WE THE PEOPLE: Taxes are dues

Obituaries

Discussion

February 26, 2013

WE THE PEOPLE: Taxes are dues

By Pat Vaughn Chronicle contributor The Crossville Chronicle Tue Feb 26, 2013, 01:29 PM CST

CROSSVILLE — A budget seems to help organize finances to cover personal expenses. That goes for city, county, state and federal governments, as well. Taxes collected from all sources are needed for running this country and “we the people” are able to receive all of the benefits due us in return. Taxes support the economy for the good of all Americans, regardless of social income levels. The poor, with too little income to pay federal taxes, do pay taxes to local and state governments and they, too, deserve to be respected for their contributions.

The federal government financially helps Tennessee ($1.27 returned for every tax dollar sent). The budgets of the state and its 95 counties are supported by additional state and local taxes. Gasoline tax is currently at 21.4 cents; sales tax (Cumberland 9.75 percent); 6 percent tax for new car purchases; Hall income tax at 6 percent, property taxes based at 25 percent of appraised values and other miscellaneous taxes, all provide income for the state of Tennessee. Few people if any, escape paying their “dues” for being a Tennessean and an American. Everyone benefits!

To those who complain about paying these taxes to these governments, one could think in these terms: homeowners insurance today is about equal to county property taxes. Auto insurance in comparison to other Tennessee taxes is close to the same. Health insurance might as well be considered a tax, with costs rising every year for the last 30. (Health care is unaffordable to millions, which is why the Obama Administration fought for “ObamaCare.”) In comparison to the cost of profitable health-related businesses, our other taxes seem cheap.

To improve incomes and resulting living standards throughout Tennessee, it would be good for everyone to pay more attention to those running for political office. Our state is controlled by a number of multi-millionaires (mostly Republicans) who have few financial worries. When wealthy folks gain political power, few of them truly represent those who elected them, nor did they intend to. Instead, they appear to represent only their social level, their business and corporate friends. Few rich representatives personally intended to share what they have. With their excessive political power, they make sure neither they nor their friends have to.

Wages in America exist to pay the “cost of living” and as the costs go up so do taxes, but so should incomes for workers. Tennessee families need good paying jobs, with starting pay at $15 an hour for a “living wage.” The working class, who often work harder and longer hours than many CEOs or politicians, need help in finding good jobs. Nashville and Chattanooga have some decent paying jobs, but why not help provide the same for all 95 counties?

Good wages give families more income to spend to help the economy, resulting in even more jobs! Your representatives, however, refuse to see this economic reality and are against raising the minimum wage to a meager $9 per hour, simply because they are against every administration idea, because it comes from Obama.

Demand that your elected officials work for you instead of playing political games. That is their job!

• • •

This column represents alternative thoughts to other published columns in the Crossville Chronicle. “We the People” is published each Wednesday. Opinions expressed in “We the People” columns are not necessarily those of the Crossville Chronicle publisher, editor or staff. For more information, contact John Wund, editor, at jwund@frontiernet.net.

Text Only

Obituaries

Doris Bell
Doris Rae (Clifton) Bell, 68, of Fairfield Glade, passed away May 8, 2013, at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville. Visitation was held May 14 at Bilbrey Funeral Home, with interment at Green Acres Memory Gardens.

May 16, 2013
Erma Modglin
Erma Lucille (Freeze) Modglin, 71, of Crossville, passed away May 10, 2013. A graveside service was held at Springs Chapel Cemetery in Fentress County May 14, with Bro. Mike Kerley officiating.

May 14, 2013
David Hood
David Edward Hood, 58, of Crossville, passed away May 10, 2013. Funeral services were held May 12 from the chapel of Hood Funeral Home. Bro. Billy Norris and Bro. Jerry Harris officiated. Burial was in Martha Washington Cemetery in Fentress County.

May 14, 2013
Jack Flury
Jack Raymond Flury, 55, of Crossville, passed away May 3, 2013. The family received friends May 6 at Hood Funeral Home.

May 14, 2013
Ottis Ramsey
Funeral services for pastor Ottis Ramsey, 84, of Cookeville, were held May 13 from the chapel of Dyer Funeral Home. Burial followed in Judd Cemetery.

May 13, 2013
Stephen Padgett
Stephen Douglas Padgett, 51, of Crossville, passed away May 3, 2013, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville. Funeral services were held May 5 from the chapel of Bilbrey Funeral Home. Bro. Ken Clayton and Bro. Larry Long officiated. Burial was in Green Acres Memory Gardens.

May 13, 2013
William Dykes
William "Hobo Bill" Dykes passed away Jan. 23, 2013. He was a truck driver who loved making country and bluegrass music.

May 13, 2013
Daniel Gibbons
Daniel Luke Gibbons (Cadillac), 58, of Crossville, passes away May 6, 2013, at Tennessee Veteran Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services were held at Bilbrey Funeral Home May 9, with Bro. Charles Presley officiating. Interment was in Algood City Cemetery, with full military honors provided by Veteran's Honor Guard.

May 13, 2013
Billy Barnwell
Billy Vaughn Barnwell, 51, of Crab Orchard, TN passed away on May 10, 2013 at Cumberland Medical Center. The family will receive friends today, May 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 4 p.m. with Pastor Ralph Reagan officiating. Burial will be in Haley's Grove Cemetery.

May 13, 2013
Herschel Anderson
Herschel “Andy” Anderson, 78, of Hixson, went home to be with the Lord May 10, 2013. Visitation was held May 13 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, with a memorial service at 6 p.m. The Rev. Bill Harvey and the Rev. James Arland Anderson officiated. Burial will be private.

May 13, 2013
More Obituaries Headlines

Obituaries

Search Results

Discussion

WE THE PEOPLE: Taxes are dues

Site Map

Contact Us