Dr. Martin Hash Podcast

Taxpayers have no real connection or input into the budget process, or where the money goes, or what the priorities are. They assume that increased taxes goes into government pensions, weapons, or given away to foreign countries. This makes taxes politically dangerous & encourages asinine demagoguery from people who disingenuously promise not to raise taxes, or that somehow taxes will be paid by other people, or through some magic process such as growth, spending cuts, or closing loopholes. But human nature isn't going to change, and people aren't going to give up government services, and taxes aren't going to pay themselves.

Simply using the political correctness solution of renaming tax increases to something more palatable like “revenue enhancements” or “increased inflows,” only inspires more contempt & misunderstanding. The real solution is obvious but never mentioned: indoctrination & advertising. Now, all most children ever hear about taxes is their own negative experience with Sales Tax, and the impressions they get from their tax-hating parents. Taxes need to be taught to students as part of math, and discussed more in social studies. Their role as the only tool that government has needs to be clarified & lauded. Then as adults, taxes need to be explained in glossy advertising campaigns just like teeth whiteners & erectile dysfunction drugs.