Tax, Mandate, Mandatory Fee- Whatever You Call It, It's a Tax

Yep, it's a tax if the government says you have to pay it or else. Yep, it's a tax if the IRS is the collection body. Yep, it's a tax if it gets paid to a government as a fee. Taxing thoughts today as I look at my property taxes, which apparently are up even though the value of real estate is down. Yep, it's a tax. Guess we have to go back to the definition of "is".


Morning Bell: It Depends On What Your Definition Of “Tax” Is

Throughout his presidential campaign, then-candidate Barack Obama promised the American people: “If you’re a family that’s making $250,000 a year or less, you will see no increase in your taxes.” As President, Barack Obama reiterated that pledge, promising the American people in his September 9th health care press conference: “The middle-class will realize greater security, not higher taxes.” But as ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos pointed out to the President this weekend, Obama will break his promise to the American people if he signs a health care bill that includes an individual or employer mandate.

In an exchange that can only be described as “Clintonesque” Stephanopoulos was forced to read the definition of “tax” straight from Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, but even then Obama refused.....http://blog.heritage.org/2009/09/22/morning-bell-it-depends-on-what-your-definition-of-tax-is/