THE WEEK IN GREED #8: EXPLAINING TAXES TO A FIVE YEAR OLD
One nice thing about small children is that they aren’t scared to ask questions. They haven’t completely absorbed the idea that ignorance is shameful. Sometimes these questions are devastating, because small children also haven’t learned the trick of swallowing their fears and doubts.
<snip>
Josie paused. She is, at five years old, a devout collector of money. “Why do we have to pay taxes?” she said.
***
“We pay taxes for things we need,” my wife said.
“Like a bunk bed?”
“No,” I said. “We have to pay for a bunk bed ourselves. Taxes are to pay for things we all share.”
<snip>
“Taxes didn’t pay for our car,” I said. “But what do cars drive on?”
“The road,” Josie said.
<snip>
On the way home from the visit with our friends, we took a short cut onto a private road. It was littered with massive potholes. As Erin’s old Honda bounced into one, Josie shrieked from the backseat. “You know what this place needs? Some taxes!”
Much longer article worth reading:
http://therumpus.net/2012/06/the-week-in-greed-8-explaining-taxes-to-a-five-year-old/
Maybe teaspitters could get it. maybe.
