Talking about taxes and government in today’s political environment is tough. For decades, the dominant message from many political leaders has been that government is the problem, not part of a solution to society’s ills. As Grover Norquist, an anti-government crusader noted, “My goal is to shrink government to the size where it can be drowned in a bathtub.”

    This mindset has held a powerful grip on voters and politicians alike. In Kentucky and across the nation it has led to serial tax cuts, aimed mostly at business and the wealthy, and chronic under-funding of schools and public services. Kentucky’s governor and nearly 50 legislators have signed a pledge to never raise taxes, regardless of the state’s needs. The results, as we have seen, are higher tuition costs, rising state debt, and inadequate funding for education, health care, environmental protection and more.

    KFTC members understand the importance – and the challenge – of changing the way people view taxes and government. As we organize to win progressive tax reforms, we are working to provide a positive vision for the role of government and our tax dollars.

    KFTC chairperson Janet Tucker explains, “I really don’t mind paying taxes. Paying taxes is part of being an organized society. Part of the misconception is that we see our tax dollars misused, and it gives the whole system a bad name. As a society, we have the responsibility to care for the most vulnerable - - the young, the old, and those unable to take care of themselves. We do that through our government with the taxes we pay, and that’s a good thing!”

   “Justice, including economic justice, is not possible without government. In turn, government is not possible without taxes,” explained Erik Lewis of Morehead. “Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, ‘When I pay taxes, I purchase civilization.’ He said that over a hundred years ago. It may sound a little out of fashion, but I think there is a still a lot of validity to it. Government in a democracy is a tool can be used for good or for ill, but to get good things done you need some tools.”

    The question of fairness is an important part of the frame we are seeking to build around taxes and government. As Erik Lewis reasons, “People should be willing to pay their fair share. Nobody should be made to pay more than their fair share. Unfortunately, decisions follow the path of least resistance, and those with the least power find themselves carrying a disproportionate load.”

“Lois and I consider taxes as the dues we pay to belong to an organized, secure society. Taxes are the best opportunity for people to invest in our city, county, state and nation. I’ve seen the difference tax dollars can make. In rural Kentucky where I grew up, we didn’t have electricity until the rural electric cooperative brought lines to my community. Until then, my mother’s work was really drudgery. Then new roads were built, supporting economic development. I went to school on the GI bill. I didn’t get here by myself. I feel a strong responsibility to give back. Concern for low-income Kentuckians and tax justice are two reasons why I joined KFTC.”

Jim Morgan
Madison County

    Although he’s not a member of KFTC, Bill Gates, Sr. (the father of the Microsoft founder) explained our philosophy tax fairness when he said, “I believe that one’s obligations to society grow in proportion to how one has benefited.”

    For Janet Tucker, it is also important to focus on what good government can achieve. “With a good tax system and honest, accountable government, there are numerous things that can be done, from better schools to better jobs. If we had all the money spent on bad causes and spent it on good causes, imagine what we could do!”

Here are a few other resources:

• Demos has recently completed research project about how to talk about government that is helpful when working to frame our tax justice message.
• Jim Wallis’ book, God’s Politics, contains several chapters that address the issue of economic justice.
• George Lakoff presents progressives’ vision and principles clearly and succinctly in his book, Don’t Think of an Elephant!

These are articles recently published online which you may also find helpful:

• “Shrink, Shift, and Shaft” by Chuck Collins
• “One Dollar, One Vote” by Bradford Plumer
• “Paying Our Fair Share” by Mike Lapham