I can't quote any figures or statistics, but my own personal feeling is that I've never felt my taxes were too high, not when I was starting out and working for minimum wage, or today when I'm at the peak of my earning power and well above the median family income. I don't begrudge that I pay more than the poor, either relatively or absolutely, I can afford it. The rich can no doubt afford more than me, I pay the same for a gallon of gas or bottle of wine that they do. And as for the unfairness of it all, I only am upset with those who earn more than I but pay less tax due to some cleverly finessed accounting trick or loophole in the law.

As for what I receive for my tax dollar, I am satisfied, or at least I am satisfied as long as I can work. When I'm too old or too sick to work, and my savings are dried up, I may very well change my tune. I do know one thing, everything I have and everything I own has been made possible because of assistance I received from the Federal government when I was a child or young adult: Federally subsidized low income housing, Social security, GI Bill, subsidies to my schools, NSF grants, VHA mortgage, FDIC peace of mind, federally mandated or supported health insurance, and state and federal salaries and pensions for my wife's and my retirements, not to mention government contracts and tax breaks for the so-called private enterprises I've worked for.

I got my money's worth, and I don't think I would be as well off as I am strictly through my own efforts, especially if I had to claw my way up from scratch. I have confidence and pride in my abilities, but I am also a realist and I know very well how I have benefited from the "welfare state". It's highly unlikely I would have gotten here on my own, and now that I have some degree of security and prosperity, I do not begrudge passing it on. I have no children, but I gladly pay school taxes for the same reason: I feel it is my duty as an American.