Of Taxes and Libraries

As you know, today is April 15th, and every American knows what day that is - Tax Day ... the day on which we render up to our federal Caesar that portion of our personal fortunes to which Caesar lays claim. If you are a hard-core Tea Party Republican or a Libertarian, your head exploded when you read that. If you are an average American, at the very least it made you cranky.

Nobody likes to pay taxes, myself included. But taxes pay for the things our government does. Some of those things we expect, like, and even demand. Some, we don't. But guess what? We elect the people who decide how much tax we pay and what those taxes are spent on. Don't like paying taxes, or what your government spends those taxes on? Quit bitching and elect someone else.

Okay, end of fulmination. Now let's talk about one of the good things those taxes pay for ... libraries.

April 12-18 is National Library Week. Libraries make books available to everyone ... especially to those who might otherwise not be able to afford them. They further the education of our citizens, and help them make good decisions. They provide a safe and exciting place for our children to learn, to hear stories read aloud, to practice arts and crafts and to broaden their young minds. Libraries are an investment in the future - a part of the infrastructure of the mind.

Of course, we could spend all that money on corporate welfare and on tax benefits for already-wealthy people who don't need them. If that's what you want the government to spend your money on, you know who to vote for.

And you deserve what you get. Too bad the rest of us will get it with you.

Have a good day. Support your local library. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo