THOUGHTS ON TAXES

‘Tis the time of year when many Americans are being rubbed the wrong way even more vigorously by our government…it’s tax time. This is when we hear even more about wasteful government spending, how tax cheats are killing the rest of us, and how corporate tax breaks aren’t really cheating. The term “billion” is often used to quantify the amount of money involved. Billion is a tough number to comprehend, perhaps that’s why it’s so often used…it tends to bounce right off our thick skulls because grasping the concept is not easily done. The next time you hear a politician use the word "billion" in a casual manner, think about whether you want the politicians spending your tax dollars, because it’s doubtful even they can comprehend what they’re talking about.

Like we said, a billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but a while ago, one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases:

A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago nothing walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

With that thought is still fresh in your brain, consider this:

Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), recently asked the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild the city of New Orleans. Interesting number, $250 billion, but what does it mean? It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division:

First, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans--every man, woman, child--you, each get $516,528.

Or, second, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans, your home gets $1,329,787.

Or, third, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.

Kinda puts a different spin on things, doesn’t it?

There is an old poem of sorts that sums up the way Americans did, and still do, feel about being taxed by their government:

Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes, is the rule.

Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirts,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he tries to think.

Tax his booze,
Tax his beers,
If he cries,
Tax his tears.
Tax his bills,
Tax his gas,
Tax his notes,
Tax his cash.

Tax him good,
and let him know,
That after taxes,
he has no dough.

If he hollers,
Tax him more,
Tax him until he's good and sore.

Tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,
"Taxes drove me to my doom!"

And when he's gone,
They won't relax,
They'll still be after the inheritance TAX!

Consider this list:

Accounts Receivable Tax, Building Permit Tax, CDL License Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Dog License Tax, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel Permit Tax, Gasoline Tax, Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Inventory Tax, IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax), IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax), Liquor Tax, Luxury Tax, Marriage License Tax, Medicare Tax, Property Tax, Real Estate Tax, Service charge taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Tax (Truckers), Sales Taxes, Recreational Vehicle Tax, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA), Telephone Federal Excise Tax, Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax, Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Tax, Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax, Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Usage Charge Tax, Utility Tax, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft Registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax.

Think this is funny? Perhaps you feel overwhelmed?

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and mom could stay home to raise the kids.

Now, we’re taxed at every turn, have outrageous national debt, can’t keep our military properly manned and outfitted, are going through arguably the toughest economic times since the recession of the 70’s, and a two-income household often isn’t enough, and we still have to press “1" for English.

What happened?

The term “politicians” comes to mind. Billions of politicians….