Friday, December 06, 2002

Taxed to Death: I agree that some people will think that taxes are unfair, no matter what. But Kinsley's point along the same lines cuts both ways. If a government tries to construct a tax system that is fair to individuals, it will have a hard time making one that is fair to society. Yes, uninsured medical costs seem an obvious deduction. But drawing the line is the age-old problem. Loan-interest costs, educational costs, equipment investment and depreciation -- once you've opened the door, everyone has a special case they can plead. Why should I have to choose (to use the Democrats favorite formulation) between feeding my family and fixing the roof? Obviously the government should step in to take care of one or the other, right? Isn't it unconstitutional to have to make choices like that? Or is it just life as it has been lived for millenia?

No comments: