With every election, I hear the following foolish, foolish question, and I always wonder why I don't get used to it.
"What do I get for my taxes?
Here is my answer: Civilized society, stupid! (1)
But the fool probably needs a list.
Legislation
Law enforcement
The courts of law
Prisons
Ambulance services
Health care
Hospitals
Public health services
Drug approval
Public housing
Water supply
Sewage treatment
Garbage disposal
Public utilities
Fire protection
Road construction
Road maintenance
Schools
Universities
Libraries
Museums
Medical research
Fundamental research
Arts programming
Community centres
Public swimming pools
Parks
Playgrounds
Monetary policy
Money printing
Economic development
Subsidies
Management of the commons
Environmental protection
Wildlife conservation
National defence
Border security
Public safety
Licensing
Public news
Public mail services
Public transport
Social security
Elections
Food inspection
Citizen services
Tax auditing
...
Keep in mind that all these services and operations require people, buildings and furniture, construction and maintenance, and equipment and consumables. And all that is paid for by -- you guessed it -- taxes.
In addition, if you are a private sector employee, a portion of your salary may just come from government contracts, because governments do not themselves build hospitals, develop computers for air traffic controllers, or bake bread for their school lunches. And if you are a public employee complaining about taxes, you are an even bigger fool. Where do you think your salary, vacation pay, extended health benefits, and pension contributions come from?
I think, this foolish, foolish question angers me so much, because the answer should be obvious even to a selfish prig. Besides, more often than not this selfish prig belongs to the top 10% of earners. It makes me wonder: If you cannot figure out what you get for your taxes, why do they pay you so much money?
My wife and I pay taxes so that even the selfish prig feels safe at home, has clean water, receives medical care when he needs it, can send his children to public school and university, can participate in fair elections, and will receive social security should he fall on hard times.
In 1971, moral philosopher John Rawls published his book A Theory of Justice (2). In it, he argues for a society with equal basic liberties, equal opportunity, and a dignified level of wellbeing for the least advantaged members.
That is what decent people think about. "Fairness, dignity, unity" (3). That's the Canada I want to contribute to.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
(1) Justice Holmes formulated it more gently in 1927: "Taxes are what we pay for civilized society[.]" (https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/275/87/. Accessed: 30 Apr 2025) I like to think that today he would put it in my words.
(2) J. Rawls (1971), Theory of Justice.
(3) M. Carney et al. (2025): Election campaign letter (1-30422)