What are we getting for taxes we pay?
As we go through the annual punishment known as Tax Day, I am left to wonder what I am getting for my taxes. Between federal, state, Social Security, sales, real estate, gas, cable, phone, etc., it adds up to half of one's salary consumed by taxes. You are working as long to pay the government as yourself. So what are we getting for working half the year to fund government?
Social Security isn't funded properly beyond 2030.
Education scores and results are lagging behind the rest of the developed world.
State and federal budgets are filled with waste and fraud, with the federal government and some blue states on the verge of bankruptcy.
Infrastructure is crumbling.
Pensions - Illinois alone 63,000 pensioners receive over 100,000 a year in payments.
Government-run health care (see VA for example) has failed.
I can go on and on, but I am limited in length of this thought, so someone please provide me a constructive argument why we should continue to support these so-called public servants who are taxing and spending us to bankruptcy. I for one can't find one.
This is my focus in November - who works for me and who will be responsible to taxpayers, who has a plan and not some talking points or one who is owed to some special interest.
Tony Atkins
Wheaton