Political Quotes

“Tax Day has come and gone, and I would wager that few outside of Washington, DC, marked its passing because they were so absorbed in the last minute preparation and filing of income tax returns. Most paid scant heed to this congressionally created day of moment, which, in my view, panders irresponsibly to popular aversion to taxation. It is far more responsible, in my view, to emphasize the positive aspects of public finance. Most Federal taxes flow right back to Americans in benefits and services. Federal taxes here includes both Federal income taxes and Federal payroll or Social Security taxes. Payroll taxes are used to pay Social Security and Medicare benefits to our elderly and disabled. Income taxes are used to fund the operations of our Government which include the provision of student loans for education, maintenance of our national parks and museums, low-interest mortgage loans for first-time home buyers, veterans benefits, unemployment compensation, and our military defense, among other things. I am advised that Federal entitlements--benefits citizens are entitled to collect if they meet certain demographic or income definition--reach 49 percent of U.S. households, including 39 percent of families with children and 98 percent of the elderly. Moreover, in my view, Americans are not overtaxed in comparison with other nations.”