There’s no rest for weary taxpayers.
Today may be “Tax Day” throughout the United States, but The Tax Foundation reports that New Jerseyans have to spend the first 119 days of every calendar year laboring to pay their combined local, state and federal tax burden. The only state that’s worse is Connecticut, where residents work for Uncle Sam until May 2nd.
So have a stiff drink on April 29th, Save Jerseyans… you will have earned it! For now, get to the post office asap and pay for your share of ObamaCare, CWA contracts, and western cowboy poetry festivals.
The Tax Foundation, well-know for its hatred of any tax, has skewed the data to advance its anti-government agenda. Their so-called "tax freedom" day is based on "average" income rather than the median income. The difference: In NJ, the average income is somewhere near $80,000 while the median is closer to $63,000. The median is the point at which half earn more and half earn less. Using the more relevant median would shorten their time frame, which they dont want to do. But, more than that flawed data, consider what your taxes pay for — the schools that educated most of us; the roads you traveled to get to the office; the army that defends our country; the health care that tends to seniors; the police who patrol your community. Which of those public goods would you give up to lower taxes? Nobody likes to pay taxes, but taxes are the price we pay for a civil society and we recognize the good that comes from being responsible citizens.