The Need for a Higher Local Tax
By Mercury: Newsletter

Well, maybe I made the title for this article a little on the misleading side, but it does say what I want it too. Have you ever looked at your deductions on your pay check? What is it that usually takes the biggest bite out of your income? Federal taxes!! Well, I was noticing this very same thing. Where does all that money go? I wish it would all go to things such as the armed forces or other items of "National" interest. In other words those things that benefit the entire country. Yet, we all know that most of that money goes back to various local roads, welfare agencies, and other items in someone's backyard. My question to you then is, why don't we just let our local governments collect the money and leave the federal government out of it.

"Why?" I hear many of you say. Well, because it just makes sense. I will just use this small space to talk about a couple reasons why.

First of all, as in all businesses, the more people the product or money has to go through, the more expensive it gets. We have to pay each and every person that touches the money. It is that old "middle man" theory. If you can bypass the middle man then you can save a lot of money.

Secondly, if we could let our own local governments collect and use the money, then we have a much better chance of reaping the benefits instead of some guy on the other side of the country. Why should he get my money anyway. I worked for it and it should help me.

Third, our voices could be heard, when we complain. Just think with me now. When you look at your check, the highest taxes would be taken by the local city or county government, then the state, and then the Federal government would take only a few pennies. If you didn't like the way your money was being spent, your voice could now be heard. The local town meeting or council meeting would solve many problems. And if a politician in that council is doing things that do not benefit the community, you can easily get a group together that would vote him out of office.

And finally, what is probably the best reason of all, we would not have to worry so much about a huge national media conglomerate brainwashing all the lazy Americans into voting for higher taxes. It would be a local discussion and would only benefit local people. No one would be interested in hearing about government spending in little Crystal Lake, Minnesota.

Now if we could just accomplish this and make it some other form than an income tax, we would be happy American citizens. Yeah, right. Happy, satisfied citizens?! Sounds like an oxymoron.