BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID

Every year as tax-time edges nearer to my checkbook, I am confronted with fears. Not fear that I may have paid too much or too little, both of which are a common reality. In the grand labyrinth of our tax code, has anyone ever paid in exactly what they owe?

No, this gut-turning dread comes from a fear of my government. Yes, "We the People" fear Washington. Fear that one day men in black suits driving black SUVs, bearing IRS badges will show up at my door. When the Internal Revenue Service is involved, the rule is "guilty until proven innocent."

Until now, that dread has been seasonal: tax-time. But times, they are a changin'.

With the IRS assuming enforcement of health care, and hiring tens of thousands of agents with the mandate of "health care or else," that gnawing little voice in the back of my head will speak to me—and you—all year long, year after year. Every time you go through the rigamarole of signing up for health insurance, use your flex account (if the benevolent government lets you keep one), each time you visit the doctor, need a prescription, or have to show your shiny new government-issue heath care card, there will be that momentary, "What if it doesn't work this time?" moment. "What if I'm turned down?" "What if someone didn't file the right paperwork in triplicate and the computer says I don't deserve this treatment?"

I can't wait for that moment when I actually say, "Gee, I remember when I only had to deal with the IRS once a year. Boy those were the days!"

Now there is change you can believe in.

INFLATION IS NOT THE THREAT

I had been concerned with impending inflation. As the government powers up the printing presses I am reminded that streaming fresh greenbacks into any economy has always lead to inflation.

But I am not worried about inflation eating away my standard of living, nor my ability to buy the necessities for my family. It will not matter whether prices go up, my personal income is positioned take a serious hit.

I started doing a little math.

The Bush tax cuts end this year, with no hope of renewal. That's going to cost me. Cap and Trade is estimated to cost my household about $3,100 per year. The administration plans to make my health insurance benefits taxable at an approximate cost of another grand. There are whispers in the dark of raising gasoline taxes and my governor says we are going to have to raise state income tax.

Let us see how that works out:

- $1,200 less from Bush tax cuts
- $3,100 less for cap and trade
- $1,000 more in taxes on my health insurance
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- $5,300 less money . . .

$5,300 fewer dollars for my family, which does not take into account what may or may not happen with gas for my car or state income taxes.

How should I feel about that? How should my family feel? Where is the political reason?

This is not scaremongering on my part. These are facts, mathematical realities which sadly, scare me.

Now, what happens if inflation does rear its ugly head?