Taxes

With the recent election, I think it's interesting, all this buzz about taxes. I understand both sides, and don't really know if I truly support one side over another. But, I do think it's interesting to see the American People's reaction to taxes. Here in Denver, on election day, Denver Public Schools passed a tax raise to increase funding for their struggling schools. But in Douglas County, one of the more affluent counties in the area, a simmilar tax failed to pass. Hmmm.......

I think it's fascinating that the American people pay some of the lowest taxes in the world, and yet we continue to hold tightly to all that we have. Our schools are struggling, roads in disrepair, economy and energy situation in crisis, and yet $3.50 a gallon for gas is too expensive, despite already heavily subsidized prices. We have, in my interpretation, this sense of greed, general distrust, and entitlement. We want the best out of everything without giving anything. (I'm being cynical here, this isn't entirely true.) People are willing, in this struggling economy, to pay $1000 for a super bowl ticket, but not $200 a year in property taxes to assist a struggling community. Why is that? Why is it that we feel that we must be allowed to spend our money how we choose, despite the desperate need of some, and the failing state of some of our communities? How can people justify sending their children to schools that are failing to employ enough teachers and spend money doing frivilous things?

Isn't it the job of the government, and of citizens as members of a larger community, to hold one another accountable, to support one another, and to carry each other through times of crisis? How does keeping reasonable and logical taxes fit into that?

I don't pretend to have an answer, or know the solution. I am not an economic specialist (or a specialist at all, really). I'm just wondering. And what, if not raise taxes, are we going to do about our floundering infrastructure?