Taxes. A Fair Game?

Melissa DeCicco
4083 days ago.

moralityWe are all thinking about it now, maybe dreading it. ‘Tis the season to file our taxes. In my house, it is a time to look back on the past financial year and determine how we could have better used our funds and set goals for the coming year. Don’t get me wrong it is also a little sad to see how much money goes to the government. But things have to be paid for and I am just thankful I have an income to be taxed.

This past year, there has been a lot of talk about high taxes for the rich. The most disappointing is what Phil Mickelson had to say. He is the people’s champion in golf and someone I have really respected. I felt like he was one of us, a good guy. I am not saying I no longer respect him but I am saying I am disappointed in him. For goodness sake, he is one of the highest earning athletes playing a sport he loves every day. Maybe he couldn’t think of anything else to complain about?

“If you add up all the federal and you look at the disability and the unemployment and the Social Security and state, my tax rate is 62, 63 percent,” Mickelson said. “So I’ve got to make some decisions on what to do.”

Forbes rightly tells Mickelson to stop whining. I cannot muster up the ability to feel sorry for him.

I guess I am just sick of everything having to be fair all the time. And what is fair anyway? Is it being taxed at the same rate no matter what your income? Is it ‘I make more so I should have multiple yachts and you make significantly less but pay the same taxes so good luck finding lunch money?’ Maybe fair is not the word we should be using.  Moral would apply better here. Because no matter how you look at it, it is going to be unfair to someone. Taxes are not going away.

I think of it in the way that Panera (or St. Louis Bread Company) has at their Panera Cares Cafe. The premise being people pay what they can. Some people pay more some people pay less. It’s mission is to fight hunger but I think it has unearthed something more profound. The beauty of it is that people don’t have to pay more, in fact they don’t even have to pay at all, but they do and then some. Bottom line, it works because people care.

I am not trying to start a fight of rich versus poor. I am not saying that wealthy people should not be able to enjoy their success. I am also not saying the poor deserve handouts. I think this is a much bigger issue. I don’t know that answer but I do hope when you have a little extra you don’t whine about helping those who are running a little short. One wealthy person offered the opportunity to talk publicly actually had something really inspiring to say. I thought I would share below.

Do you feel that higher taxes are justified for the wealthy?

 

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Melissa DeCicco

Melissa is a wiz at crazy facial expressions, golfs at every chance possible, and loves super uncomfortable shoes. A dedicated Dolly Parton fan, she purchased Dollywood season passes several years in a row (it’s 500 miles away) and finally met her in 2004 – she ROCKS!

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