Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Part 2

While I agree with the concept of taxes, I don't necessarily think they're ALL well and good. I think a lot of tax dollars are spent on stupid stuff. Even more money is spent inefficiently. While government shouldn't and couldn't be run like a business, the idea of such waste and corruption (however minor it may be in some cases) being accepted is total crap. I think we can ditch quite a bit of spending, especially at the Federal level.

I'm also not a huge fan of income tax. I realize it's easy. It's guaranteed income for the government. But...why? Why automatically tax me for making a living and being productive? I don't agree with the concept. Property taxes make the most sense to me, because money from those taxes go to protect and serve the property. Property taxes cover the fire department that keeps my home safe; property taxes go to the school that teaches my children. By all means, tax my property.

Sales/transaction taxes also make a lot of sense. When I want to use that money I can understand taxing certain transactions. When I buy a new car, or bottle of Jack Daniels. When I buy or sell stock. Maybe an account tax, on savings or CD accounts. It's a choice to use my money, and I can choose to not buy some luxury or "sin" item or even to not expand my wealth on the stock market. I agree with that much more than taxing income indiscriminately...I can't NOT have a job, but I can NOT buy a new car.

So there's the downsides of taxes as I see it. We're spending too much in too many bad ways and not getting good results, and the income tax rubs me the wrong way. Anyone feel like looking into this, or are we too busy pointing fingers and yelling "Fat cat Republican" and "Filthy Liberal" at each other?

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes: Part 1

This isn't your standard tax season post. Oh no. See, I don't believe that taxes are inherently evil. I get quite a bit in return for my tax dollars. A government with enough funds to operate services is what separates our country from that of the third world.

A few things funded by my tax dollars:

• Roads
• Education
• Libraries
• Medical research
• Museums
• Support for Artists
• Law and Order
• Fire Protection
• Building Codes
• Military Protection
• Emergency Medical
• History Preservation
• Trash Removal
• Sewage Systems
• Drinking Water
• Food and Product Regulation

There are quite a few things that would be difficult or impossible for me to do as an individual, things I take for granted on a daily basis. How in the hell could I drive to work without roads, or traffic laws? There's no way I could fund a university to train doctors and research cures. I can't put out fires. I can't break up gangs or catch burglars.

But pool my money with money from my neighbors? Pretty soon you're talking serious cash. And with a pile of cash comes the ability to do things like hire cops and lay roads. Now this money has to be spent intelligently...but that's another post for another day.