At the Assembly Series on Wednesday Oct. 1, Barbara Ehrenreich, author of “Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America” spoke about the misconceptions and truths of poverty in America. Her lecture stressed the relevance of the old phrase, “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer,” in present day America. She stated that we wouldn’t have such poverty if we didn’t have such high wealth. In this context, she proceeded to condemn President Bush’s tax cuts for the wealthy.

Ehrenreich’s discussion of the pervasiveness of poverty and the urgent attention it demands truly brings into question this government’s decision to give tax cuts to the wealthy. Why are we continuing to let the wealthy accumulate more money? Why are we allowing “the poor to get poorer?” Because I am not an economist nor well-versed in the intricacies of the American economic system, I cannot make an economic-based argument against tax cuts for the wealthy. Rather, I want to focus on some more general questions these tax cuts raise. Why are we so hesitant to pay our taxes, and why is it such a detested obligation? And in a broader sense: What does this tax cut decision reveal about the American people’s commitment to each other?

In her Oct. 1 column, “It bears repeating: Are you paying your ‘social’ rent?”, Danielle Christmas correctly reminds us that social activism is an obligation. In other words, Danielle puts forth Marion Wright Edelman’s idea that “Service is the rent we pay for living.” As human beings, service is the obligation we have to one another. We have an obligation to take care of the community that has nurtured us. And I’m not referring to the different, local communities we live in, but rather the larger communities we are a part of: America and the world. This obligation usually takes the form of some kind of participatory community service or monetary donation.

Now, while both Edelman and Danielle are essentially referring to community service when they speak of “service” or “rent,” paying taxes is the American community’s most direct way of paying rent for living. This is an obligation we have; therefore, paying taxes should not and cannot be a burden. That is why tax cuts to the wealthy are especially ridiculous. Of all the people, the wealthy have the opportunity to most consistently and successfully meet their obligation. And now we are giving them tax cuts?

We cannot live in a healthy community with the attitude that “my dad is a self-made man and therefore deserves every penny of his money.” And we must do away with the attitude that “you are poor because you don’t work hard.” “No man,” not even the self-made rich man, “is an island, entire of itself.” We live together. The wealthy must pay rent relative to what they earn. Everyone must pay rent. It’s our obligation.

I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t reevaluate, even reform, the tax system and that I’m not worried about having Social Security for myself. We should constantly evaluate the effectiveness of our tax system, and I certainly want enough Social Security left over for generations to come. But we all have to pay taxes, period. As much as I hate seeing a big chunk of my measly summer pay check taken out for taxes, I know that I am either securing health care for this generation’s elderly, helping build a public park, or somehow giving back to the community that nurtures me. I’m grateful to know that I am able to pay my rent for living.

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