Taxes.

[achtung_circus]

"Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society."

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Just heard this out of the corner of my ear on the West Wing. I've never heard this quote before, but I like it.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

1. The thing is...

That in spite of the taxes paid, Dear Leader and his minions have hardly supplied that civilized society.

Unless, of course, you consider a nascent military/police state, the rape of the nation's coffers and underfunding of everything else civilized. Which some do.

[achtung_circus]

3. True.

How a government spends the money is one half of the equation. It is incumbent upon them to spend it wisely and in accordance with good accounting and the nation's realistic priorities.

But the drumbeat for lower taxes is at a cost, the cost of roads, health care (if you live in Soviet Canuckistan, as I do) the Veteran's Administration if you live in the US as you do and emergency response to little blips on the radar like, oh Katrina.

[TahitiNut]

2. You always pay for what you get - but often don't get what you pay for.

:shrug: TANSTAAFL