Thanks to the Folks at the IRS
By: Ginger | January 30, 2009 | Category: General
My husband worked for the IRS for 10 years. At social gatherings people would ask him what he did and he would say, “I work for the IRS.” Typically someone would respond with negative comments about taxes, the IRS, or the government, in general. My husband would politely listen to the comments. One time, this person began ranting at him as if he, as an IRS employee, was personally pocketing all the tax dollars collected to buy a Porsche and some bonbons. The look in my husband’s eyes said he’d had enough. Not known for holding back when he is annoyed, he proceeded to… well, let’s just say, nothing brings a friendly barbecue to a screeching halt like three simple words and a full moon in the middle of the day.
The thing is, most people think they pay too much in taxes—even IRS employees do—but our tax dollars are paying for services and programs that help all of us. Here are just a few examples:
The Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Trade Commission, the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the Federal Reserve Board, the National Credit Union Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation regulate financial and commercial matters. They assist consumers to protect their hard-earned dollars.
The Department of Transportation, the Federal Communications Commission, the United States Postal Service, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy regulate infrastructure, utilities, and basic services.
The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Social Security Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor, and the Department of Education are agencies concerned with the health, benefits, education, and welfare of our citizens.
The Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of State, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the Department of Justice are concerned with the defense, protection, and safety of our country and our citizens either home or abroad.
To see all of government’s services and programs go to USA.gov.
If there are some out there who would like to tell me how poorly they think these agencies are performing, go right ahead. Your tax dollars support a democratic government that ensures you have the right to state your opinions and complaints. Are your tax dollars being well spent? What needs to be improved? What government services do you receive or know of that you think are well worth your taxes?
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