Paying taxes is hard to do

Well, I just finished our taxes and we ended up owing money--which is always a bummer. But it's been even more difficult to pay taxes in good conscience over the last several years, with a war costs climbing to over $1 trillion (for a war whose legitimacy I've always challenged), the federal government bailing out a bank at the center of the subprime mortgage imbroglio, federal employees using government money to buy lingerie and iPods, and an Administration using the resources of the Justice Department to solidify unprecedented power under the Executive branch. And that's just the stuff I heard about this week!

I'd prefer it--and would have less of a problem paying taxes--if my money were going toward things like affordable, clean mass transit systems and health care for all U.S. citizens. Or toward alleviating poverty and hunger in our country and around the world. Or toward sustainable energy. Or toward beautiful public spaces. And the list could go on ...