Tax Guru-Ker$tetter Letter

Sunday, March 16, 2003

Taking Advantage

One thing about the kinds of taxes our rulers use to take money from people is how much control people have over whether or not to pay them. Some are close to voluntary, such as the luxury and gas guzzler taxes. A person can easily decide simply not to buy those things. Other things are not so easily avoided. Nicotine addicts have been popular targets for tax hungry rulers who are literally exploiting the addiction by tacking several dollars of taxes on each pack of cancer sticks.

Another target of money-hungry rulers seems to be nursing home residents. About two years ago, I discussed efforts here in Arkansas to levy a $5.25 per day per bed tax on those people. According to this story, the rulers in Pennsylvania are considering the same kind of thing, $5.00 per bed per person.

Am I wrong in thinking that this kind of exploitation of people at their most vulnerable state is disgusting, or is it just a matter of the ends justifying the means? Governments need money and however they get it is fine and bringing morality into the discussion is just out of place. Is that how people see this? If so, where does it stop? Will we see huge taxes levied on organ transplant patients? Pay it or die.

KMK

- posted by Kerry M. Kerstetter, MBA~CPA~ATP~ATA @ 3/16/2003 01:10:00 PM Send this post: