July 18, 2025

I pay my tax bills more readily than any others—for whether the money is well or ill spent—I get civilized society for it.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. (1841–1935), American Supreme Court justice, letter to Harold Laski, 12 May 1930, Jay p.181

On a scale of one (not at all) to ten (but of course), how ready are you to pay your taxes? How much of a fuss do your constituents make over having to pay taxes? Are they getting good (and defendable) value for their money?

A perspective on taxation that is rarely appreciated, and indeed, only repeated at the speaker’s peril! Make a note to check out my August 13 posting for another not-to-be-repeated line.