Haven't
had much time or energy for writing this week, but I was having some
thoughts about taxes and such that seem to go against the grain of
many people that I know. A lot of people think that raising taxes
for the “rich” will solve so many of life's troubles that it
needs to be done immediately, if not retroactively. Even a few of
the more affluent out there are making a noise about being willing to
pay higher taxes and I think that's great. But why are they waiting?
You
see, the idea is that we should force people to pay more in taxes so
that the government will have more cash to help those who are less
fortunate. The money could then be used to create more jobs, feed
the hungry and build more houses. Sounds awesome, doesn't it? But
what's the point?
If
someone truly wants to help the less fortunate of the world there is
no reason for them to wait until the government makes that assistance
mandatory. They can simply write a check and take it to the nearest
food pantry or shelter so that the funds are used immediately and
locally. That way, the donor gets the benefit of seeing and knowing
exactly who is being helped by their generosity. No bureaucracy to
wait for, no committees to wade through, and no question of where the
funds are going. The money goes from the hand of who has it to the
hand of who needs it. Simple as that.
If,
on the other hand, we take the money from those who have it in the
form of a tax, the compulsory nature of the tax makes the giving less
meaningful. In fact, it's not giving anymore...it's a tax; and those
are two totally different things. A tax means that the government
has a better idea how to use your money than you do, and that is
completely untrue in most cases. Giving means that you see a need
and are willing to meet that need with whatever you have available to
you. Giving is willing, taxing is forced. Isn't it interesting that
a person would say that they are willing to be forced to do the right
thing while being unable to make themselves just do it? I think that
our country would have a stronger sense of unity if we would all just
do the right thing in the area of philanthropy instead of waiting for
someone in Washington to make us do it. A helping hand from a
neighbor is usually perceived as less threatening than a government
hand-out, and it is easier to monitor for abuse. If I loan my friend
some money to make his mortgage payment and he spends it on beer;
guess what happens? No more loans! Accountability is better with
local philanthropy and the money is used more efficiently. So, why
would we rely on taxes? Really, does anybody want to pay more taxes?
I don't think so.
Maybe
I'm just a pessimist, but I don't think the celebrities who wave the
“I'll pay more taxes” banner are very sincere. If they want to
do something good with their money they will. If not, then higher
taxes will just give them something to complain about while the money
gets lost in the system.
So,
what do we do? Lower taxes for everyone so that each of us can
determine how to use our own resources. Stop turning our heads as we
pass the homeless on the streets. Start visiting the shelters.
Listen to others and live as a community so that needs are met as
they come up. Stop waiting for “Big Brother” to tell us where to
help and just do it. The we will be choosing to do what's right
instead of waiting to be forced to.
