During a discussion about IRS intrusiveness recently, I choose a moment to turn the conversation to the duty of Citizens to pay their Taxes. That is the price we pay for Society, I said, to some muffled laughs and guffaws.
Undeterred, I continued to explain the Founders of this Nation even authorized us to collect of Taxes to pay for something they called the "general welfare" -- you know, the things that we all share for the common good for everyone. Those who would shirk this responsibility as citizens really should read Article 1 - Section 8 of the Constitution, and think again. Re-evaluate their reasons for hating Taxes.
The water-cooler group grew quiet, now intently listening. So I continued, the only thing really up for debate is, What is the minimum basic level of civilization, that we as a society should expect, and be gladly willing to pay for?
Does our minimum threshold of civilization include things like:
Safe Road and Bridges?
Clean water and Power-lines?
Public Education for our children?
An assumption of Public Safety on our streets?
How about food for the Hungry?
Health care for the Sick?
A good Job for all who need one?
An internet and postal service to connect and empower us?
How about Retirement Insurance to forestall poverty in our old age?
Should our most basic level of society also include:
A Government that functions?
A Citizenry that is well-informed and involved?
A Nation that pulls together to pick up the pieces after Disaster strikes?
And yes even, a nation with Tax Collectors to help us, pay our national bills?
Because, those who would have us cast aside our obligation to pay the IRS, are really casting aside what the Founders were expecting, when they instructed us to provide for the general well-being our citizens. To build a better and more prosperous nation for the generations to follow and enjoy.
The water-cooler group nodded in agreement, at the simple progressive picture of American Democracy, I had drew them, in just a scant minute or two.
It seemed a simple enough idea. I hope I didn't leave any basic "threshold items" out. Because afterall those are what make America the place it is. The place that immigrants aspire to. The place that is always striving to make our national tent a bit bigger. Or at least, that's the place we once were, and should always strive to be again.
A place that welcomes ALL to life, liberty, and the pursuit ... a place were one's dreams were only limited by one's ambitions and hard work.
That place was founded on the premise that a basic level of society was worth establishing, worth building, and yes even worth paying for. A nation of equal opportunity is worth providing for -- such is the American Ideal. Or at least this is what it should be.
Society is worth having; and building; and worth improving.
The Constitution of the United States
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Article. I.
[...]
Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;
To provide for the Punishment of counterfeiting the Securities and current Coin of the United States;
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
To constitute Tribunals inferior to the supreme Court;
[...]
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
That set of goals would take more than an water-cooler conversation to draw out all the implications of. That is a task we should still be pursuing to this very day. As the Founders intended ... to establish and insure some measure of "domestic tranquility."
The only thing debatable, should be How Much?