A Taxing Subject

There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and the talking over its head. `Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse,’ thought Alice; `only, as it’s asleep, I suppose it doesn’t mind.’

The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded together at one corner of it: `No room! No room!’ they cried out when they saw Alice coming. `There’s PLENTY of room!’ said Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one end of the table.

`Have some wine,’ the March Hare said in an encouraging tone.

Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea. `I don’t see any wine,’ she remarked.

`There isn’t any,’ said the March Hare.

`Then it wasn’t very civil of you to offer it,’ said Alice angrily.

`It wasn’t very civil of you to sit down without being invited,’ said the March Hare.

`I didn’t know it was YOUR table,’ said Alice; `it’s laid for a great many more than three.’

`Your hair wants cutting,’ said the Hatter. He had been looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was his first speech.

`You should learn not to make personal remarks,’ Alice said with some severity; `it’s very rude.’

from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland: A Mad Tea Party
by Lewis Carroll

I’ve taught Macroeconomics for a very long time.  Tax policy of course is also part of the curriculum so I always get to spend at least a week on U.S. taxes.    One of my favorite lectures is to disabuse people in the U.S. of the notion they are ‘over taxed’.   You probably saw that I didn’t exactly get on the Tea Party band wagon.  I’m not worried about my taxes.  I am worried about the huge amount of deficit spending going on and I’m worried about the quality of government I get in return for my taxes .  I’m more worried about loosing my constitutional right to privacy.  I’m also worried about my tax dollars going to religious organizations and other spurious uses.

Several other economists used their blogs on Tax Day for the purpose of showing folks that the U.S. has extremely low taxes compared to the kinds of things we expect and get from the Government. I’d like to share some of that with you.

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