Tax day is a marvelous thing, Utah Issues declares
Paying income tax is wrong, Libertarians say
By Gib Twyman
Deseret News staff writer
Tax day is a wonderful day because that is when we give lots of our money to the federal government and they do marvelous things with our hard-earned cash.
Post office employee Gaylene Kurz takes tax returns from drivers at a post office near 2100 South and Redwood Road on Monday night.
No ba-dump-bump.
This is not a stand-up comedy routine.
It was the heartfelt message delivered Monday by Utah Issues Center for Poverty Research and Action.
The group handed out gold-colored "Tokens of Appreciation" to folks walking into the main post office, 1760 W. 2100 South, to beat the deadline for filing returns.
Utah Issues executive director Bill Crim knew how strangely his group's message might strike the frazzled minds of many tax-weary citizens.
"But that's why we're out here today -- to say we understand no one loves paying taxes, but the other side of the coin is that voluntary paying of taxes is the foundation of our civilized society," Crim said.
"Our message is that government isn't bad. For example, it pays for a postal service that reaches even the dustiest back roads, provides clean water we take for granted coming out of the tap and funds an educational system that helps maintain a free society.
"Our taxes help poor and disabled men, women and children. We believe that is a sound investment in our nation's future."
However, just across the parking lot was a group that could not agree less with Utah Issues.
"What we should do is abolish the income tax altogether because it's an unnecessary and unconstitutional method of paying for governmental services," said Jim Dexter, Taylorsville, state chairman of the Libertarian Party, brandishing a "Wave If You Hate Taxes" sign.
"We've had lots and lots of waves," Dexter said, handing out a handbill made to look like a $1 million bill.
"The federal government spends $1 million every five seconds -- it's been about $20 million since I started talking to you," Dexter said.
He said the U.S. Constitution only enumerated 16 taxation powers, "including defending our borders and coining money. Everything else can and should be funded by customs and excise taxes, just like the country did for hundreds of years before it came up with an income tax to keep our money 'in case they needed it,' as a 'convenience to us.'
"They've been keeping it ever since, and that is dead wrong."
Tax day increasingly is used as a sounding board by such diverse groups perceiving they have a captive audience in people dropping off taxes. Those doing so Monday had views as different as the advocacy groups.
"I am totally for paying our taxes because I think it is an equitable way to deal with public issues," said Martha Reiser, Holladay, a mental-health worker whose current job is "looking for a job."
"I believe money is given to us to share. It's that simple," Reiser said.
Les Ashwood, however, began walking stiff-legged, mimicking extreme discomfort when asked what he thought of tax day.
"Always painful," Ashwood said with a grin. "Seriously, I'm a divorced single parent with custody, and I bust my hump and for what? So that 40 percent of my money goes to fund a bunch of dumb federal programs, meddling in states' business where they should keep their noses out.
"My father was a laborer who worked his butt off to raise his family and provide everything we needed -- and still saved something on the side. I got my work ethic from him, and I work just as hard but struggle to make ends meet. Why? Because taxes are way too high," said Ashwood, a "white-collar supervisor with a college education." Speaking of federal spending, Utah Issues told the story of "Cindy" on one of its "Tokens of Appreciation." Cindy, the token said, is a single mother of two, who passed her welfare limit, lost her Medicaid and her current employer doesn't offer benefits.
"The good news is her kids got covered through CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program). CHIP currently provides health care to 22,000 Utah children with family incomes 100-200 percent of the federal poverty level," the coin said.
"And the nice thing is that the federal government matches every one of Utah's dollars with $4 of federal funds. These people badly need this assistance," said Sandy Peck of the Utah League of Women Voters, one of several groups out Monday supporting Utah Issues' message.
However, Dexter said, "The money the government 'gives back' isn't theirs to give. It's ours. Right now we have politicians whose whole goal is to give this money to anyone they think will vote for them."
Crim said, "Basically, what we want out of today is this kind of dialogue. The more people discuss where their taxes go -- and the more they involve themselves in the process of determining that -- the better our society will be."
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