Just like April showers bring May flowers, April brings to mind two other things to me: removing my snow tires and paying taxes. It is the latter theme that we will focus on for this post. Talking about taxes brushes along the perimeter of a forbidden subject for polite conversation, and that is politics. Rest assured, we will steer clear of any controversy, I am a trained professional. Besides, I know that my followers have a very diverse view on politics; truth be told, I prefer that diversity over a homogeneous understanding.
Regardless of whether you write a big check every April, pay quarterly estimates, or have tiny little sponges leeching from your biweekly paychecks through withholding, taxes are a concern. I have talked with thousands of people over my career, and I have discovered two universal truths. Number one, most people resent the amount they have to pay. They understand they need to pay something for the privilege of being in this country, it’s the amount that is in question. Secondly, they have misgivings about how the government deploys the money they extract. Recall the $640 toilet seat. Some people would never want their money spent on weapons of mass destruction, while others think supporting the arts is problematic. Each of us has our views on how the money should be spent. We support and vote for people who we believe will represent our interests, but often, we are misled.
I have a brilliant idea that may just reduce the sting of paying taxes. Let’s say that, as a country, we can decide on ten categories for government spending (it could be seven or eight). There is nothing magical about the categories other than that we agree on what they are. These could be decided at the next national election. Here are a few examples of reasonable categories: National Defense, Education, Welfare, the Environment, the Arts, National Parks, Infrastructure, and Transportation. You get the idea.
Here is where the beauty of my plan comes in. Through this process, you have discretion over a small amount of your tax payment, let’s say 10%. You would have complete control over this amount to direct to the category of your choosing. This provides a moderate feeling of empowerment while simultaneously taking out a bit of the sting of your payment. You are making a difference in the area that is most important to you while sending a message regarding your preferences.
From the government’s perspective, this does not complicate the process one tiny bit. The revenue can be directly applied to the budgets of these programs. Over time, they would have more predictable revenue streams as we see how this develops. Secondarily, this method gives direction as to the priorities of the electorate. No focus group is necessary, no lobbyists are needed. If an overwhelming majority of these discretionary payments wind up getting channeled towards infrastructure, for example, that would provide real-time information to politicians on what’s most important to the taxpayers. They could then focus on repairs to roads and bridges or high-speed rail.
Of course, this structure is far too logical and simple to ever have any chance of success in a system that is desperately broken and appears to only serve career politicians. Yes, I have grown more cynical. The partisan politics that divide us have become an obsession to some and a comfort to others. I believe there is a better way. Finding common ground may lead us to unite and work cooperatively to accomplish more. Not all of my naivete has disappeared, but unfortunately, cynicism is slowly crowding it out.
I have no problem paying taxes. I have received so much from being a citizen of these United States, and I rarely take it for granted. However, I am horribly disappointed by how corrupt the system has become and how far removed our policies are from the people our politicians profess to serve or represent. I would resent the amount that I pay far less if I had some modicum of influence on where it would be spent. As of this writing, I don’t even know where I would want it to be spent. Developing this idea further would allow us to explore each of the categories with renewed interest and vigor.
Therefore, I humbly submit this unique idea for your consideration. I have been ruminating on it for the past several decades as my tax payments have been ever larger. Now, it’s your turn to ruminate on it.