Gordon Forgey

Monday was tax day, April 15. It marked the 100th consecutive year of income taxes.

A man and a woman commemorated the day in front of the Codger Pole in Colfax. They carried signs protesting taxes. One sign read, “Control Government.” The other read, “Over Taxed.”

On the same day, two explosions ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Three died from the blasts and more than 180 were injured.

Live coverage of the aftermath showed hundreds of emergency workers and hundreds of police quickly descending upon the scene trying to help the wounded and restore calm. A row of ambulances awaited the injured. When one left for a hospital, another backed into its place.

Soon, several large American cities went on alert and extra security measures were taken at the White House.

This is why we pay taxes. We need government. We need the services it provides. It can marshall resources and provide what no individual can.

And, that is the irony.

We cannot do without government.

Many criticize government as a monolith, not differentiating the parts. This, of course, is wrong.

Others think government is all good. They too are wrong.

We need to find the rational middle ground where we understand the real shortcomings and appreciate the real strengths of our government.

Then, we could come together as a nation for more than mourning.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher