Introspective / Andrew Catellier

don't tax me bro

I woke up at about 6:45 AM this morning, groggy and tired. I stood up and walked over to my alarm, turned it off and leaned on the window sill to greet the cliché. Then I went back to bed. I could come in at nine this morning, I thought.

I listened to the "news"—a horrible program called The Takeaway that my local radio station now runs in an attempt draw morning listeners—while fading in and out of sleep. I heard that President Obama will be introducing legislation meant to increase government tax revenue. I rolled over and slammed a pillow with my fist. This inevitably means a showdown in Congress over the soon-due budget, weeks of vain uncertainty concerning the safety of my job, and listening to disingenuous "conservatives" rave about how taxing the rich—"job creators" as they have been dubbed—doesn't make economic sense.

Groan.

Depending on whose arguments you believe, taxing the rich may or may not cause economic harm. However, opponents of this policy use, "don't tax the job creators!" as a plebeian-friendly talking point to advance their agenda, however the reader may interpret that.

But it's also something I hope they didn't plan: an attack on perceived autonomy, an attack on collective self-esteem. Those propagating this talking point are insinuating that so-called rich people are the most likely ones (if not the only ones) capable of performing the nebulous task of employing people.

Bullshit. This isn't medieval Europe. We are not indentured servants to some cultural or wealthy elite who tell us what jobs we can or cannot have. It is ridiculous and hypocritical that those advocating small businesses throw the ability of the majority to innovate themselves into employment under the bus.

That such a simple-minded talking point is in use is not surprising. That such an insidious rhetoric may intentionally lie beneath the surface of a powerful political organization is disgraceful. That any number of United States citizens may subconsciously believe the idea is terrifying.

I quickly jotted down my thoughts and stored the text on my computer. Then I uploaded the text to my personal website. I can come in at ten this morning, I thought. Reprimands for tardiness are a much smaller regret than, "I did not speak out."