On the lighter side: Taxes are Sexy

[Thorin]

Yes, that's right, Taxes are Sexy!

First, like sex, taxes are hidden and mysterious.

True, at this time of year, the tax on income is revealed somewhat, but even it is veiled behind a complex and arcane set of calculations, credits and exemptions. And while income tax is a vague topic, we know even less about taxes on corporations, on the use of resources, or on international trade.

For the most part, we just don't talk about tax policy in polite company-it would be considered unsavoury. And so the topic of tax, like the practice of sex, remains something of a mystery. But while hidden and mysterious, taxes give direction to our social and industrial development.

Because, like sex, taxes are a powerful force in our society.

Size isn't everything

oth sex and taxes exert strong influences and strange attractions. Taxation-by changing the prices we pay for things like income, or bicycles, or garbage disposal-influences decisions large and small: whether to drive or take the bus, whether to live in the suburbs or the core of the city, whether to buy local or imported carrots. For corporations and for the wealthy, of course, the stakes are much greater and the lobbying for tax favours much more persuasive.

Finally, with sex as with taxes, everyone is doing it. Or has tried it, at least.

We all pay taxes, directly and indirectly-hundreds of them everyday. They are a pervasive force in our society and too often perverse, in the economic sense of the word: off kilter and misdirected.

Tax without love

Rather than think of taxes as drudgery, we could imagine ways to make taxes better. Taxes designed to actually benefit our families, our communities and the places we live. Taxes that we could feel good about. Because while being hidden, powerful and widespread makes taxes like sex, it does not make them sexy. After all, there is bad sex and there is good sex, dumb tax and smart tax.

Taxes without meaning or values-taxes without connection to people and place-are like sex without love and caring. So one way to make taxes sexier is to make them more meaningful, more connected.

Hah!  Maybe now CowGirl can understand my fascination with taxes