Why Pay Taxes

"Taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society."
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court Justice, (1809-1894)

Income tax is not a favorite subject among Americans but from January to April 15 of each year, the income tax makes the list of hot topics for discussion for conversations, television news shows, and magazine and newspaper articles. As the above quote by Holmes suggests, taxes are an important part of the way of living in the United States. And, each of us benefits from the taxes paid to keep our public systems working for things such as roads, libraries, clean water, military, and human services for the elderly, children, and others with special circumstances.