Happy Tax Day!

 No, really. Happy Tax Day!

We at MOMocrats get as annoyed as any normal person by the tedious piles of tax paperwork we have to fill out each year to do our social duty. (I mean, seriously: we're a bunch of writers. We have to fill out the Schedule C.) And of course, there are some government programs we are disappointed to see our tax dollars going toward.

But as patriotic Americans, we're also genuinely proud to know that we help pay for many of the public sector agencies and government programs that make this country a better place to live, and so we're happy, on this tax day, to reflect on all the good the hard earned cash we're parting with can accomplish.

Here are some of the things MOMocrats writers actually like paying taxes for:

Julie: I am happy to pay taxes because I know it helps fund schools and I do believe that solid, well-rounded education is a cornerstone of a great culture.

I am happy to pay taxes because I know it helps fund CHIP, and knowing that kids get needed health care is crucial to me.

Cynematic: My absolute favorite thing I'm happy to support with my federal taxes is the Smithsonian (and the Library of Congress). I love that taxpayer support helps keep these museums, galleries, and temples of learning free to the public. What an incredible gift of culture and learning to us all.

I'm also really fond of Pell grants for college students.

As an Angeleno, I wouldn't say I love my state & federal highways, but without them life here would be unimaginable. I'm definitely happy to have my taxes pay for Los Angeles' small but growing network of light rail & commuter rail trains.

I wish I could allocate a higher proportion of the taxes I do pay to the state school system and to my local parks. I'd pay more taxes for a single-payer health care system that covers every single person in our country. I'd consider that money well spent.

Karoli: I'm glad my taxes help pay for National Parks, and provide opportunities for businesses like the one that hired my husband. 

Glennia: I'm grateful for the work the National Institutes of Health supports. Many breakthroughs in disease research have come from NIH funding. 

Donna: For me, it's the products we all enjoy as a result of government-funded research and development.

And the Centers for Disease Control.

Jaelithe: I'm happy to pay taxes to support early intervention programs for children with special needs that help families get kids tested for developmental delays or learning disabilities at an early age, before kids start having problems in school.  

And, as someone who cares a lot about preserving the environment for the next generation, I'm really excited that some of my tax dollars are currently going to fund the modernization of our nations' transportation infrastructure, and create incentives for businesses to develop new green energy technology. 

Stephanie: I'm thankful for my taxes that pay our soldiers' salaries, protect them with body armor, and help to heal them when they're wounded.  I'm also thankful for all the new taxes that are finally going to help our wounded warriors and to fix a dysfunctional Veterans Affairs system.

I'm thankful for the taxes that help keep our water and air (relatively) clean, that build and maintain our infrastructure, and that fund vaccinations and medical research for our children.

What government programs are you happy to pay taxes for? Let us know in the comments!

Comments

[magpie]

I'm happy that my taxes are supporting the National Endowment for the Arts.

[nonlineargirl]

Federal. Health. Reform. (Yay!)