Leona Helmsly infamously said "Only the little people pay taxes." Presumably she regretted that. However, as outrage piles on outrage - when companies who owe back taxes get bailout money, when bonuses are paid to incompetents who orchestrated bankruptcies so massive they take down more than their own companies, when bonus incentives to executives are sacred and honored by the same government that pressured automakers to break union contracts, when  fucking AIG is suing the government and owes back taxes, I resent every penny I am being asked to pay.

I have longed for a government that would use my taxes for things I believe in - for education, health care and the environment. I hated paying taxes for the wars and the enrichment of Cheney's buddies. But now I am paying taxes to enrich Geithner's friends? To pay bonuses to people who in a sane world would be under indictment?  Those bonuses are not to save the economy and if union contracts can be abrogated even though union workers did not sabotage and destroy their companies, well these contracts could be lit of fire and shoved down Cassano's throat. Just an idea. 

How many times have I read that the IRS is more aggressive in forcing compliance on low-income and middle income taxpayers, that the wealthy routinely evade their tax obligation. We see folks not paying taxes and then negotiating deals to only pay a portion of what they owe - if they owe enough, not if they are poor or middle income.

We definitely have a government with two sets of rules for the weathly and for the rest of us. I know some people who refuse to vote to show they withhold their consent - that's not effective. But what if we withhold our taxes? That would have an effect.

Of course, that's not right - the government needs money for health care, education, and other priorities ....but what if everyone sent a note that said "This is the last unless there is accountability and we restore the rule of law."