Taxes are an investment in good society

“Taxes. The price we pay for a civilized society.” And help when needed!

I am so sick of hearing from too many who rail against “big government” and “bad taxes” after the week I had last week.

When high winds took out a couple large branches from a tree in our boulevard, I contacted our community forester to see if he would look at it. He did. He also informed us that because it is on the boulevard our city is “responsible for it.” Together we are “monitoring” it.

When I needed a Notary Public I contacted our County Courthouse. Yep, they do that. And they will also “witness” the document I needed to complete.

When I met, head on, a deer on the highway, in pouring rain, early Saturday morning I called 911, had a Sheriff’s deputy (Thank you, Lance) arrive in short order who assisted with the accident scene and securing a tow truck.

Did I mention our routine use of public hiking trails in well-kept green spaces?

Think streetlights, roads, bridges, libraries!

In so many ways the public investment our family gladly makes by paying taxes is a small price to pay for all the work dedicated civil servants do to create a civilized society. I learned the importance of these investments early in my life from my tax paying working-class parents as well as from teachers, paid by our taxes, who were empowered to teach the value and responsibility of civic engagement.

Matt Tapscott

Decorah