.
October 16th, 2008 at 11:20 PM
Crap!
I shouldn’t post (or should proof read much better) after little sleep and a full stressful day followed by a few beers.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:16 PM
There is an irony in being a truly great “starving artists”. Most of the people who initially hate their work are the same type who snivel about inadequate funding for the arts. Meanwhile, they worship “works of art” like a crucifix in a jar of urine, while ignoring the truly good artists. Until they die, and their artwork suddenly becomes profitable to own. Odd, that…