So Taxing

For many years I’ve been concerned with the government at all levels seizing land and raising taxes with little regard to the citizens that the government is supposed to protect and to represent. Their lack of concern for the burden they place on their constituents has been more and more pronounced over the years. Their continued funding of unnecessary and frivolous projects has become almost legendary.  Yet they ignore these glaring failures and continue to throw more money down the same holes or look for more holes to open.

The average citizen doesn’t have the luxury of raising taxes to cover their expenditures. They are forced to curtail spending and budget their money. They have to prioritize their needs and eliminate the waste, the nonessentials, and niceties in their lifestyle. Politicians have no such restraints.

Sunday evening our pastor shared a message from I Kings about the death of Solomon and the installation of Rehoboam as king of Israel. Rehoboam was born just before Solomon became Israel’s king. King Solomon gained power and enjoyed the wealth that his father David had amassed. Rehoboam was raised in a palace with this luxury and wealth surrounding him. An allotment of food prepared for Solomon’s family and followers consisted of 360 pounds of fine flour, 72 pounds of meal, 30 oxen, 100 sheep, besides harts, roebucks, and fattened fowl. This was the daily feasting prepared for them. The people of Israel paid for it. They had also footed the bill for the erection of the temple. This is the opulence that surrounded Rehoboam all of his life was all that he knew.

This is like the political loop of partisanship that infests Washington D.C. today where the money they spend is not theirs and they have no idea of its value. The officials surround themselves with people who have become used to this grandiose lifestyle.

Now, back to Rehoboam; when the citizens came to him and asked that the burden of their taxes be lowered, King Rehoboam asked for 3 days to consider. First, he asked Solomon’s old advisers. They suggested that he lower taxes, ease the burden, and the citizens would serve him. Then, Rehoboam asked the young men who were his companions that grew up with him in Solomon’s court. They advised that he increase the taxes, not lower them. Rehoboam followed his friend’s advice and told the people he would raise the taxes. The people rebelled and divided the country into Judah and Israel.

Tax increases seemed to be a continual plague until recently. I hope that the change will continue and actual budgeting of the taxpayer’s money really occurs.