OCR Text |
Show EDITORIAL: Be Honest About Taxes Society, as we know it, could not be pernetuated without government. gov-ernment. Whether it is best, the best possible, or only fair, the continuance of peaceful lives, the carrying on of farming, business busi-ness or commerce, or any of the hundred and one necessary modern mod-ern activities, require law and order, established processes, protective pro-tective safeguards and the cooperation co-operation which is only possible through government. Regardless of waste, and waste can't be entirely avoided, the ay-erage ay-erage citizen gets more for his dollars paid in taxes than for any other expenditure he makes. The average family head doesn't pay as much taxes as his children chil-dren cost the government for their education, if he has a moderate-sized family. All the rest of the benefits from government he receives, over and beyond that! Governments can't operate without money, so taxes are necessary. Every citizen should be willing' to pay his proportionate proportion-ate share of the common cost of these beneficial services. The growing disposition on the part of many to "beat taxes" should be frowned upon. It is a little hard to grasp how an otherwise honest, upright man can defend in his conscience a successful subterfuge, or deceit, to cheat the government out of income, or other taxes. On the other hand, every effort ef-fort should be made by tax officials of-ficials to equalize taxes. Every citizen is entitled to fair treatment treat-ment and should not be called on to pay proportionately more or less than his neighbors do. Yet, the task of perfect equalization equali-zation is difficult, and just as hard to maintain after its accomplishment, ac-complishment, in view of the changing factors involved. Notwithstanding the many centuries during which various governments have collected taxes, tax-es, the problem still calls for the thought and effort of good citizens. |