I pay taxes for government services. Whether these services
are to me directly, or to someone else (and therefore me indirectly) they are
services that the government provides with the money I give. I have earned this
money through my labor. No one ever has, nor ever will, give me a dime. I do
not regret this because it means that what I own is what I've earned.
I am happy to pay my taxes on my labor. I am also happy to pay my taxes on my capital gains. This has not been earned through my labor as much as through good investing. I find it acceptable to pay taxes on my investing windfall.
If I refused to pay taxes, or if I hired lawyers who can find loopholes in order to get out of paying the taxes I owe, I do not believe I would belong in the society in which I live. I would not deserve the benefits government provides. Even if I never personally receive a welfare check (which I hope I never have to receive), or farm subsidies, or oil company subsidies, or any other government hand out, I benefit from these actions in one way or another, even if I politically disagree with one or the other. I benefit from my nation's defense (as poorly as it was utilized under the previous administration). I benefit from people who cannot afford health insurance getting medical care because it means they will not make me sick because they cannot receive treatment. I benefit from single mothers on welfare because it means they do not live on the streets, compelling their children to become thieves for a living just to get by. I benefit from FEMA because it assists me (again, not well under the previous administration) after natural disasters. I benefit from the State Department because it maintains relations with other countries so that we can avoid wars and support their development. I benefit from the Department of Commerce because it supports trade and development at home and abroad. I benefit from America's state medical programs, America's highway programs, and America’s largesse in general. Even if I did not pay a cent in taxes, as long as I am an American Citizen, I benefit from the government.
I am happy to pay my taxes every year because I view that as my contribution to the betterment of my society. I feel good as I do better in life and pay more taxes. Not only does it mean that I am becoming more successful (monetarily), but it also means I am able to contribute more to my country and its people. I am honored to live in a country that is able to collect taxes and provide benefits from those taxes to its people. I would be even more honored to live in a country where everyone who could afford to contribute to our society did so willingly, and proportionally, to what they could afford.
I may not agree with the way my money is spent in every program, but I will fight that out through the political process by voting, volunteering, and possibly running one day in the future. My taxes, though, are my contribution to an America I can be proud to live in. Anyone who fights to avoid paying their taxes, in my view, should fight that through the political process as well. They should not buy their way out of that process. Otherwise, they are merely buying their way out of our society.
I am happy to pay my taxes on my labor. I am also happy to pay my taxes on my capital gains. This has not been earned through my labor as much as through good investing. I find it acceptable to pay taxes on my investing windfall.
If I refused to pay taxes, or if I hired lawyers who can find loopholes in order to get out of paying the taxes I owe, I do not believe I would belong in the society in which I live. I would not deserve the benefits government provides. Even if I never personally receive a welfare check (which I hope I never have to receive), or farm subsidies, or oil company subsidies, or any other government hand out, I benefit from these actions in one way or another, even if I politically disagree with one or the other. I benefit from my nation's defense (as poorly as it was utilized under the previous administration). I benefit from people who cannot afford health insurance getting medical care because it means they will not make me sick because they cannot receive treatment. I benefit from single mothers on welfare because it means they do not live on the streets, compelling their children to become thieves for a living just to get by. I benefit from FEMA because it assists me (again, not well under the previous administration) after natural disasters. I benefit from the State Department because it maintains relations with other countries so that we can avoid wars and support their development. I benefit from the Department of Commerce because it supports trade and development at home and abroad. I benefit from America's state medical programs, America's highway programs, and America’s largesse in general. Even if I did not pay a cent in taxes, as long as I am an American Citizen, I benefit from the government.
I am happy to pay my taxes every year because I view that as my contribution to the betterment of my society. I feel good as I do better in life and pay more taxes. Not only does it mean that I am becoming more successful (monetarily), but it also means I am able to contribute more to my country and its people. I am honored to live in a country that is able to collect taxes and provide benefits from those taxes to its people. I would be even more honored to live in a country where everyone who could afford to contribute to our society did so willingly, and proportionally, to what they could afford.
I may not agree with the way my money is spent in every program, but I will fight that out through the political process by voting, volunteering, and possibly running one day in the future. My taxes, though, are my contribution to an America I can be proud to live in. Anyone who fights to avoid paying their taxes, in my view, should fight that through the political process as well. They should not buy their way out of that process. Otherwise, they are merely buying their way out of our society.
No comments:
Post a Comment