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Taxes I Love and Taxes I Hate
By maudeaster on 2012-04-11 12:15:06
Getting the tax forms ready this year has made me realize there are taxes I love to pay and taxes I hate to pay - And
that if I want the one to increase and the other to decrease, I’m going to have to do something about it! More on that later. I
really am enthusiastic about a lot of taxes I pay - the $ that goes to schools, that will get everyone health care, that makes
sure we are breathing clean air and eating safe food, and that’s helping us all end our carbon addiction so that the planet as
we know it can survive. And I’m thrilled when my taxes make a difference around the world by supporting access to clean
drinking water, adequate food, shelter and health care. To me, taxes are a great way to join my money with others’ money so
that collectively we can make good things happen. But I hate the fact that so little of my tax money goes for these much
IF YOU WORK
FOR PEACE ..
>
“STOP PAYING
FOR WAR.
needed tasks because so much tax money is gobbled up by the Pentagon. Next year, more than half
of the Federal Discretionary Budget (57%) will be spent on the military, over $653 billion! http://nationalpriorities.org/
Despite seeing how ineffective warfare has been in solving problems in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US is charging ahead with
a military budget that is more than the next 14 largest military spenders combined and nearly 6 times more than the next
biggest spender, China. Military contractors love the profits from all this --- and are pushing the next war, with Iran, to keep
the contracts flowing. But I don’t want these defense corporation lobbyists eating up my tax money when it’s needed so
badly to meet real human needs. So, here are 2 things I’m going to do: On Tuesday, April 17, when we all line
La
up at the Post Office, ’m going to the Fort Orange Post Office (sadly threatened with
extinction from inadequate tax support) at noon, 563 New Scotland Ave (across from St. Peter’s). I and others from
Women Against War will join with Occupy Albany in a Tax Day protest with multiple themes:
e Tax the 1% their fare share
e Shift military taxes to human needs spending
e Stop spending tax dollars on the over-incarceration of people of color
e End taxation without full representation of gay and lesbian people.
And on Wednesday, April 1st, Ill be at a 12:15-1PM vigil in front of the Capitol organized by Women Against War
and Peace Action, joining people in 35 countries around the world participating in the Global Day on Military
Spending — calling for a global priorities shift, to redirect the world’s 1.6 billion military spending to address the real
security crises of climate change, conflict and underdevelopment. Please join me — both days if you can - we have a
right to demand that our taxes go where they will do good, not harm!
