With April 15, as well as the April 7 election, breathing down our necks, taxes have been in my thoughts a lot lately.
Law-abiding citizens have fear struck in their hearts at the thought of dodging taxes and having G-men knock on their door in the dead of night, demanding payment.
That makes it hard to understand why so many politicians are running around in broad daylight with unpaid taxes. Perhaps that’s why politicians don’t hesitate to raise taxes — they don’t pay them.
Apparently, skipping out on taxes does not present a problem until you’re nominated for a cabinet position. This time, Kansas’ own Gov. Kathleen Sebelius shelled out $7,000 to cover overdue tax bills. At this rate, we may soon have enough cabinet nominees who pay back taxes to cover the national debt.
It’s a perplexing time of year to think about adding taxes. Or, put another way, to invest in the future of the community.
Proponents of the school bond have waged an impressive campaign. They took a proposal that had absolutely no chance of passing when it was first floated and made it a viable issue. In fact, even in this desperate economy, I think that voters will … come very close, but not quite pass the school bond.
That’s just the way I see it. Whether or not voters should approve the issue is an entirely different debate.
I do think school levies should be decided by the people who live in the district, pay the taxes and send their children to the schools. It’s a little creepy that out-of-towners have such an interest in Buchanan County taxes. It makes you wonder why anyone not paying the taxes or using the services would care to funnel that much money into the campaign.
Then there is the stimulus that showed up in paychecks, for the 91.8 percent of the region’s work force fortunate enough to still be employed this week. The boost in pay stub balance brings a burst of joy, then you realize the money was yours all along, the government only decided to let you keep a little more of it.
The kickback — I mean tax refund — may be enough to make a difference, though. Perhaps just enough to make a down payment on a new car with no worries since the car makers promise to make the payments if you lose your job. Will those payments be covered by the auto bailout, funded by the taxes we’re sending in this month?
It used to be that a new car was the end result of economic success. Now, we’re told it’s civic responsibility to buy a new car because our nation’s economy depends on it.
Makes you want to celebrate tax day by having a tea party.
