In Nigeria, the counter-logic against tax payment is why suffer double jeopardy when you are effectively functioning as a government providing your own water (by drilling a borehole), electricity (thanks to your noisy generator), etc.

The taxes are going more and more to those who do not work and to the immigrants who burden the system whilst paying little or nothing into the tax man's pot. We are all getting stiffed in the long run. Change the immigration to zero population increase. Change the tax brackets to FLAT. Everyone pays same percentage. Cut out the tax supported welfare for other countries until we get our house in order.

RQ:
I paid more taxes in the past two years than I ever paid in my life and got less when I needed help most.

I sense, we in USA pay more and get less especially for health care, which is WAY out of control. The insurance carriers are having a fit – they don't want to change status quo.

POTUS says he will fix health care in USA but if he can't get out of economy bubble, we are all in for a bad sad time here.

Brings to mind when other POTUS's went into their bubbles: LBJ Bubble – Vietnam, Nixon Bubble – Watergate, Clinton Bubble (at the end of his term) – Lewinsky. Once they go in the bubble, they rarely come out to hear the true voices and needs of the people. All they have is their staff and YES men/women....Gee, he's only been POTUS 4 months and he might be headed for the bubble...poor thing, poor us...

If the economy was healthy, would he have already given the beltway bandits legislation for health care reform?

Do my cousins in France and UK pay less and get more?

And yes, the party is over, and the hangover will last a long time, so they (you) say. Don't they tax the booze now? I gave it up, so I don't know....tea for me...best and peace, BR – "Got To Get Better In A Little While"

I live in San Francisco and am int eh highest tax bracket. Yes, paying taxes is painful, but I would gladly pay the percentage I'm paying now if we had better social services (especially health service) like those in many European countries.

P.S. How does one invite Richard to follow on Twitter so we can tweet directly to him?

Mr. Quest- Why is the USA so much after income tax,road tax,open skies tax,burial tax? Are the taxi man also forced to apply brake tax....why USA is not learning a bit from India's system of taxation. The Indian expats are without fetters of "tax" as long as struggle out of country....And what a great privilege for the leaders you know? – stash all the money to the bunker in Swiss banks or if cash overflow- name it on kith or kin...taxes are evaded....and the genius idea is to distribute wealth to buy election votes!. Is this methodology applicable in USA? Is Mr. Obama planing to sign a decree to pay rest in peace tax, hell,heaven or purgatory tax? Please give us some relief...how to recover from all the taxes before the recession deadline.

Hello,

In Portugal, here I have been working for 8 years, if you earn €2.000 per month, which is above average; you pay 17% for the country (government) and 11% for Social Security.

Regards,

Manuel

What did you make of all the Tea Parties? It was a huge thing, however you feel about it, don't you think? I'm curious what will come out of it.