I've often been asked what it is that causes me to seek out increased career opportunities, pet projects, knowledge, and a host of other things that I get myself into from time to time. On the day after tax day, it's a wonder that many seek to improve their station in life through education, initiative and hard work - particularly once they learn that as their personal income increases government will shift its view of them. Watching the Democratic Primary Debate this evening, I'm amused to see the two candidates argue over which taxes they'll raise, which they'll leave alone, and how best to handle taxes of the "middle class". The joke here is that I imagine that the majority of the population isn't quite sure what constitutes the "middle class". What income levels would you think makes up the lower, middle, and upper classes?
Anyway, as both of these candidates have proposed massive increases in spending to "invest" in various programs and initiatives I'm left wondering why I work so hard - seemingly for my own family - when I know full well that my hard work will be seen as an opportunity for politicians to invent vote-buying programs. After all, it might seem logical that every newly created government job means one vote for the candidate or political party that created it. And this new job would be created whether I thought it was a good idea or not.
Do we have incentives beyond personal drive to increase our station? Or is our government in fact creating incentives for us to sit back and rely on the gains of others to take care of us. Will my attempts to advance be successful - and if so, how will I react to a punishing tax system. Sometimes I wonder just what in the world I'm doing.
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