A Thinking Liberally Left-Minded Meditation
by Justin Krebs, Living Liberally
"Taxes are what we pay for a civilized society."
- US Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.
"Stop Whining and Pay Your Taxes"
- Bumper sticker my Dad wanted to print up about 18 years ago.
Congratulations, America. It's April 15th, a day we mark honorably; an annual tradition we've together reached once again. Let's trade some high-fives and puff our chests out in patriotic pride because today is Invest-in-America Day!
You don't hear many people applauding April 15th. Instead you see news stories about long lines at the post office, and businesses try to capitalize on your tax frustration (Dunkin' Donuts offered free donuts as "tax relief" last year). Because it's Tax Day in America...and thanks to an enduring Benjamin Franklin aphorism, many of our fellow citizens are more likely to associate taxes with "death" than with good schools, clean air, a strong military, innovations in health and science and all the other benefits are taxes bring us.
Just try to say "Happy Tax Day" to anyone and see what reactions you get. If you end up in the wrong place, you might even get a teabag thrown at you.
Why teabags? Conservatives (or "cons" as they would be accurately dubbed) have settled on a series of mixed metaphors and mangled messaging to express their frustration with...what exactly? Some combination of opposition to taxes, the stimulus, and the President in general has Republicans waving Earl Grey at any camera that will watch.
And they claim, amusingly, that this is in the tradition of our Founders' Boston Tea Party. But once again, the right-wing misses the point. The Founders weren't opposed to taxation -- they were opposed to "taxation without representation." They were fine with taxes...as long as those funded a government in which they fully participated.
Where is the "pro-representation" outcry that would truly be in the spirit of our Founders? Not coming from the Cons. We have a President who has bent over backwards (and frustrated his own base) to ensure that all sides have been "represented" in every negotiation so far.
If the teabaggers are too busy to participate, that's their business.
Just as the Cons' tea parties get it wrong, their entire opposition to taxes is misplaced. Should we watch where the government spends our money? Of course -- and greater transparency (a good-government goal) will help with that. Should we ensure that taxes don't burden those who struggle? Without question -- which is why a progressive tax structure is so critical.
Should we oppose taxes? Only if we want private security to replace our police, corporations to monitor their own pollution and banks to regulate themselves (and we've seen how well that worked).
I'm proud to pay. As Vice President Biden has said, it's our duty. I love this country, and I'm honored to invest in it.
Shouldn't all Americans say the same? And if not, then they can stop drinking my clean water...it's for Patriotic Investors only.
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