Taxes...not a sexy topic

Often, if not always, the issue of cutting taxes is raised during political campaigns. It is an issue that resonates for anyone with a paycheck who experiences a large percentage of money carved out of their wages (or whenever something is bought, sold or is or a homeowner), a painful reminder of the cost of government. It is easy to complain about taxes however, when we drive on well maintained roads, send our kids to school, or reach out to emergency services (911) when in need, the price we pay individually is far less than the benefits received (especially emergency services which represent the greatest cost for any municipality). Unlike the rich, the average taxpayer cannot afford private health care (or fly off to another country to skip the surgery line) or private security... we depend upon the public good. For those of us who are not rich the benefits from taxes outweigh the cost many times over. Even 'self-made' millionaires/billionaires rely on public goods such as maintained roads and infrastructure, an educated work force (in public schools and/or universities), reliable transportation, order and stability, to run their businesses.

Individually we pay taxes so that collectively we can enjoy the benefits.