Some Folks Lucky, They Can Do Taxes Standing Up

Published March 10, 1988. It’s that time of year again. The time when people in America sit down to figure out their annual income taxes. For the first few years of our marriage Susan and I were able to do our own taxes. It was fairly simple. We didn’t make a whole lot of money, and there were not many deductions. In fact, we used the short from, got it in early, and usually were able to get some money back.

Not any more. Trying to figure our income taxes this year is like trying to operate on your own brain with a mirror. Simply put, it is difficult and even dangerous to your financial health. Just a few hours ago I returned from my time of reckoning with my tax consultant. After going over the figures I provided, he simply shook his head. I even thought I noticed a tear in his eye. It was that bad. Bottom line (no play on words intended) we owe.

After I returned home, Susan and I had a long talk. Paying taxes does something to a married couple. It was Gil Stern who noted, “Nothing makes a man and wife feel closer these days than a joint tax return.”

And humorist Will Rogers also observed, “The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf ever did. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don’t know when it’s through if you are a crook or a martyr.”

Apparently people have been struggling with income tax ever since it began in1912. The Old Farmer’s Almanac reported, “If Patrick Henry thought that taxation without representation was bad, he should have seen what it is with representation!” And Peg Bracken asked an interesting question a few years ago. “Why,” she asked, “does slight tax increase cost you several hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you 30 cents?”

Similarly, Arthur Godfrey observed, “I’m proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thinking is – I could be just as proud for half the money.”

On a more positive note Lord Thomas R. Duwar once noted, “The only thing that hurts more than paying an income tax is not having to pay an income tax.” Think about that for a moment. If you had to choose, would you rather live in a country such as America and pay the price – the taxes if you will – for so doing? Or, would you rather live somewhere else that is relatively tax free but with much less opportunity? It may be a difficult question to answer up until April 15^th.

Each year we allow almost 200,000 people to immigrate to this country who are willing to pay the price to be here. Undoubtedly, thousands or even millions more would come from other countries and live here if they could. They would gladly trade us places and pay our taxes for us just for the opportunity to be an American.

If we are going to enjoy the opportunities and benefits provided by a golden goose, we must be willing to feed the goose. True, the goose may need to slim down a bit, but survive it must. And we must be willing to provide our fair share. And maybe that is the real issue on taxation.

Will Rogers also observed, “People want just taxes more than they want lower taxes. They want to know that every man is paying his proportionate share according to his wealth.”