Like spoiled brats, we expect others to do for us without us having to pay for our end of things.
As Americans, we trust our police forces, fire departments, and health care professionals will protect, rescue, save, and care for us. We expect to drive on decent highways and fly into updated airports, and that national disaster relief will be rushed to us on short notice! We trust that “someone” is making sure our water, air, and food won’t hurt us.
We demand our children get the best education from inspired teachers and that bad guys are kept away. We expect our military to be strong and our vets be treated well. We expect to heat our homes in winter and to have cheap gas for our cars. We expect our universities to lead in scholarship and for our scientists to invent new technologies to create or do the next near-impossible thing.
We live in the USA, where our Constitution clearly establishes that government can levy taxes: “…in order to provide for the “common defense and general welfare of the United States…” (Article 1, Section 8).
So, let the government tax raise taxes – fairly. Tax carbon. Tax our vices and luxury items. Tax the wealthy. Tax banks and big corporations.
I fear the United States is like someone who is not able to pay rent and will soon be “homeless” or obtainable by the highest bidder; a shabby, pathetic remnant of past glories.
Raise my taxes—please!