I think we are all asleep. There are so many things going on around us that we have missed the little things that are choking us to death. Our focus is on the big issues in the news, but there are little things that are so much more bizzare and devasting going on without any notice.
Freeway Enterprises
This Friday, I will speak at TEDx Greenville. Stacy's sister lives in Wake Forest North Carolina, which is only a couple of hours away from Greenville, so we decided to come out early and visit her family.
We flew into Charlotte and rented a car. I had arranged the car through the agency I normally use for a weekly rate of $165.00. I thought I negotiated a pretty good rate.
When it came time to sign the paperwork, I noticed that the total cost for the week is actually going to be $244.00.00. When I asked what was going on, they rental car company produced a document that detailed the taxes that are associated with renting a car. I was stunned to discover that the local and general government agencies were levying the use of a rental car nearly 50% of what the rental car company is charging. That just doesn't sound right to me.
Little By Little
I realize that it wasn't just one agency that was collecting these taxes, and that is what is making it all possible. About seven different departments are collecting these taxes. Most were fairly small, There was a charge for 3.5%, one for 6.2%, one for 1.7%, the largest one was for 15.7%. I guess, that because the majority of them are so small, nobody is really paying attention, except of course the business traveller who comes to rent a car and gets hit with them all at once. When that happens, it is impposibe not to notice.
Why are we letting this happen. It seems like we are being taxed to death. What are we receiving in return? Can you name it? Neither can I. The government is running wild and we are being taxed on everything we make and everything we consume. There are many debates on the taxes on what we make, but rarely do we ever hear about the taxes we pay on what we are consuming.
I am afraid to do the calculations on what the total tax load per individual really is. I think we would all be stunned to discover a fairly large percentage. Little by little, we are being choked by the taxes we pay. The sad thing is that the agencies that are collecting our money, rarely if ever have to account for how they spend them. It would be one thing if we were receiving some defined value, but I don't think any of us know where the money is going and they never are forced to itemize how they are using the revenue that they collect like we are.
Taxation That Represents Our Interest
Don't get me wrong, I am more than willing to pay taxes. I just expect the agencies that collect them to use those funds wisely. I expect some value in return. I don't know how to fix it either.
Are you aware of the taxes you are paying?
Do you think we should receive a line item accounting from the agencies that collect our taxes?
Do you have any ideas on how we can fix this problem?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this issue. Somehow the people are going to have to get together and propose a solution. It is clear that our government is incapable of doing it. Where do we start?
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