Taxes are basically unfair but give strength to society

27 May 2010 by Eugene A. Egizi Sr.

E Pluribus Unum.

It's Latin for "Out of many, one." Where is it found? Answer: On the great seal of the United States.

What does it have to do with taxation? Plenty. From the beginning, there was a consensus that pulling together would make us stronger. However, this did not translate into input equals output. We don't always receive individual equal services for what we pay into the system.

Case in point, the Vineland trash collection fee debate. The Daily Journal gave a very thoughtful analysis on the pros and cons of a flat rate versus the tax based on property assessment. It turns out that under the flat rate the property owners with the lower assessment would see an increase for the trash collection fee.

The editorial seemed to endorse the current system by comparing it to the school system. We pay taxes into the system whether we have no children or 10 children.

The TEA (taxed enough already) party seems to have suddenly awakened to this fact after President Obama's election. Many of the candidates seem to be unaware that all taxes are basically unfair to some people but give strength to the many.

There was a series on television years ago called "Upstairs Downstairs." One of the lines in the show concerning a social issue was "You don't pull a tree up by it roots to see what it looks like." The message to the tea party is don't try to change our existing government without doing some thoughtful homework. You can start by reading The Daily Journal's editorial cited and use its careful analysis of a very fundamental issue.