Living within my means

Here's an apropos breath of fresh air, courtesy of TomPaine.com. Self described "upper one percenter" Mike Lapham argues in favor of the Estate Tax, which cynics (myself included) fully expect the Senate to gleefully repeal sometime in May. Mr. Lapham writes:

I could be sitting back hoping my parents' estate won't be subject to the estate tax. Instead, I'm hoping the majority of U.S. senators understand what many of them don't: that we in the richest 1 percent can and should pay this very fair tax, as an appropriate way for us to give back and create opportunities for others.

I suppose I should say a little something of my own about taxes on this, the blackest day of the modern American calendar. It's a shame, really, that "tax day" has come to be a date so dreaded by so many, instead of a yearly commemoration of pride and willing citizenship. It should be a day on which we fearlessly tally up our personal contributions to that "greater society" in which we all feel a genuine sense of belonging. It's supposed to mark the shared responsibility of all U.S. citizens to financially sustain the efforts of a "representative government" acting in our best interests, and making the world at large a better place.

Which is precisely why the time may be at hand for widespread tax revolt in America.

I'm particularly reminded on this day that I, and tens of millions like me, have not truly felt represented in our government since November of 2000, and I increasingly see little reason to be forced to contribute so disproportionately to one of the most fiscally irresponsible Administrations in American history. I for one am unwilling any longer to be required by law to support the world-threatening, war-mongering, rights-violating, environment-raping, insider-trading, corporate-subsidizing policies of a group of "leaders" who themselves have no respect for the law when it clashes with their self-serving interests.

The phrase "taxation without representation" comes to mind.

And it occurs to me that, while at one time we citizens may have had some degree of influence or power in the voting booth, the still-suspect elections of 2000 and 2004 have demonstrated fairly conclusively that votes aren't any guarantee that our voices will be heard in the distant and isolated halls of power.

No, there's one thing that speaks loudly in 21st Century Washington, and that's money. Our money. And it seems to me to be the height of insanity that a President whom 7 in 10 think is doing a poor job, a Vice President reviled by 82 percent of the populace, and a Congress which 3/4 of the nation distrusts, have the gall to expect us to maintain their allowance without interruption.

So they can... what, exactly? Continue to grossly mishandle our federal piggy bank, to pursue goals of which we don't approve?

If things don't change significantly in America's course over the next twelve months, I suggest sending a message to Washington that its insulated inhabitants cannot ignore. The time has come to STOP tacitly supporting the misguided and dangerous policies of the Bush Administration and its Congressional lackeys with our pocketbooks, because that's a tangible cry of protest our policy-makers will finally hear loud and clear. If our leaders continue to act with their current conceit and recklessness, they'll just have to make do with whatever lesser amount we're willing to give - until they begin to once again truly represent the will of the people.

After all, "endeavoring to persevere" is what we're expected to do when the Administration's corporate friends freeze wages, eliminate bonuses, lay off mid- and lower-level employees, mismanage or lose pension funds, close and relocate plants, or cut back on employee health insurance and benefits, all to maintain the profit margins of their upper echelon. And if I'm required to live within my means, then from here on, so can Uncle Sam.