OPINION:
It is obvious we are living in times where, owning anything — whether it be a truck, a gun or even a cat — has resulted in a tax, a fee and fine by the county, the state or the federal government (“Treating owners like criminals,” Web, Nov. 20).
Governments might constantly reiterate that they are not taxing us more, or that they will not raise our taxes. However, even with that promise, they are in essence taxing and fining us for everything we buy or choose to do. If we were to total the amount of money that we each spend on an annual basis on these taxes, fees and fines, we would be outraged at the cost of simply living.
The taxes and fees we pay on an annual basis include, but are by no means limited to, the following: accounts-receivable tax, building-permit tax, capital-gains tax, CDL license tax, cigarette tax, corporate-income tax, dog-license tax, federal income tax, gasoline tax, luxury taxes, marriage-license tax, well-permit tax and workers’ compensation tax.
If you are a criminal or an illegal immigrant, how many of these taxes are you required to pay — and how many of you will actually adhere to the law? If you don’t, who will ever know? None of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had no national debt and the largest middle class in the world.
What has happened to the United States? Our government has gotten bigger and bigger, and as we have all witnessed, our hard-earned dollars are continuously wasted at the hand of big government. At what point will we stand up and say enough is enough?
LEIGH BRAVO
Gainesville, Va.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.