My junior Senator, in response to the attack on the Austin IRS offices, stated that "no one likes to pay taxes." I beg to differ, Senator, I like to pay taxes.
I like that I have clean water to drink, an FDA to keep my food safe, and sewers and sanitation workers to clean up after me.
I like that I have roads to drive on, sidewalks to walk on, and mass transit to take me to work in the morning.
I like that I have police to keep me safe, a military to defend me in times of peril and to lend assistance in times of emergency.
I like that we provide a safety net to the unemployed, food for the hungry, and medical care for the elderly.
I like that the NIH seeks to advance medical knowledge and that the NSF advances basic science.
I like knowing what the weather might be tomorrow and having warnings of storms and floods.
I like that we have schools to educate our children and social service agencies to help keep them safe.
And, I like that we have legions of dedicated public servants who show up for work everyday, despite the ever present risk that someone might blow up a truck in front of their office, open fire in a faculty meeting, or fly a plane into their office building.
Sure, I'd like that some of my taxes be spent in other ways, but, as Oliver Wendell Holmes said: "I like paying taxes. It buys me civilization." It's certainly better than the alternative.