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The Nation's Pulse

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Montana, Oklahoma, and Virginia also cheerfully accept donations. The Massachusetts legislature added a box on the state tax form allowing filers to pay at the pre-tax cut rate. If you really don't think that your tax relief was justified, then don't take it.

Proposals for similar accounts have been introduced in a dozen states. Most use some variant of the name "Tax Me More," though Arizona state Sen. Dean Martin calls his initiative the "I Didn't Pay Enough Fund." Every state should create such a system.

If people believe that they are paying too little in taxes, they should be encouraged to give early and often. Add as much as you'd like when you're filing your taxes.

The goal is not to augment federal or state revenues, however. After all, who in their right mind views the state as a benevolent charity? Write a bigger check so more money can go to foreign aid, routinely wasted, misspent, and stolen? Send in some extra cash so Uncle Sam can increase corporate welfare to America's leading companies? Toss a few more pennies into the black hole of Social Security/Medicare?

Rather, there's a larger political point to make. Americans for Tax Reform is circulating draft language for additional "tax me more" funds to embarrass tax hikers. Notes ATR: "The fact that these funds were not enacted often reflects hypocrisy on the part of those calling for higher taxes."

Moreover, creating additional "tax me more funds" would help educate the public. It turns out that there aren't a lot of people who in practice want to give politicians more money, whatever the same people say in principle when big spenders are spinning tales of woe from under-funded social programs. For instance, Virginia created its "Tax Me More" fund in 2002. The total take so far has been a smidgen over $9,000.

It's hard to see how anyone could believe that taxes are too low. Leviathan keeps growing, and in every area. With spending increases running at Lyndon Johnson rates under the Republicans, only drastic action will bring relief.

So it's time to put to the test everyone who believes that Uncle Sam, as well as supposedly penurious state governments in California, New York, and elsewhere, is under-funded. Create "Tax Me More" funds and say to people, fine. You think you don't pay enough in taxes. Here's an easy way for you to pay more. And if you're not willing to put up, then shut up.

topics:
Taxes, Medicare