Despite the lofty words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, the reality is those that pay for government have very little say in it.
Because politicians have come to expect the complacent behavior from taxpaying public, those that pay for the cost of government have found that their tax contribution has very little influence on how a legislator will vote compared to much smaller campaign contributions. Campaign contributions are the reason that misguided legislation can be enacted that will be devastating to large segments of the population, but beneficial to a small but politically well connected group.
The enactment of the 16th amendment establishing a National Income Tax and subsequent employer withholding provisions effectively changed the government from one that serves the taxpayers, to one that serves the campaign contributors. In many cases, the contributor is also the recipient of taxpayer dollars insuring that its funding stream continues. In some cases, such as Amtrak and Fannie Mae, the campaign contributors are actually a governmental related entity that wants to continue subsidies for money loosing behavior (Amtrak) or exemption from regulatory controls (Fannie Mae). In other cases, the campaign contributions are from industries that want taxpayer money to subsidize its poor performance or judgment (General Motors, Chrysler and large banks).
For the first time in many years, taxpayers took to the streets on April 15th to demonstrate their opposition to politicians passing stimulus bills they didn’t read. In California, taxpayer of both parties continued their opposition by voting down propositions that would greatly increase taxes. On September 12th over a half million taxpayers demonstrated in Washington DC against legislation that will enrich campaign contributors at the expense of the taxpayer.
Unless taxpayers continue to demonstrate that their complacency is no longer guaranteed, government will continue to serve the interests of campaign contributors not the taxpayers.
David Nace was raised in rural western Pennsylvania. Graduated from Penn State University with an Undergraduate degree in Engineering and a Masters degree in Business Administration. He has managed and co-owned a construction company since 1989. Dave is active in the Associated Builders and Contractors organization on the local and national level, and is able to demonstrate the consequences of legislation and policies in concise and easily understood articles.
