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April 18, 2007 |
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Gone, sure. Forgotten? No way. For those of us spending the first three months of the year in “tax time a-coming” denial, causing CPA’s nation-wide to burn the midnight oil the past few days, our national nightmare is over. Until next year. And while deductions, extensions, dependents, depreciation, the alternative minimum tax and a promise of “next year I’m going to do a better job keeping records” may be in the rear view mirror, rest assured continual bitching about the annual governmental toll remains America’s conversational mainstay. “How are you?” and “What about this weather?” may be favorite greetings among acquaintances, but when it comes to substantive conversation look not to the Broncos, Simon Cowell or even roundabouts to provide a conversational discourse where every red blooded American feels qualified to participate. It’s taxes. Indeed, one choosing not to participate in the ever constant whine about April’s annual “rendering unto Caesar” runs the risk of being thought un-American. Don’t think for a moment we aren’t proud citizens. Patriotism surges through the veins. “What a country!” And what’s not to like with the freedom, the lifestyle, the purple mountains majesty. Hey we love it all. Except for the pay the piper part. Not that you’ll find a person professing to totally avoid taxes. It’s just an ever present feeling of contributing way more than a fair share. “Don’t get me wrong, being an American is a really good deal,” seems to be the prevailing thought, “It just costs way too much.” And what is an amount Americans would be comfortable forking over come mid-April? Aye, there’s the rub matey. No one seems to have an exact figure in mind other than, “my taxes should be less but other folks, (i.e. oil companies, Wall Street, illegals, the boss or Barbra Streisand) need to pay more.” Going back a few years to a service club luncheon visit with a friend. “The problem with government,” he said, “Is they’re too involved with people’s lives. I want to do my thing. Let cream rise to the top. Give me the opportunity to do more with my money. Cut taxes and quit supporting those who refuse to work. Government just needs to supply the basic necessities. I’m tired of paying a huge tax bill to fund un-necessary programs.” I changed the subject. “How are your kids.”? “Good”, he said without missing a beat, “My son’s in college. I dropped him as a dependent so now he qualifies for a Pell grant.” My friend was in lock step with American thought. That being, Congress must eliminate programs of no value. And an un-necessary program is one that does nothing for me. Golf courses and civic auditoriums should be a governmental service according to folks who use them while those never darkening the door argue such facilities need pay their own way. “Forget about tax dollars for parks, a botanical garden or the art center. I never go to any of those places. Use the money to fix the road in front of my house.” Widen I-70 from Denver to Vail? A great idea to folks living on the Front Range. Tax dollars to support the tourist industry according to Coloradoans rarely traveling the route. And then there seems to be a slight difference of opinion as to whether our money should be spent on the Iraqi conflict. Come to think of it, taxation with representation hasn’t really worked out either. |