Tax Time

            If it is April, it must be income tax season again.  In fact, Monday is the deadline for filing income tax returns. There is a lot of anti-tax sentiment around at present.  The platform of “No New Taxes” helped a lot of people, particular in the "Tea Party," get elected to public office this past year.  In the face of declining revenues during a period of economic recession, government bodies are electing to reduce services rather than find new sources of income.  These politicians will face the voter backlash which is sure to result from all all the cutbacks.

            Alabama is one of the lowest tax states in the nation, and the taxes are some of the most regressive, i.e. poor people pay a disproportionate amount of taxes compared to middle or upper income families.  But in the realm of politics, things usually are not fair.  I would support a redistribution of taxes, to cause wealthy individuals, landowners, businesses, and others to pick up their fair share.  And I am not opposed to new taxes, except as they impose more of the public burden on the poor.

            To me, paying taxes is a privilege.  When I consider all for which we depend upon the government, I think we have a bargain.  Think about it.  We have safety provided by the military, police, firefighters, paramedics, etc..  Also, we have increased safety provided by controls on food and medicine.  To these add entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, and education.  And someone must provide roads, airports, train terminals,sea  ports, i.e. the entire transportation infrastructure.  I could list a host of other things government bodies do for us.  All these benefits make our taxes look good.

To some who resented paying taxes to foreign rulers Jesus said, “Give to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s.”   There will always be death and taxes.  Death is overcome in Christ and taxes are necessary to any society in this world.

Grace and peace.