Monday, November 12, 2007
A Thank You Note?
When I was young, I would oftentimes receive money and other gifts from grandparents, usually around brithdays or some achievement like a good report card. My parents would me make sit down and write a thank you note to the benefactor. Then when I got married, thank you notes started again. I think it's appropriate to properly thank people when they give gifts.
Now I am in a position of giving more than I receive. Unfortunately, my son is not the biggest beneficiary. That honor goes to the federal government. I sit in a high bracket for federal income. My payroll check is deducted for Social Security, Income, and Medicare taxes. I pay state income tax as well. Every time I purchase something, I pay sales tax to the state (and a small part to the county). Twice a year I pay real estate tax for the honor of living in this county. Because I live in VA, I pay personal property tax on my car. At the end of the year, taxes turn out to be my biggest expense. And never once have I received a thank you note from the local, state or federal government.
I think the reason is, that in the modern era, most politicians have the mindset that the government is entitled to whatever people have. They think they can take whatever they want from people. We should be grateful that they allow us to keep so much of our money. This all stems from the notion of Big Government. But government should be "bare bones". The government should be grateful everytime a taxpayer pays his or her taxes.
Now I am in a position of giving more than I receive. Unfortunately, my son is not the biggest beneficiary. That honor goes to the federal government. I sit in a high bracket for federal income. My payroll check is deducted for Social Security, Income, and Medicare taxes. I pay state income tax as well. Every time I purchase something, I pay sales tax to the state (and a small part to the county). Twice a year I pay real estate tax for the honor of living in this county. Because I live in VA, I pay personal property tax on my car. At the end of the year, taxes turn out to be my biggest expense. And never once have I received a thank you note from the local, state or federal government.
I think the reason is, that in the modern era, most politicians have the mindset that the government is entitled to whatever people have. They think they can take whatever they want from people. We should be grateful that they allow us to keep so much of our money. This all stems from the notion of Big Government. But government should be "bare bones". The government should be grateful everytime a taxpayer pays his or her taxes.
# posted by Martin @ 9:19 AM 
