Rick Kelo – Giving the Power Back to the People : The American Tax System

The tax system in the United States is one of the most important, complicated, and controversial topics lawmakers must address. And in the eyes of many, including tax recruiter and head of TaxScout, Inc., Rick Kelo, the system is broken. For years, Mr. Kelo has been expressing his distrust and disappointment with the government’s growing influence and infringement on the rights of its citizens. And in alignment with our nation’s second amendment, he has been utilizing his right to free speech to voice his concerns through various online platforms, such as his blog. 

According to liberal intellectuals like Mr. Kelo, a larger and more centralized government has had an increasingly negative impact on American economic and social systems, especially the tax system. By taking large amounts of funds from the peoples’ taxes and distributing them however they see fit, Mr. Kelo believes the government has overstepped on the individual liberties of the people. While there are many proposed solutions to reforming America’s tax system, one idea that seems surprisingly intuitive is to give taxpayers the power to decide how the government is allowed to spend their hard earned dollars. 

Though liberals and conservatives are divided on many issues and tax reform solutions, this is one idea that can satisfy both parties. Republicans oppose having their tax funds used for services they reject based on ethical and/or religious beliefs, such as abortion. In fact, defunding Planned Parenthood has been a huge point of contention for Republicans last year during budget negotiations. Democrats also contest having their tax dollars contribute to organizations that do not act in their interest, such as the NSA. Giving the people the power to decide how their money is spent is a fundamental part of the liberty the U.S. proclaims.

Giving taxpayers the power to distribute their own tax dollars could also have a huge impact on foreign policy. Recent polls indicate that most Americans do not have a positive outlook on the war on terrorism, especially since President Obama’s decision to increase U.S. intervention in Iraq and Syria. By requiring taxpayer approval to fund more troops on the ground, the people would be given a much greater say when it comes to presidential military decisions.

While the details concerning this potential solution would require a lot of time and attention, Mr. Kelo believes it could be part of the answer to our broken tax system; or at least be a way to quell the ongoing government shutdown threats that have become commonplace during budget negotiations.