Government is a necessary evil, such as for national defense. But the beast has ominously spread beyond anything remotely envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Perhaps government’s worst characteristic is cancerous taxation, which ran amok with the income tax and spread its evil tentacles into every form of daily activity through innumerable taxes, fees, levies, etc.
Taxation’s most insidious feature is its percentage basis, which results in not just raising a needed specific $10 million or $10 billion, but increases the never-ending, continuous share of what the beast confiscates, thus guaranteeing automatic increases without another vote. The ignorance of most citizens regarding this “feature” is shocking.
In Utah, a law even allows government to automatically (no vote) raise taxes to ensure the same amount of revenue when the economy drops. The rest of us have to tighten our belts when times are bad, but not government. And does the rate drop again when things improve? Die laughing, dreamers. This vile, insidious, immoral law is a superlative example of the cancer of taxation and government in general.
Sadly, when a power exists, it will be used, including by irresponsible fools in legislative and executive branches. The voracious malignancy will escalate so long as an ignorant, selfish and apathetic public persists in allowing such robbery, and in wanting government to solve everything instead of choosing freedom.
Paul Sharp, Salt Lake City