Inevitably I find myself arguing with someone who thinks taxes are (a) illegal, (b) theft and (c) a liberal scheme allowing me to give their money to someone else.  For some reason, they don’t think liberals pay taxes, or they think the Treasury Department singles their tax dollars out for welfare recipients just to piss them off. I don’t know of any civilized country that does not tax its citizens and when I suggest finding one, the silence is deafening.

Now, I actually LIKE paying taxes because, among other things, it means I’m gainfully employed.  I see federal income taxes as the rent I pay to live in a country that allows people to become filthy rich if they so desire.  In other words, I feel an obligation to support my country.

So, when someone asked me, “What do your taxes buy for you?” I came up with this list.

• Military protection
• Benefits for those who protected me, some of whom lost limbs, others who lost their minds.
• People who talk to other countries to avoid wars
• Cops
• Firefighters
• Good roads
• Libraries
• Museums
• National parks to enjoy
• My primary and secondary education
• My medical school education, making me a productive member of society
• My kids’ and other people’s educations so I don’t live in a society of morons
• Money for research for things that make my life better
• The opportunity for poor people to get an education without going bankrupt
• People inspecting my food
• People making sure my drugs are safe
• People making sure my flight doesn’t collide with someone else’s
• Aviation security
• Health care in my old age
• Cheaper drugs in my old age
• Some income security in my old age
• Some income security if I lose my job
• Food assistance so other people less fortunate than me don’t starve because I’m not heartless
• Help if a tornado or hurricane destroys my house/community
• Watchdogs to chase polluters
• Someone to cheaply deliver letters
• Border patrol
• Customs inspectors
• A civilized existence

I remain grateful and unapologetic.