Let's face it .... taxes by definition are not "fair", just like government isn't "fair".... they're both necessary evils.
The question really should be and has been asked.... "why are taxes so high"?
I've read estimates that state the national sales tax, if implemented today, would be around 25 to 33 percent. Why so high? Well.... you've already answered that one too.... the government spends too much money!
Here's the way I see it....
1. The government does certain things well (in industry .... it's called "core competency") and many things not so well. The analogy in the private sector can be readily seen. You don't see IBM trying to market pizza delivery, and you don't see Domino's Pizza trying to sell computers. So why do we expect the government to do everything? The government should limit itself to what it does well and get out of everything else. Those core competencies are defense, perhaps building the national highway system (or at least administering it's maintenance), the regulation of commerce (to a limited extent), the enforcement of laws. After that, it's a matter of debate.... I still think that the government should be involved in the inspection of food and of drugs, others may disagree.
2. As Cassius said to Brutus in the first act of Julius Caesar "the fault is not in our stars, but in our selves!"... same goes for the American taxpayer. The problem is that the American taxpayer expects government to solve all of life's problems. The problem is that government, like all institutions, does not have the power to solve all of life's problems. Life is imperfect at best, some things are going to have to be left unsolved or solved in some other way.
3. Politicians, being what they are, will promise extra services (at taxpayers' expense) to get elected. There is no free lunch. If a politician promises extra services, he actually is saying "I'm going to increase your taxes". On the other hand, if a politician promises tax cuts, he is actually saying "I'm going to cut your services"..... there isn't a third option.
4. Since the world can't be a fair place or a perfect place, then let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the government can create a utopia here on Earth. By abandoning this type of thinking, limiting the government's role in our lives, we will actually be better off. So while we might have to give up some things, in the long term and in the bigger picture, our lives and quality of life will actually improve.
The question really should be and has been asked.... "why are taxes so high"?
I've read estimates that state the national sales tax, if implemented today, would be around 25 to 33 percent. Why so high? Well.... you've already answered that one too.... the government spends too much money!
Here's the way I see it....
1. The government does certain things well (in industry .... it's called "core competency") and many things not so well. The analogy in the private sector can be readily seen. You don't see IBM trying to market pizza delivery, and you don't see Domino's Pizza trying to sell computers. So why do we expect the government to do everything? The government should limit itself to what it does well and get out of everything else. Those core competencies are defense, perhaps building the national highway system (or at least administering it's maintenance), the regulation of commerce (to a limited extent), the enforcement of laws. After that, it's a matter of debate.... I still think that the government should be involved in the inspection of food and of drugs, others may disagree.
2. As Cassius said to Brutus in the first act of Julius Caesar "the fault is not in our stars, but in our selves!"... same goes for the American taxpayer. The problem is that the American taxpayer expects government to solve all of life's problems. The problem is that government, like all institutions, does not have the power to solve all of life's problems. Life is imperfect at best, some things are going to have to be left unsolved or solved in some other way.
3. Politicians, being what they are, will promise extra services (at taxpayers' expense) to get elected. There is no free lunch. If a politician promises extra services, he actually is saying "I'm going to increase your taxes". On the other hand, if a politician promises tax cuts, he is actually saying "I'm going to cut your services"..... there isn't a third option.
4. Since the world can't be a fair place or a perfect place, then let's not fool ourselves into thinking that the government can create a utopia here on Earth. By abandoning this type of thinking, limiting the government's role in our lives, we will actually be better off. So while we might have to give up some things, in the long term and in the bigger picture, our lives and quality of life will actually improve.