ShareThisTaxation has always been a problem both for the governments and its people. Despite its existence for many centuries, people still find the practice contentious. Over these years, it has remained one of the single most politically charged subjects that draw the deepest demarcation line between the Republicans and the Democrats in the U.S. and the haves and the have nots everywhere in the world.
As President Obama put out his plan to rein in the budget deficit, he said extending the tax cuts for the rich cannot continue if the government is serious about cutting the country’s trillion dollar budget deficit. The sacrifice must be shared by all – the rich, the middle class, even the poor. And lawmakers can’t keep on harping at the so-called “entitlements” the poor and the middle class enjoy without looking for ways to equitably distribute the responsibility and pain of rebuilding this country’s economy.
Dismantling the social programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security because they are expensive and unsustainable, is clearly not the answer to this country’s woes. If anything, doing so could trigger even more serious and much bigger problems such as civil unrest and chaos that might lead to a revolution. It would be wrong and naïve to presume that revolutions, such as those we see happening in the Middle East and Asia, can only take place in a country literally ruled by despots.
The truth is, the protests mounted by the working class in Wisconsin is only a preview of what’s to come if our narrow-minded leaders in Washington insist on breaking the backs of these people who feel much of the brunt of these cuts in the name of bringing down the deficit.
Ironically, while our Republican leaders pick on the social programs for people who are struggling to survive, in contrast, they are protective of the interests and welfare of the few rich Americans. The disparity between the rich and the poor in this country alone should tell us that our leaders are doing a lousy job of closing that gap. In fact, based on the statistics provided in the article by Prof. William Domhoff of the University of California, wealth distribution is so skewed to” the top 1% of households who own 34% of all privately held wealth with the next 19% (the managerial, professional and small business stratum) owning 50.5%. What it means that just 20% of the people owned a remarkable 85%, leaving only 15% of the wealth for the bottom 80% (wage and salary workers). In terms of financial wealth (total net worth minus the value of one’s home), the top 1% of households had an even greater share: 42.7%.”
Yet, our Republican leaders so conveniently pronounce they have the mandate and the interest of the American people. Of course, they do. They have the interest of the wealthy 1 or 2% of the American people who finance their political campaigns to promote and protect their greed and selfish agenda.
So, going back to the question, are the rich taxed enough already? Hell, NO! They’ve been getting all the tax breaks for the last decade but the jobs these tax breaks were supposed to create never happened. They take their loots and send the jobs to China, India and elsewhere in the name of profit.
In the context of Jesus’ teachings, the widow’s offering in Mark 12:41-44 demonstrates how taxing (contributions) should be perceived. As Jesus watched the crowd put their money in to the temple treasury, he observed many rich people throw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Jesus called his disciplines and told them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They gave out their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.”
Even as President Obama raises taxes on the rich this time around and the rich pay half of the tax revenues of this country, the taxes the poor pay are just as good if not better, because they have been painfully sliced from the poor families’ necessities. As for the rich, it’s a cut made on their luxuries and excesses, which in the eyes of God, don’t carry much weight.
On that note, we hope that the spirit of Easter and the lessons of Christ’s resurrection bear witness to the calloused hearts of our leaders that they may start fresh by reforming their ways and restoring integrity and moral values into their lives and jobs.
A blessed Easter to all!