Paying Taxes
What kind of people are willing to sacrifice their daughters and sons but refuse to sacrifice their money?
The only concrete way in which most of us can show our patriotism is to pay our taxes. Flying the flag and singing “God Bless America” are symbolic ways of showing our gratitude for what our country has given us. But we have schools and freeways and hospitals to use because someone paid for them--with taxes.
Incredibly, many so-called patriotic Americans are contemptuous of men and women who object to sacrificing their lives in pursuit of a questionable foreign policy. These same “patriots” see nothing inconsistent in voting against anyone who suggests that paying taxes is a necessary part of good citizenship.
The only war most “conservative” patriots ever opposed was the “War on Poverty.” They opposed it because it attempted to take some of their money and use it to help other Americans. Apparently, it’s OK to send our youth away to help defend other governments, but it’s not OK to send our money to help our own!
ROBERT C. VON BARGEN
Toluca Lake
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
