Amid all of the noise about how terrible taxes are, I feel compelled to say something on the other side. Maybe a lot. Given that the major media organizations–even PBS–have so much about how people hate taxes, please, please, please, forward this to your friends.
I was looking through the policy briefs that Kelli Komro and her team of policy experts have compiled for our Promise Neighborhood Consortium. Here are some of the things that empirical evidence shows will benefit the population: After school programs that include academic supports; Reduced classroom size in grades k through 3; Provision of nutritious food by schools; High quality childcare and preschools for young children; and Living wage ordinances. Every one of these things, plus numerous programs and practices, would improve child and adolescent development, reduce crime, substance abuse, and depression; increase academic performance; and improve the productivity of the workforce. All of them are lacking because there is no money to pay for them.
Higher taxes spent on these things would be of benefit not only to the direct beneficiaries of these policies and programs, but to entire communities. There would be fewer people breaking into our houses, more well-trained and conscientious employees to work in our companies, and fewer sick people.
As Wilkinson and Pickett’s book The Spirit Level documents, other nations which tax more heavily and spend the money on programs and policies of this sort have longer life expectancy, less crime, and less stress-related disease.
For the past forty years, a network of wealthy individuals and organizations has been promoting this anti-government, anti-tax philosophy and thanks to their domination of the media and public discussion, we have had low taxes and a deteriorating nation. The most amazing thing about their advocacy is that they have millions of people who directly benefit from government and get no benefit out of our low-tax practices taking to the streets to support the very wealthy having fewer taxes.
So here I am in this little blog on a Friday afternoon, wishing that voices would be raised to tell the truth about how we need more taxes on those who have so much more that most. (And I am one of them and happy to pay.)
So if you have read this, copy the URL and send it to other people. Not just true believers, but your Aunt in Missouri who watches nothing but Fox. If enough voices are raised, we could influence the direction of the country.
More taxes for those who have so much!
What a wonderful piece! I am outraged and saddened and frustrated every day when some of my former co-workers (I’m retired) join forces with the elite to oppose taxes.
I was a public transit bus driver for 16 years. Public transit makes it possible for folks in low wage jobs to get to work, for school kids with 2 working parents to get to and from school and after school activities safely. Public transit takes poor folks and old folks and people with disabilities to doctor’s offices, hospitals, recreation and shopping. It also provides good wages and benefits to its employees–at least when those employees are represented by a union.
So poor folks and families with kids and old folks and people with disabilities and public transit employees–which is to say a sizable portion of our society–have a vested interest in maintaining the taxes that make good public transportation possible. Yet too many of these folks have been conned into believing that taxes are some kind of plot against their prosperity.
And people who use schools and health care and roadways and drinking water and electricity and air and almost any kind of food, et cetera–which is to say, all of us–have the same vested interest an appropriate, adequate and, above all, fair tax policy. Yet all too many of us are falling for this old con job. (Rupert Murdoch, a man with only a few billion dollars between himself and poverty, must be so proud.)
I say it’s time for all of us to stop shooting ourselves in the foot and start shooting holes in ridiculous ideas. Tax day is Independence Day to me. The taxes I pay are my dues for living in a just society. The taxes I pay are the privilege I have because I have access to enough money to owe them.
Great article and I agree one hundred and one percent. Or more. We have never objected to paying taxes and wonder why the big whine about taxes when we are the least taxed country in the Western world. I like my government to provide services and I don’t believe that private industry will step in and do many of the things you mentioned out the goodness of their hearts. There is a little of that, but not nearly enough and never will be because there is not enough money to be made in it.
I am sorry, but do not agree. Government is incredibly wasteful and its growth stifles creativity and initiative. Anyone (including you my beloved brother- and sister-in-law) can make voluntary contributions to the IRS (or state or local govt) if you are so inclined.
BTW, one tax I would be in favor of increasing is the estate tax. I see no reason why the children of great wealth should be entitled to a life of ease and leisure. A reasonable exemption and heavy taxation above that amount along with the closing of loopholes like generation-skipping trusts would be fair.
Yes, Ed, government is often incredibly wasteful and even stifles creativity and initiative. So, of course, do corporations, churches, families and clubs. For every government horror story you can tell, I can match you with one from any of those other entities. When the cream rises to the top, in an organization or a bowl, it often curdles and gums up the works. The problem we confront is how to clean up the mess and get things working properly again. I tend to prefer government, imperfect though is be, to the uncontrolled rapacity of the most powerful 1% of the population.
BTW, I wonder if I could get a tank of gasoline with a voluntary contribution of my own choice.
A really major difference is that with government you have no choice. If you don’t like the program, too bad. These things have the force of law and they can put you in jail if you don’t comply. Alternatively, if the service in question is offered in the free market you can chose to use it or not. If you don’t like supplier A, you can switch to another. This gives you freedom of choice and drives innovation and efficiency. Look at computers, then look at the post office. Can you imagine if the govenment had decided in 1950 that Univac should be nationalized and have exclusive rights to develop and sell computers?
Thank you for sharing this. My thoughts exactly and I am tired of these folks that think we can run a great country, give our children a future, and survive well without taxes. I personally don’t mind paying them and we need to change the tide in the attitude toward them.
As to the voluntary tax idea – the invitation that we can all make voluntary taxes if we want. Well in trying it out with industry it doesn’t work. When the bottom line is how much profit you can make, there is no volunteering. It is clear that we have a profit loving populace and so I say we need to legislate some ethical morality. Too bad that we can’t grow up. Volunteerism doesn’t work – so we need to ask people to commit to their country and step up to the plate. Wasteful is a matter of opinion of course – and there isn’t any such thing as waste. Waste is just something else’s food. The question isn’t big government – it is efficient government… let’s focus on that instead of the band standing and greed feelings.