Taxes Go For Employee Benefits, Not Services

A recent article on the parks system (“Shake-Up Raises Questions about Parks System’s Future,” Sept. 2003 cover story) contained a quote from a parks employee which typifies the government mindset: “I was at Irish Fest last weekend and someone asked me how much the parks system costs us – look at it this way (for each person in the county) to support the parks system for a year is about as expensive as buying seven beers. And if you have just one more you’d improve the parks system.” This statement gives the false impression that your money goes directly to a particular service.

In the real world your taxes go to payrolls. Many of the “services” we pay for go directly to government employees in the form of generous medical benefits, vacation, sick days, and pensions starting at age 55. It would be interesting to know how much beer we’d have to drink in order to subsidize this employee. Companies would be delighted if they could actually sell enough beer to pay for government largesse. Then they could actually afford to give their own employees a pension. Drink up!!

This type of ignorance becomes dangerous when large numbers of impressionable people believe it. I don’t expect you to print this letter, but I hope you’ll at least give some thought to promoting rational fiscal responsibility.

Al Savastio

Riverwest Currents - Volume 2 - Issue 10 - October 2003