A different look at taxes

In light of the rhetoric, provocative statements and statistical misinformation that is being circulated by the TEA Party (Taxed Enough Already) groups that are becoming popular in our state and country, I would like to present an alternate view point.

Taxes may make you mad. You may think that the government is too involved with your life and is telling you what to do with your money. Maybe you would like to pick and choose what you think is important and how our taxes should be spent. Republican or Democrat, everyone wants to save money. Do we have too many taxes? Maybe.  But who decides what is and what is not important? Are you retired, so schools don’t matter to you? Do you have health insurance, so subsidized health care doesn’t matter to you? Are you a couch potato, so the maintenance of parks, baseball diamonds and bike trails doesn’t matter to you? Are you a home body, so highway and bridge maintenance doesn’t matter to you? Do you have enough to eat so providing a meal to the needy doesn’t matter to you? Do you feel safe, so equipping and maintaining a national defense doesn’t matter to you? The reality of the situation is this — it’s all important. It may not be important to you personally, but taxes are bigger than just one person. Taxes are for the common good of our state and country.

Granted … our tax money is sometimes mismanaged and misspent. Granted, we have a budget deficit and it is our responsibility as citizens of this country to spend our money wisely. But do we stop spending altogether? Do we gripe, complain, point fingers and assign blame, or do we try to fix our mistakes, explore ways to use our tax money with fiscal responsibility and move forward in a positive and proactive manner? We have to be diligent, pay attention and know where our money is going, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be spent.

I have worked for more than 36 years and taxes have been taken out of each and every paycheck I have ever received. In my early years I often thought that I would like to have that money to spend, but as time went on I began to think of it as being part of the economic support system that makes our lives safe and comfortable.

I consider it a privilege to live in the United States of America and the beautiful town of Princeton, Illinois. I consider it a privilege to be able to contribute my tiny part for the common good of the county and our community. I may not agree with how every dollar that is spent, but that is not what I focus on.  Each and every day I think about how extremely lucky I am to live in our country, a country with an inherent desire to care for its people.

I realize that every citizen in the United States has the right to voice their opinion and that many of you will not agree with my position on taxes. I readily admit that I am probably a bit naïve and that many of you will have fun trying to convince me that I am completely out of touch with reality when it comes to taxes and the deficit and how the country should spend money. As far as taxes are concerned, all I know for certain is this. I would rather pay a little too much tax, than not enough. To paraphrase Emerson “to know even one life has breathed easier because you have given. This is to have succeeded.”

Ami Chamberlain
Princeton