Working in a public place, I hear one phrase over and over again:
"Is this what I pay taxes for?"
I usually don't respond, because whenever anybody starts yelling about how their taxes aren't paying for what they'd like them to pay for, it's a sure sign they're only a few steps away from dementia, ignorance, or both.
It's not that I don't think you should have an interest in where your taxes go, but to use it as an excuse to complain about something you don't like seems fruitless.
I mean, don't we all pay taxes?
The people who make the rules you don't like pay taxes.
The people who benefit from the services you don't agree with pay taxes.
The guy you're yelling at who works behind a desk pays taxes.
What if he were to say to you--
"You know, I don't pay taxes so you can yell at me."
Have we then reached mutually assured destruction?
The fact is, if we really knew what our taxes were going towards, we'd probably be mortified. And if we could wield the money we pay in taxes to get what we want, there would be anarchy.
For example, I would never pay another dime to support any kind of war or religion, and instead, I'd take that money and put it towards doing whatever it takes to get someone to open a Starbucks in my living room.
I jest--but not really.
If you're going to yell about taxes, go yell in the IRS office. Don't yell at a school principal or a town clerk or someone so low on the totem pole they're probably only getting one penny of your taxes in their pay--if that.
Or maybe this is a better way to look at it--Don't take a 'No' from someone who never had the power to give you a 'Yes' in the first place.
Trust me, I work for the government, and I can't do anything. I mean, I can do my job, but I can't enact any sort of change except for smiling at people and telling them I'm sorry they're upset while they pull their hair out and tell me I'm incompetent.
I'm not incompetent, I'm just powerless--there's a difference.
So the next time you want to say "My taxes are paying for--" go online and actually find out what they're paying for.
Then keep in mind that the guys at the top of the totem pole are the only ones not paying them.
Then decide who it is you want to scream at.
"Is this what I pay taxes for?"
I usually don't respond, because whenever anybody starts yelling about how their taxes aren't paying for what they'd like them to pay for, it's a sure sign they're only a few steps away from dementia, ignorance, or both.
It's not that I don't think you should have an interest in where your taxes go, but to use it as an excuse to complain about something you don't like seems fruitless.
I mean, don't we all pay taxes?
The people who make the rules you don't like pay taxes.
The people who benefit from the services you don't agree with pay taxes.
The guy you're yelling at who works behind a desk pays taxes.
What if he were to say to you--
"You know, I don't pay taxes so you can yell at me."
Have we then reached mutually assured destruction?
The fact is, if we really knew what our taxes were going towards, we'd probably be mortified. And if we could wield the money we pay in taxes to get what we want, there would be anarchy.
For example, I would never pay another dime to support any kind of war or religion, and instead, I'd take that money and put it towards doing whatever it takes to get someone to open a Starbucks in my living room.
I jest--but not really.
If you're going to yell about taxes, go yell in the IRS office. Don't yell at a school principal or a town clerk or someone so low on the totem pole they're probably only getting one penny of your taxes in their pay--if that.
Or maybe this is a better way to look at it--Don't take a 'No' from someone who never had the power to give you a 'Yes' in the first place.
Trust me, I work for the government, and I can't do anything. I mean, I can do my job, but I can't enact any sort of change except for smiling at people and telling them I'm sorry they're upset while they pull their hair out and tell me I'm incompetent.
I'm not incompetent, I'm just powerless--there's a difference.
So the next time you want to say "My taxes are paying for--" go online and actually find out what they're paying for.
Then keep in mind that the guys at the top of the totem pole are the only ones not paying them.
Then decide who it is you want to scream at.
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