Everyone hates taxes. Watching a quarter of your earnings fly out the window before it even hits your bank account hurts, especially for those barely scraping by.
Most people understand the necessity behind taxes, but many are baffled at how much they pay for how little they get in return. The cost benefit analysis is a top reason why Americans hate paying taxes, but it goes far deeper.
Where are My Tax Dollars Going?
One worker vented about their high tax rate on Reddit’s popular antiwork community. They don’t disclose their salary or withholdings, but they said $862 was deducted from their last paycheck for taxes and mentioned a 30% tax rate.
$862 is more than a car payment, half the average rent, and could buy most people food for the month. It’s a lot of money.
But the Money Isn’t the Problem
The poster, an American, stressed that the money isn’t the problem. They have no problem paying taxes to serve the populace and the greater good.
But in America, that’s not where our tax dollars go. We could have healthcare, education, and a functioning society, but Americans hate paying taxes because our money doesn’t go to any of those things.
Why Americans Hate Paying Taxes
In America, citizens see precious little return for our massive tax bills. We’re paying thousands of dollars a year and not seeing any benefit to society.
“No healthcare, no college tuition, no childcare,” the user lamented, wondering why they pay so much in taxes for so little in return.
It’s about to get even worse as Congress strips Medicaid, FEMA, and other services that help the people in favor of massive tax cuts for the wealthy.
Other Countries Get Services for Their Taxes
People from all over the world shared the differences between their country and the US.
A Nordic poster said they have a similar tax rate yet enjoy universal health care, paid parental leave, cheap daycare, and free advanced education.
A Canadian also mentioned a better healthcare system, subsidized healthcare, and low-cost university tuition.
Americans Get…War
Americans get no such luxuries. Instead, all our tax money goes to fund the ever-hungry war machine. America spends more on defense than the next ten biggest spenders combined.
We fund wars worldwide to protect our interests – but in recent times, “our interests” no longer means American citizens but corporate interests. They reap massive profits while the average citizens suffer.
Corporate Welfare
The real winners in the American tax game are the giant corporations, many of whom pay nothing in taxes. Others use taxpayer-funded programs like food assistance to subsidize employee pay. Their wages are so horrifically low that their employees rely on government assistance to survive, and everyone is just okay with it.
Corporations also lobby the government to prevent any law or action that would benefit the American people to their detriment. Look at Intuit, the company that successfully lobbied to prevent the IRS from rolling out free tax preparation software because it would cut their profits. Americans, forced to calculate their taxes, MUST pay someone to navigate the complex tax code and file for them.
Or consider the insurance companies, who hold Americans hostage over healthcare. A universal care system would put these predatory corporations out of business. They’re an expensive middleman that adds nothing to healthcare except a layer of bureaucracy and confusion, yet the government constantly bends to their cash (I mean will!).
And Tax Breaks for the Wealthy
The worst use of our tax dollars is a wealth transfer from the poor to the rich. Poor and middle-class Americans pay hefty taxes so that the wealthiest citizens don’t have to.
Taxes remain higher on income rather than investments or capital gains, making the wealth gap even bigger.
Although America was once the land of the free, it’s morphed into an extractive economy, draining time, money, energy, and any other valuable resource from the majority of its citizens to fatten the pockets of the wealthy.
Take the world’s first “trillionaire” for example, who made his fortune with juicy government contracts (ahem – taxpayer money) and dismantling regulatory systems that would stop him from stomping all over the little guy.
Taxes Are Great When Used Correctly
We understand the conservative desire to lower taxes. People pay boatloads of money for nothing. The hefty taxes funding overseas ventures and giant corporations give people a negative impression of taxes.
But taxes aren’t inherently wrong. When used for the common good, taxes are wonderful. They build roads and fund schools so an educated populace can travel. They ensure the sick receive care and prevent the elderly and disabled from perishing in poverty.
Taxes can help everyone if used correctly. Unfortunately, corporations and billionaires bought our politicians long ago, so they get far more than their fair share of our precious tax dollars.