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As 2006 year ended and 2007 begins I’m seeing a lot of PF Blogger post tips, tricks and ideas for avoiding paying taxes. As usual, I see a lot of complaints about paying taxes too but I hope everyone understands that taxation actually has a function. I never thought I’d write a post defending government & taxation but I’m writing one now.

In my view, the problem with taxation isn’t taxation itself but the wasteful nature of government. People always seem to gripe about the wrong thing. “Why are my taxes so high?” “Those darn politicians just raise taxes!” “I want tax cuts!”

I think what you really want and need is an accountable government that doesn’t squander tax dollars on things like a 200 million dollar bridge to nowhere in Alaska.

Taxation, when put to good use, does wonderful things.

Taxation pays for public education. An educated society is much better than an uneducated society - the proof can be seen in any under developed, under educated third world country.

Taxation pays for civil services (e.g. police, court system). A society based on the rule of law is much better than one that isn’t - the proof can be seen in many lawless countries now (e.g. Rowanda, Iraq).

Taxation pays for defense (i.e. protect from foreign invasion). A safe society is a stable society. Plenty of examples in the world right now where no defense = chaos.

I could go on but I think you get the picture. I’m not an advocate for big government but government does have a function and it does need funding.  In my opinion, our society has grown too complex to exist without government.

I’d suggest that instead of scheming for a few hours on how to avoid paying a few hundred bucks in taxes that you spend that time writing your congressional reps telling them how disappointed you are with them for failing to hold government accountable for wasting your tax dollars.  If enough people do that we might actually institute change for the better.