Many of us feel a natural resentment toward that unique power. All of us have a great interest in that power being used in ways that help our nation rather than hurt it. You should make up your own mind about taxes. For too long, tax policy has been manipulated by powerful special interests that do not know you, do not care about you and do not even respect you or your community. Taxes have an impact on multiple facets of our lives, not just economic transactions.
Taxes affect our lives just as powerfully as safety regulations and environmental laws do.
By consciously weaving a set of tax laws that match our society's values, we can more consistently uphold those values. 1 Let's take a quick look at the current tax landscape. You might find a few surprises in there. For example, individual income taxes dwarf corporate income taxes, and sales taxes take in more money than the property tax. Solid waste incinerators release toxic substances into the air, yet construction of these incinerators can be financed through bonds that are exempt from federal income tax.