How to Fund the Noble Enterprises of Representative Government

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Philosophical musings of Chic Hollis

To tax or not to tax, that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the minds of men and women
To tax and spend the money for the needs of modern society
Or borrow and never pay off the balance. Aye, there's the rub!

For once you have begun to give some aid to fools and dullards,
To look out for the sick and lazy, you have begun the Welfare State.

To tax, but what?
The income of the rich and poor?
The value added to products and whatever?
The farms and land holdings of citizens and yokels?

Or borrow? From banks?
From sinister Asian investors and "reputable" loan sharks?
From people who have savings? Or from those who don't?

For who would bear the scorn of unpaid creditors seeking late fees,
The fear of civic bankruptcy and the laws' delay in settling debts,
The limitations of next year's budget and the wrangling over financing,
The shame of running out of revenue to pay for pork-barrel projects?

"Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,
And thus the native hue of resolution
Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,
And enterprises of great pitch and moment..."
Are stymied and delayed by lack of action
And the squabbling of partisan legislatures.

To tax? Oh, yes! And to borrow? Why not?
Isn't that the right divine of democratic government?!

Chic Hollis lived on four continents, speaks seven languages and had five children, all of which helped him gain a unique perspective on life.