Taxes and poverty

As a recent college graduate in the middle of the worst recession since the Great Depression, my salary is pretty meager. My husband is a graduate student, so no help there. I realize that because of this, our tax burden is pretty low. Forgive me if you think that affects my opinion here. I can assure you, it doesn’t.

I recently got into an argument with a fairly successful middle aged person who I won’t name here to protect his identity. “Last year, I paid over $50,000 to the government in taxes,” he told me. He didn’t understand why I laughed in his face. I then explained, “Wow. That’s almost twice my salary. You paid more in taxes last year than I made. To live. Do you really think you shouldn’t be paying more than me?”

Forgive me, conservatives. I can’t imagine how terrible it must be to make SO MUCH MONEY that you have to pay high taxes. I was unaware that your tax burden was driving you into poverty.

Based on your complaints, I’ve come to realize that there’s some sort of threshold in the middle class where suddenly your taxes become so high that you can’t afford basic needs like housing and food and even health care. If only your high paying job also provided some kind of health care benefit.

Oh wait. IT DOES. So what the fuck are you complaining about? You live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world with the highest possible quality of life if you’re wealthy enough. And apparently, since you’re burdened by such high taxes, you are comparatively wealthy enough.

I don’t want to hear it from you, middle class. You ARE wealthy enough. You may not be able to afford a brand new car or HD TV or yearly cruises, but you are wealthy enough to support your family if you choose to spend responsibly. You are wealthy enough to own a home if you don’t go overboard. You are wealthy enough to eat and take care of your health and keep a roof over your head.

In America, our priorities are SO out of whack. Your taxes aren’t preventing you from caring for yourself or your family. They are paying for the quality of life you enjoy in this country. They go to the roads and the police and, yes, they sometimes go to help people less fortunate than you. And if they’re going to someone who is struggling to care for themselves or for their families, then what is your problem?

Trust me, you don’t want to trade lives with people on government aid. That’s why you work and earn and buy all your fancy shit. You don’t WANT to be poor. You don’t WANT to have to use these government programs that you bitch about paying for. You are unbelievably lucky to have a job and money to be taxed.

As I said before, I realize that my taxes aren’t very high right now. I don’t mind paying the taxes that I pay, and as my salary grows, I don’t mind my tax burden growing. I can honestly say that if I’m ever lucky enough to be wealthy (doubtful considering Tony and my chosen professions, but for the sake of argument), I will gladly pay ridiculously high taxes and probably contribute as much money as possible to charities to boot. That’s a price I’m willing to pay to live such a comfortable, safe life in this country.

You live in the greatest country in the world. Pay your taxes and STOP BITCHING ABOUT IT.