Knowing where your taxes go might help take some of the sting out of paying them.

Then again, maybe not.

It all depends on your perspective. (And on how the numbers are tallied, of course.)

Americans love to pay taxes, the higher the better. Otherwise why the outcry against the Bush taxcuts? Any time tax cuts, such as the car tax in VA, are mentioned there is a tremendous whining sound heard from the populace. Apparently Americans agree that the more you have to spend the better. Spend it all then redistribute income from the so-called rich (upper middleclass) to spend more.

On the flip side, Americans have never seen a cause requiring money that they do not like. They like them all. Hey Aunt Bea needs a new apron, give her apron stamps. Or, Farmer John wants to grow corn so give him a subsidy to do so. Or, pay for someone’s child daycare, give them food stamps, public housing and credits on taxes for a lifetime. Want a new bridge, raise taxes or do creative financing like car dealers and real estate agents. Spend, spend, spend is the motto of American citizens.

LL’s comments are intresting. It seems that our high tech military is stalemated with low tech insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. History is littered with the bones of high tech armies commanded by stupid generals fighting low techers.

I, on the other hand, would like to see the military budget cut in half, with the money being applied to the principal, rather than just interest, on the national debt. Interest is just wasted money. It pays for nothing except the ability to spend money we don’t have and can’t afford to spend. Just imagine that percentage of your paycheck going to pay interest on a loan that will never be paid off. Might as well just lite our national cigar with it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if some readers raised vehement objection to the largest portion going to “Military” ($558 billion). I certainly don’t object; defense of our land & inhabitants—in this day n age of intl. terrorists—should be kept as tight as a drum and tightened more on a daily basis.

I am curious, though, as to why “Space and technology” is separated from this—and shoved into a stepchild category of “Other.“ It seems to me that “Military”, or “defense” should be one-in-the same with Space and Technology. We need to get away from rifles ‘n’ tanks (and other impotent relics) and start relying solely on a smart, technologically-superior defense system.

Post Your Comments: