There's one for you, nineteen for me

Note the lyric from the Beatles "Taxman". I headlined it because some geniuses (and I use that term loosely) want voters in Polk, Dallas and Warren counties to authorize the raising of the sales tax from the current six cents, for those counties, to seven cents. Statewide the sales tax is five cents.

These Civic Leaders (and I use that term sarcastically) are saying that the extra penny would generate $80 million dollars in its first year. The money would be used to prop up city and county budgets, boost area cultural attractions, reduce property taxes(reducing taxes by increasing taxes?) and bring world peace.

They should hype it that way, the last penny increase in the Polk County sales tax was "for the children".

That fiasco was going to generate huge sums in Des Moines to improve neighborhood schools and education. The reality was it never brought in as much money as was promised. Des Moines not only couldn't repair schools, they ended up closing neighborhood schools!

Whenever I think of someone who votes to increase their own taxes, I'm reminded how "he who represents himself has a fool for a client". Some attribute that quote to Abraham Lincoln.

Here are more interesting tax quotes....

All the taxes paid over a lifetime by the average American are spent by the government in less than a second....Jim Fiebig

The avoidance of taxes is the only intellectual pursuit that carries any reward....John Maynard Keynes

But in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes....Benjamin Franklin

I'm proud to be paying taxes in the United States. The only thing is I could be just as proud for half the money....Arthur Godfrey

Why does a small tax increase cost you two hundred dollars and a substantial tax cut save you thirty cents?...Peg Bracken

There is one difference between a tax collector and a taxidermist- the taxidermist leaves the hide....Mortimer Caplin