A Word on Taxation and the Like

Ok, I have a little pet-peeve, and it has to do with peoples complaints about the government stealing their money. First of all, I should say that I favor taxes to not be excessive, and that I have clear ideas on how I'd like tax money to be spent, and that I do not agree in many areas of politics how tax money is used, and that goes for both the conservative and liberal sides. I think the whole lot could do much better in many ways. I also do not necessarily favor the whole scope of the bail-out, yet I am not completely opposed to it (which however, would be a completely other debate). Now here is my issue: people complain about the "government stealing their money", and usually I hear these complains from conservative people, who are mad over the spending of tax money of the liberal side (right now I hear a lot of this in regards to Obama's stimulus plan, which I just want to point out originated, though not in its full scope with a CONSERVATIVE). This bothers me for one particular reason: I don't hear anyone complain about taxation in general, which I think is the original "theft". I just hear them being mad because it's not used how they want it, and so therefore suddenly it's theft. They never seem all mad when it's the conservative side, using tax money for ...let's say the military. But then when it's the liberal side, spending tax money on such wasteful, unjust endeavors like education or the poor, then suddenly they are being "forced" into things, and are being stolen from.

Well, I think taxation itself is the theft. No one should probably have to pay money to anyone if they don't want to. So, I'd be fine with people opposing taxes (though I don't know how well a society of our size would function without a taxing system). I think it'd be right to feel stolen from, if you don't believe in having to pay taxes and you're forced (by law) to pay them anyway. But, I find it very hypocritical to get mad when the money is used for one cause instead of another and declare it "theft" only when I disapprove of the cause. I mean, if someone stole a $100 bucks from me, and used the money to either feed the poor or to get himself a gun, maybe one thing would be better than the other, but HEY, he stole my money, and it doesn't matter what he does with it, IT'S WRONG! It shouldn't have been his choice to spent the money is a good or bad way, it should have been my choice.

But, if I more or less agree to having to pay taxes, I find it hypocritical to complain and declare "theft" when the money is used for one program over another. That doesn't mean that you need to accept how the government spends tax money. Oh no! I think people should be involved and find out how the money is spend, and speak up when they want it used differently. I think that's fine, and that's how it should be. But, to say they are stealing my money, only when I disagree with how they spend it, is just silly to me.

For example, I really don't like how much tax money is spent on military. I think it's way too much and if only spent half as much on the military, they could probably do a lot in other areas I deem more important (like education or even fixing the welfare system). However, while I strongly opposed how much money is spend on the military, I have not once claimed that they are stealing my money because they are taxing me, and then using the money in ways I don't like. That's because, I'm not completely opposed to taxation (mainly because I don't have a better alternative for making things happen in a large society). Also, in the end, I think why complain so much about the tax money I have to pay. Sure, they are huge amounts at times, and it sort of hurts to give away something that I earned, but was it really mine to begin with? Where would I be without the help of God anyway? I probably wouldn't possess as much as penny. So, when Christ said to give to God what is God's and to give to Cesar what is Cesars, maybe he suggested to just not be so worried about what we end up giving, and to just count our blessings. Maybe not...So, please, if you have issues with taxation, speak up and do something. If you do not like how tax money is spent, please speak up, do something and get involved. BUT PLEASE!!! don't whine about being stolen from when you don't agree with how money is being spent, because you were stolen from the second you ended up having to pay taxes (be it for a conservative or liberal government).

P.S. I should also mention that I think I'm a little tired of Obama getting so much crap already for the stimulus plan from some people who never said a peep about Bush spending (by now probably) trillion for a war that by his own admission had nothing to do with terrorism. While I'm not sure how I feel about the whole bail-out etc, I don't know that it's better to spend trillions of Iraqi Freedom than on stabilizing the global economy. I also find it extremely difficult to figure out what the right thing to do with this economic crisis. It's easy to be against something, but I doubt that most of us truly understand the scope of the problem, and the possible repercussions if we let the market fix itself (which I think is possible, but it may come at a price that may far outweigh the billions we are facing now). Honestly, I have given Bush more time and more credit than I feel Obama is getting now. He's hardly done worse than the last president we had, and it bugs me a little that some are sooooo riled up all of sudden, where a few months ago, I didn't hear a word. Well, maybe it's just the straw that broke the camel's back, so I'll try and not judge, but I'll admit it's bothering me a little.