I am a big fan of Microsoft products. Like them or not most everyone on the planet uses something that helps fund Bill Gates' retirement. One of the items I use most often is Outlook, Microsoft's Personal Management software component of the Office suite.

I have an older version of Office and as such Outlook doesn't display holidays beyond the year 2005. As I was searching for a way around upgrading I noticed a strange thing in the outlook.hol file. In the United States "Tax Day", April 15, is listed as a "holiday" in Outlook!

Funny, I've never been offered a day off work on April 15. And I think besides Christmas that is probably the busiest day of the year for the Post Office. Besides, holiday's are suppose to celebrate something and I can't think of a single person who celebrates filing their tax return.

Well, a far more important day passed this weekend in Wisconsin. April 28, 2006 was Tax Freedom Day. For those who have never heard of this, Tax Freedom Day is the day of the year when average Americans have earned enough money to pay their annual federal, state and local taxes. The day varies by state depending on your state's tax burden.

So, working residents of Wisconsin spent every day from January 1 through April 28 working to pay their taxes. Four full months of the year and what do you have to show for it? Not a thing, it all went to the government. Of course, the IRS is a kind and gentle organization which graciously allows us to pay our taxes a little bit at a time rather than keeping everything we earn for the first four months. Doesn't that just give you a warm, fuzzy feeling?

The reality is the Internal Revenue Service is the strong-armed collection agent of the United States Department of the Treasury. A wholly illegal and downright ruthless organization whose mere mention instills fear and loathing in most Americans.

Oh that we could return to a time when Constitutional government existed. When there were no politicians, only Statesmen who understood their duty to serve their fellow citizens, if only for a time. Store owners, shop keepers, butchers, blacksmiths, everyone used to take their turn serving, voluntarily but with per Diem expenses covered, in order to keep this nation running.

Then came the 16th amendment. A false doctrine that supposedly establishes a direct tax on the people by the Federal government. An amendment of questionable ratification and even under the closest microscope only calls for a voluntary contribution. Ah, but the IRS - interpreted these days as "I'm Really Scared" of not paying, makes sure that everyone "volunteers".

Oh, and now that the 16th Amendment is on the books, let's take another right away from the people, but disguise it as enabling them. And so the 17th Amendment was drafted which established the direct, popular election of United States Senators.

"But Dan," you say, "how is that a bad thing?"

Well, prior to the 17th Amendment the individual states appointed those who would serve in the Senate, thereby giving the States a direct voice in the Federal government. And why was that a good thing?

Think about it -- the House represents the people; the Senate was meant to represent the States. Members of the House of Representatives are selected by the people via popular vote and their numbers are based on population of the state. The intent was that the Representative of the people would have the closest contact to the people, and be selected more frequently by the people. Sound familiar? Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

The Senate, on the other hand, was to represent the interests of the semi-sovereign states. The U.S. Constitution calls for two Senators to be elected by the state legislatures, leveling the playing field giving each State an equal voice at the federal level. The Senators were to serve and report back to their state legislature, not the people, balancing the power of law-making so states with a higher population could not pass laws which would unfairly burden the smaller states.

I tell ya', those guys back in 1787 had a clue. I mean, look what we have now. Since the 17th Amendment Senators and Representatives both report back to the same "master", that being the general public. And most of the public today could give a rip what's going on in Washington, their local State Capital or even their City Council!

I think my favorite line from a fictional period piece is Mel Gibson's character in the movie "The Patriot" when, during debate of going to war with England he says "Mister Robinson, tell me, why should I trade one tyrant, three thousand miles away, for three thousand tyrants, one mile away?".

Well, maybe not 3,000 but would you believe 546? 435 in the house, 100 in the senate, two in the White House and nine more on the bench.

So today, unlike 1776, we have taxation WITH representation and those representing us have no more incentive to lower the taxes than King George did. They draw six-figure salaries, plus per Diem expenses AND fund pet projects to keep the popular vote swinging in their direction.

So, enjoy your freedom for the remainder of the year. Wisconsin is always one of the last states to celebrate Tax Freedom Day, although this year it was two weeks earlier than a decade ago.

Oh, and if you happen to be in Redmond, Washington stop by 1 Microsoft Way, building 34. Ask for Bill. See if he'd consider changing the holiday in Outlook from April 15. That would make far more sense...

[NOTE: Tax Freedom Day info courtesy of http://www.taxfoundation.org/]

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