Taxes, Uncle Sam, and Merry Mount.

Taxes

Hail to the April season of taxes

Refined through endless years of praxis

Spring calls us to play,

Instead we must pay

Is it a wonder so many are fractious?

                                    -Barbara Bowles

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” 

– Benjamin Franklin

“People who complain about taxes can be divided into two classes: men and women.” 

— Unknown

I like to believe that Merry Mount is our utopia.  It requires work, but the work that is done is rewarding and the return remains here.  We govern ourselves and could be considered by some to be isolationists.  Why then aren’t we Libertarians? Because as soon as we turn out of our driveway onto Junk Road, we enter a space that is shared by all. 

Shouldn’t we have to pay our share for the maintenance and use of the public space? Yes!  I acknowledge the coffers of Uncle Sam.

"The power of taxing people and their property is essential to the very existence of government.'' — James Madison, U.S. President

As soon as I leave the boundaries of this place called Merry Mount, I enter a communal space.  A space that is governed by myself and everyone else collectively. We become Uncle Sam.  In this republic called the United States we have a right and privilege to offer an opinion as to how the taxes are gathered and how they are used.  I should remember that fact as I complain about taxes.  I have an opportunity to give my elected officials an opinion on how taxes are gathered, how much they should take, and how it should be spent.  If I am unwilling to offer my opinion, I shouldn’t complain about the process.

"Taxes are what we pay for civilized society.'' — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court Justice

Taxicity

We live in a state of taxicity

Acquiescent to our complicity

Torture, rape and bombs

Violence that numbs

Nostalgic for unknown simplicity

                                    -Barbara Bowles

from Merry Mount, I remain CPW