Republicans and other right wing patriots love to rail against taxes. Their solutions for pretty much all government problems are to cut taxes and cut government. So, this being tax day, it might be fun to consider the wonderful world we would have if we could take their philosophy to its logical end. Because if they don't agree that the consequences of the following would be good, they will have to admit to supporting taxes. Which you are not likely ever to hear many of them do.
Without taxes, we wouldn't have scientists researching climate change.
Without taxes, we wouldn't have national defenses, and our veterans would be on their own.
Without taxes, we wouldn't have regulation of the pollutants dumped in our water, on our land, and in our sky.
Without taxes, we wouldn't have parks, or wilderness areas protected for those that love outdoor recreation.
Without taxes, we wouldn't have protections for workers and consumers, and large corporations would be able to do what they want when they want.
Without taxes, we would have no police or professional firefighting.
Without taxes, we would have no border controls.
Without taxes, we would have no public schools and all colleges and universities would be private.
Without taxes, corporations could consolidate and control and manipulate markets all they wanted.
Without taxes, victims of natural disasters would be on their own.
Without taxes, all roads and highways would fall apart or paid for by tolls and other usage fees.
Without taxes, we would have to pay directly to have our garbage collected and our sewage eliminated and treated.
Without taxes, we would all have to figure out how to survive and have medical care after retirement.
Without taxes, the food we eat could include whatever extraneous chemicals made it look good or smell fresh, regardless of the toxicity of those chemicals.
Without taxes, we would have less medical research, and all costs of medical research would be included in our medical and pharmaceutical bills.
Without taxes, we would have no NASA.
Without taxes, we couldn't have elections.
Without taxes, we would all be vigilantes.
Without taxes, the unemployed would have to live off whatever savings they had, and their friends and relatives, for as long as they could.
Without taxes, the sick and the disabled would have to fend for themselves.
Without taxes, anyone wanting to start a new business would have to rely on banks, savings, friends and family.