April 15th., tax deadline day!

Thoughts on Taxes"...

For those non-Americans on our list, April 15th is not just another day in the calendar. It is not just the middle of the month or another beautiful spring day. It is one of the most dreaded and despised of days. It is often a day of frustration, a day of waiting in long lines at the post office, or an exhausted day after being up all night. April 15 is tax day here in the US.

While none of us like paying taxes, and most of us think we are paying too much or feel that our taxes are not going for the right purposes, let’s just reflect a minute to appreciate some of the missed points of the day. We are only paying taxes if we are gainfully employed. And we are only paying a lot in taxes if we are making a decent amount. For this we should all be thankful. Our taxes are used mainly to support our government and its programs.

And while our system of government is far from perfect, Winston Churchill described it best when he said, “Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those others that have been tried from time to time.”

So it’s time to thankful that for the most part, out institutions, that we are all funding with our taxes are working pretty well and serving our interests as a people and as individuals. While not perfect, people trust our police and fire forces and have great respect for our judges and judicial system. Whether you agree or disagree with its priorities, our military is well trained, well armed and protects our interests at home and abroad as the only superpower or empire in history that has fought wars without taking land or bounty –- and we are not worried about a possible coup d’etat --- a problem that has embroiled dozens of other countries.

So when you pay your taxes today, amidst the utterances of, “I paid too much,” say a little Thank You.