Recently I received my tax refund. Like most Americans, I would like to have received more. But this amount will do just fine, thank you very much.
Some politicians say they will use their refunds to pay bills. Some will give it to charity. That is a good gesture. It redirects the money away from the government funded programs, that usually end up wasting billions of dollars, and gives it to private groups which have always proven more efficient. Only for this reason would I support the President's idea of Faith Based Funding. But the issue of the Federal Government involved with Faith Based Funding can be discussed later.
Taxes are the issue today. A friend of mine that is struggling with a new business and has a side job. He did not get a tax refund. He doesnt like it that I did and he did not. I pointed out that I had paid in thousands and he had received back a low-income credit. But he did pay in payroll taxes, so that should count, shouldn't it? No more than sales tax, property tax, communications tax, entertainment tax, mass transit tax, fuel tax, cigarette tax, etc. As I made up this list off the top of my head, I began to realize how much tax we all pay. Most people must work up to the first of June before all their taxes are paid. That means nearly 50% of our pay goes to the government. This set me to thinking. The tax refund was based upon the federal income taxes most people must pay. This tax for the average American amounts to less that 15% of all the taxes paid in a year.
In November of 1773, a group of "patriots" led by Samuel Adams threw 342 cases of tea into Boston harbor to protest the additional tax imposed by Great Britain. Taxes were too high and imposed without representation. I quoted the term patriot because this was an act of civil disobedience that was a catalyst to the beginning of independence. Over the past three months, citizens in Tennessee have protested the imposition of a state income tax. According to the media, they are far right wing anti-government, extremists. Are they really? Or are some of these people the modern day Samuel Adams. Are we really represented in matters of taxation?
Do you feel as though you pay too little tax? If so, then you fit right in with most Congressional Representatives. But if you feel as though the government is wasteful and taxes too much, you fit in with most Americans. Then why do we accept taxes as being too high, but necessary? It is because our representatives tell us that if spending gets cut, it will come out of Social Security and education. Those representatives should be voted out of office. But it will not happen because WE are not concerned with Social Security and education; WE are concerned with the pork and waste brought to our district by our representative.
When was the last time a large, but useless, government contract went to a district and the representative of congress was voted out. Our congressional leaders will do what it takes to be re-elected, not what is right for the country. Congress is looking into giving itself a 3.5% cost of living raise while at the same time saying this tax cut is too much. Maybe the pay raise needs to go. Maybe the silver lined retirement plans need to be cut. Maybe some of the pork projects need to go. Maybe 25% of all the congressional staffers need to go. Maybe I agree with my friend. He should get a refund. He should get a refund because the people in Tennessee just might be patriots and not radicals. Are taxes too high? If so, tell your congressional representatives that more cuts are needed. If you think taxes are not too high, return your refund.
Copyright 2001 Jerry Jet. All Rights Reserved.   |
