Pay What You Owe, by Martha Thomases – Brilliant Disguise

April 16, 2011 Martha Thomases 6 Comments

Income taxes are due on Monday. Traditionally a time of great stress in my household, things are a little easier this year. We won’t be cashing in any long-term investments to pay, which is a huge relief.

I admit that’s kind of an asshole thing to say. I’ve been kind of cash-poor over the last several years, but I own assets that are extremely valuable. Most people aren’t lucky enough to be in this position, and a few weeks of stress around tax time is nothing like the stress of paying the rent or mortgage with no job, or wondering how to pay for a loved one’s long-term medical care. I know I am blessed.

Nobody likes to pay taxes. We all have other expenses. But because I’m not a basket-case this year (at least about paying my taxes), I can look at the activity in a more rational way. And, as so often happens when I do this, I find myself balancing two conflicting opinions.

On the one hand, a large percentage of my tax dollars pay for activities and things I abhor. Many people whom I respect and admire refuse to fund these immoral actions, and encourage you to do the same. As they recently said in an e-mail (h/t Wendy), which I’m quoting from at length because I don’t think this argument gets enough attention:

“Are you ready for Tax Day?

” The numbers are staggering: Over $1 trillion spent so far on the invasions and occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan since October 2001. Now we must add at least $1.1 million each for the Tomahawk missiles being launched into Libya — over 112 missiles were launched just the first day. In their report on world military expenditure, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute cited the U.S. as having spent by far the most money of any country globally on its military in 2010. Last year, the U.S. spent $698 billion on military expenditures, almost 6 times more than China, the next top-spending country. If we have all this money to spend on war and militarism, why do we keep hearing that the U.S. is broke? Nearly half of each of our tax dollars is going to the Pentagon and military contractors. Cities and states are closing schools, cutting services, and furloughing staff for wars and occupations against civilians who want the U.S. out of their country. Clearly, when the IRS tells us that the U.S. government is only spending about 1/5 of our tax dollars on war, there are a few things that they aren’t telling us. ”

Even if you don’t agree with the specific numbers from Democracy In Action, you have to admit that’s quite a lot more of the budget than Planned Parenthood gets, isn’t it?

So I find this perspective appealing, even though I don’t entirely share it. And that brings me to my next point.

We live in a great country. Flawed, it’s true, but it’s a privilege to be a citizen here. And, as a citizen, it’s a privilege to be part of my community. As an American, I’ve been raised to believe that you get what you pay for. And that means, in part, that some of the price of citizenship is to pay taxes.

I suppose I could live in some kind of Wal-Mart country, where the drive to keep prices (i.e. taxes) low is so intense that nobody gets paid a living wage, and the quality of the goods is disposable-grade. That’s what happens when, after cutting taxes for the rich, the Right demands cuts in services because t he budget isn’t balanced. But that’s not what I want. I want to live in a country worth saving up for, one that delivers real value for my tax dollars.

So, to me, it’s worth paying taxes to have an efficient inter-state transportation system. It’s valuable to have my food inspected, my environment protected, and health care. I like my neighbors to be protected, too. And while there are places where I believe the government could and should prudently cut spending, I think living in the United States is worth the price.

Paying taxes is only part of the price of being a good American, in my opinion. I try to do my part in other ways. I vote and cheerfully serve my jury duty. I volunteer and serve on a non-profit board of directors. Along with that, and when I’m lucky enough to be one of the people with the money, I’m willing to be in a higher tax-bracket if that’s what it takes to make the United States the country we deserve.

Media Goddess Martha Thomases is thrilled to be spending Tax Day with her only child.