By CHARLY MARKWART
America's most famous 1950's television personality, Arthur Godfrey once said, “I am proud to be paying taxes in America. The only thing is — I could be just as proud for half the money.”
I think the majority of people across our nation today would wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment. On one level, we know as intelligent beings that taxes are a vitally essential piece of the democratic government and civilized society that make our country what it is. Truly, they are the financial glue that holds our nation together.
On the other hand, though, there is no question that taxes, and the laws that say we have to pay them year in and year out, are an immense burden that we probably all wish we didn't have to bear. I know that I cringe each time I receive a paycheck, only to see that so much of my hard-earned money has been taken away before it even had time to hit my hands.
The reality, though, is that, regardless of how we feel about them, we're always going to have to pay taxes. It is a practice passed on by our ancestors, promoted by our founding fathers, and dating back as far as the Bible days, when Jesus told the Pharisees to “render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.”
So, when it comes down to it, the lone and limited say we have over that tax money that slips through our fingers with each pay period and every dreaded April 15 is the input that our votes can give as to where our dollars are spent. And that is a hefty responsibility deserving of our careful attention.
Politics is a subject you're not supposed to bring up in social situations, and with good reason, because if it were entirely up to us, it's certain that each and every American would have a different idea of what causes are or aren't worthy of taxpayers' money. Still, since each vote that we cast, whether we believe it or not, does hold the power to make a difference, it's crucial we take notice of every program, project and expenditure our tax dollars support.
Of course, there are the basic and necessary tax-funded objectives of which we are all aware. Our contributions to our local, state and federal governments go toward keeping our neighborhoods safe, our roads drivable, our jails functional and our courts operational. Without that money, the very system that allows our nation to thrive would fall apart.
But, that is only one piece of the tax puzzle. As most of us are sadly aware, the money that could make such a difference in our own pockets is too often spent frivolously by our leaders without adequate merit or need. Other times, our dollars go to support the causes of lobbyists who help politicians secure their places in office with the stipulation that they will be repaid in the long run. And sometimes, the money that we fork over goes to fund such trivial items as personal jets, lavish vehicles, and, in our own state, high-definition flat-screen televisions, poker tables and a wet bar in the Governor's Mansion.
That's why it is so important that we use every opportunity we are given to make sure that the tax money we are lawfully obliged to provide goes towards a worthy purpose. When it comes to that, I don't think there could be any cause more deserving than our children.
On Jan. 30 in Mercer County, a special election will be held in regards to the local school system's five-year excess levy. With that critical ballot, the Mercer County Board of Education will ask area citizens to vote “yes” on a proposal to provide $51,187,005 over the next five years to cover the funding of such important items as free textbooks and other classroom materials for students, the repair, renovation and construction of school facilities, the hiring and retention of qualified teachers and other employees, the support of libraries and health services for our children, and the extracurricular activities that our youngsters are so passionate about. Basically, the Board is asking for essential budget support to help the school system continue to thrive and maintain the quality educational experience it currently offers to students.
This levy call is nothing new in Mercer County. For the past 60 years, locals have shown their overwhelming support for education and students by voting “yes” to similar levies that have provided the funding needed to ensure that our kids are receiving the educational opportunities they deserve. Now, the Board is not asking for more of our money, but only a continuation of that same support into 2014.
Taxes are always going to be a burden on us, but we have to pay them, and, with this levy, at least we can know that our dollars will be put toward a appropriate and worthwhile purpose. No cause could be more deserving than the futures of our children. It's a little ways off right now, but when it comes time to let our voices be heard, let's vote “yes” on the school system's levy. Let's vote yes for our kids.
