Paying Taxes

[DISCLAIMER]

Although she taught me how to steal from organizations such as the church congregation for which she worked as a janitor, my late mom never educated me about the paying of taxes. Rather, it was my dad, when divorced from my mom, who taught me this lesson.

He maintained beliefs aligned with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, as my dad informed me that he’d even received formal education by members of his faith in New York. Regarding taxes, my dad taught me biblical passages which advocated paying taxes.

For instance, Romans 13:1-2 teaches the subjection of people to governing authorities. Romans 13:6 then states, “This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.”

Still, I was confused by the contradictions of the Bible. For context, John 12:31 states, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out.” How could authorities of the world function as “God’s servants” when Satan was the prince of Earth?

As well, 1 John 5:19 states, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” If the world was controlled by Satan, how were earthly governing bodies serving God? It didn’t make sense to me. (Still doesn’t!)

Favorably, my dad encouraged me to ask questions about what I was taught. While I didn’t receive answers which were persuasive enough to convince me that global governing bodies were morally, ethically, or spiritually good, I submitted through obedience, as instructed.

Ultimately, I obeyed the prescription issued by Jesus in Matthew 22:21 which states in part, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Long since having subscribed to dogmatic religious beliefs, I now maintain small-l libertarian perspectives.

Not allied with the big-L Libertarian Party of the United States (U.S.), I acknowledge similarities and differences regarding my former and current beliefs. As an example, Jehovah’s Witnesses and libertarians maintain core beliefs which are fundamentally incompatible with one another.

Though a comparison may be drawn concerning both philosophies maintaining an arguably healthy suspicion of worldly governments, their reasons and solutions are fundamentally different. Jehovah’s Witnesses practice strict political neutrality for theological reasons.

Alternatively, libertarians engage in the political process to limit government power based on a different philosophical premise. Still, I appreciate that I have a lifelong skeptical approach to government rule, even though I’ve worked for and with various government organizations.

Admittedly, my current libertarian worldview acknowledges a need for some form of government structure, as opposed to anarchy. I’ve never flown the black flag of anarchism, and I hope the U.S. never devolves into complete chaos of that sort during my lifetime.

In any event, I pay my taxes with the understanding that taxpayers serve as the form of revenue for the U.S. government. This I do reluctantly, though obediently. When further contemplating this matter, I’m reminded of a book that I’ve been reading.

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

At this point in the blogpost, you may be wondering what taxes have to do with mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Bear in mind that REBT is steeped in Stoicism. For instance, consider a quote by Seneca which is used by authors of The Daily Stoic (page 123):

Nothing will ever befall me that I will receive with gloom or a bad disposition. I will pay my taxes gladly. Now, all the things which cause complaint or dread are like the taxes of life—things from which, my dear Lucilius, you should never hope for exemption or seek escape.

Aside from U.S. wealth involuntarily extracted from citizens to fund genocide, ethnic cleansing, and war crimes committed by Israel, authors of The Daily Stoic address other matters of frustration, annoyance, or disappointment which serve as a form of taxation (page 123):

As your income taxes come due, you might be like many people—complaining at what you have to fork over to the government. Forty percent of everything I make goes to these people? And for what?!

First off, taxes go to a lot of programs and services you almost certainly take for granted. Second, you think you’re so special? People have been complaining about their taxes for thousands of years, and now they’re dead. Get over it.

Third, this is a good problem to have. Far better than, say, making so little there is nothing left to pay the government or living in an anarchy and having to pay for every basic service in a struggle against nature.

I appreciate the REBT-esque ideal-world versus real-world distinction offered by the authors, even though I consider the latter point somewhat delusional. “It’s a good problem to have herpes. Far better than, say, HIV or AIDS.” I understand the logic while also rejecting the reasoning.

Taxes are a problem, not a “good problem.” Still, I agree that if my taxes went toward education, health care, infrastructure, and so forth it would be far better than attacking Gazans, Lebanese, Iranians, Syrians, Yemenis, and whomever else the Israelis are fighting at my expense.

If I were still religious, I’d say that sounded pretty Satanic! Alas, paying taxes is required. Also, where the money that’s forcibly extracted from me winds up is beyond my control and influence. Concluding their examination of this matter, authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 123):

But more important, income taxes are not the only taxes you pay in life. They are just the financial form. Everything we do has a toll attached to it. Waiting around is a tax on traveling. Rumors and gossip are the taxes that come from acquiring a public persona.

Disagreements and occasional frustration are taxes placed on even the happiest of relationships. Theft is a tax on abundance and having things that other people want. Stress and problems are tariffs that come attached to success. And on and on and on.

There are many forms of taxes in life. You can argue with them, you can go to great—but ultimately futile—lengths to evade them, or you can simply pay them and enjoy the fruits of what you get to keep.

The small-l libertarian beliefs within me cause my mind to challenge that latter sentence. For instance, consider a hypothetical syllogism (if p, then q; if q, then r; therefore, if p, then r):

If the government maintains a monopoly on force while requiring you to fund its operations, then taxation is ultimately facilitated with the threat of death.

If taxation is ultimately facilitated with the threat of death, then simply pay your taxes and enjoy what the government hasn’t yet taken from you without your consent and regarding fear of death.

Therefore, if the government maintains a monopoly on force while requiring you to fund its operations, then simply pay your taxes and enjoy what the government hasn’t yet taken from you without your consent and regarding fear of death.

I concur with the authors’ point concerning how one recommendatorily should “simply pay” taxes. However, I fundamentally reject the notion that one recommendatorily ought to “enjoy the fruits of what you get to keep.” The former point is rational. The latter is absurd!

Personally, I prefer Jesus’ approach to merely rendering unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s. And while I understand that Seneca said (i.e., “I will pay my taxes gladly”), I’ll also pay my taxes though without the “gladly” perverse qualifier.

Why recommendatorily must one be glad or enjoy an activity such as paying taxes? Otherwise, think of a modus ponens syllogism using this form of reasoning (if p, then q; p; therefore, q):

If you’re forced to submit to the U.S. government, then you must do so gladly while enjoying your submission.

You’re forced to submit to the U.S. government.

Therefore, you must do so gladly while enjoying your submission.

Is this a principle you’re willing to adopt? If so, then there’s an old Irish curse that may apply to my dissenting perspective from yours:

“May those who love us, love us;

And for those who don’t love us,

May God turn their hearts;

And if He doesn’t turn their hearts,

May He turn their ankles,

So we will know them by their limping.”

Rather than “love,” I imagine “obey” being something a government official would advocate when appealing to a higher power. Here I am, walking with a limp while tolerating and accepting that I must pay taxes. There you are, gladly paying taxes while enjoying your subservience.

Obediently, I’ll pay my taxes. As intentionally demonstrated herein, using knowledge from authors of The Daily Stoic, I’ve paid a nonfinancial form of tax by highlighting my disagreement with paying taxes—which are then used toward the oppression of other people (e.g., Gazans).

Just as I’m required to part with a portion of my money when the U.S. government demands that I do so, I’ll part with the irrational notion that there isn’t a nonfinancial tax to be paid in order to unconditionally accept that I have so little control and influence in life.

I don’t have to be glad or enjoy that these taxes are required. Instead, I simply pay them. How about you? What approach do you use to facing the potential of death if you don’t pay your taxes? If you self-disturb with beliefs about paying taxes, then I invite you to reach out to me.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

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