You Can Forget My Taxes…TOO!
Melissa Etheridge, champion of gay rights, declared back in November 2008 that because the people of California voted to keep marriage between a man and a woman, she would no longer pay taxes. Her “reasoning” (I call it emotional blabbering) for not paying taxes was that it made her a “second class citizen” so she no longer needed to pay taxes. Taunting the government, she blogged that the government would not be getting her “half million” in taxes owed. Too bad that California and the country are going through tough times Melissa stated, she was keeping the extra money. Who cares that she still uses California services, she no longer needed to pay her share. Here’s the story.
Anyway, for some reason, this story is still “news”, as it was on the front page of my AOL welcome screen a few days ago, and it made me think.
As a single mom, I have worked hard to make something of myself (despite not going to college), and this year I am told by the government I owe taxes. You can imagine how reading Melissa’s little tantrum makes me a little bit frustrated.
Here is some reality for Ms. Etheridge. I will be paying over $1,200 in Federal taxes this year (may seem small compared to her amount, but let me tell you that the money is needed much more in my household). Do I like the fact that I am paying the taxes…no. However, do I understand it as being part of living in this society, yes. Is it then my right to be ABOVE THE LAW just because I don’t feel like paying taxes for whatever whimsical reason I can concoct today? Let’s see, I am upset at a lot of things lately – maybe I should withhold paying my taxes because I disagree with Pelosi spending it on contraception? Maybe I should withhold taxes because Obama is now paying for baby murder with my hard earned money? Maybe I should withhold it because greedy politicians will end up stuffing it in their pockets anyway?
Where does it begin and end?
Here’s the kicker – before Prop 8, Ms. Etheridge had the same rights she has today. She is able to legally be with her partner (just without the use of the word marriage). Nothing has changed. She is no more a second class citizen now than she was last October 2008. Come and talk to me about being a second class citizen when you are really mistreated and denied your rights, like not being allowed to vote, or denied access to a restaurant because you’re gay – not just because the majority of California has an opinion different than yours.
In her blog, Melissa also asks “Since when did we start legislating morality?” Here’s the answer - always. Does she not realize that when the government says “Murder is wrong” it is legislating morality? Or how about when the laws state that it is not okay for a 40 year old man to rape a 10 year old girl? That is legislating morality is it not?
Anyway, I expect that if this woman does not pay her taxes, the full authority of the law will come down on her. I’d ask Wesley Snipes how he would feel about Melissa getting away with not paying taxes.
If they allow one person to skip taxes based on ideology, then maybe it’s time we all did. After all, how many people can the government actually fit in Federal prison? My guess is there’s not enough room to hold every single American that hates to pay taxes.
