Yesterday, I submitted my federal income taxes mindful of the push back day in Cheney and other places around the nation. I decided to see if my income taxes are unfair and extremely onerous. Reviewing my 1040 form, I have reached the conclusion my taxes are not so bad. I did pay 12.55 percent of my income to the federal government for all the protections they provide me. The real shocker came when I examined Schedule A, Form 1040, I discovered I paid 13.1 percent of my income for healthcare. Now I am angry.
Paying more for healthcare than I did for taxes indicate to me something is terribly out of balance in our country. The other major industrial countries in the world do pay higher taxes than we do but they do not have the healthcare problems that we have. Of the G20 countries meeting in London recently, we rank poorly in infant mortality, longevity, senior and prenatal care.
Since 1980 our infrastructure has deteriorated (best indicated by the bridge collapse in Minnesota). The United States does not provide free or inexpensive education as is done in other countries nor do we fund basic scientific research like they do.
If we change our national spending priorities on healthcare education and improving out infrastructure and scientific research, I am willing to spend 26 percent of my income taxes to supply these services for our citizens.
Dave Daugharty
Cheney
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