Wow, your mention of taxes really brought the bile-spewing right wingers out. The right wing in the US is pretty irresponsible in promoting the idea that some huge proportion of tax money is wasted and it’s a win-win situation just to cut things with a meat axe… if you look where most federal money goes, it’s essential function of a national government, the elderly, the military and science.

I’m curious as to how you know so much about what other people are paying in federal income taxes.

I, for one, do have skin in the game (to the tune of about $7000 for 2010), and I’m an advocate for increased taxation. Taxes have gone down, not up, in recent years, and all those tax cuts (passed under Bush *and* Obama) were irresponsible and unsustainable. If we want the kind of society we’re used to having, we need to pay more in taxes. Just going back to the tax rates we had in 2000 would be a big help.

(And don’t anyone think of saying “Well, if you want to pay more taxes yourself, go right ahead.” That’s not a serious argument, and I refuse to engage it.)

With regards to government and taxes, would humbly suggest those who believe we need less government spend a week or so in Somolia and see how much they enjoy the experience. My understanding is both the tax rate is low and the government very non-intrusive.

Similarly, the taxes which fund hospitals don’t seem to produce hospitals I would voluntarily enter. The taxes that fund police don’t seem to help very much when a burglar breaks into my house, and so I purchase a private company’s security products. And while I enjoy the company of firefighters, I still have portable fire extinguishers around the house. I suppose then that the public transportation I fund through my tax contribution is a good thing, except that the buses don’t travel to the destinations I need to go. Certainly one shouldn’t point out that GM is receiving a huge subsidy to manufacture a vehicle that will cost approximately the same as the average American family’s annual wage and travel an entire thirty miles without using gasoline (the electricity which was used likely comes from coal).

Perhaps inspiration should not be looked for in an administrative bureaucracy.

“Unlike the cruel Leonidas, who demanded that you stand, I require only that you kneel.” I think I’ll continue standing, thanks.

“Studies have shown that most money taken in by taxes are not spent for the common good and are wasted”

Please provide an example of such a study.

In the late 70s i bought my first pair of contact lenses. $200

In the summer of 2010 i had an eye exam and lens check. The exam was $200 and i didn’t need to replace the lenses right away. If i had, replacement would have been under $300.

As my first pair for $200 included the exam, yes, this is more expensive. But not what the calculator says would now be $711.11.

And, if i was able to do without the exam and went online to buy them, they would be less yet.