August 17, 2010
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Taxation With Representation 
By Senator Mike Folmer

"No taxation without representation" was a key principle of the American Revolution.  How far have we come since that time?

In 1765, Americans opposed the quartering of troops in their homes.  In 2010, Americans are subject to the REAL ID Act, which seeks to create a national identification card and database (including biometric photos of people’s faces).  Some would like to add RFID (radio frequency identification) chips to these ID cards so that personal information could be in one place and readily available and easily transmitted to others.

In 1767, Americans opposed taxes on stamps, lead, paint, paper, glass, and tea.  In 2010, Americans pay taxes on amusements, capital gains, cigarettes, corporations, earned income, services, estates, gas, liquor, sales, per capita, personal income, personal property, property, realty transfers, Social Security, telephone calls, utilities, and unemployment.

In 1773, Americans questioned special licenses, such as the one giving the English East India Company a monopoly on the importation of tea.  In 2010, Pennsylvania taxpayers are helping to foot the bill for the special Arlen Specter library and the Jack Murtha facility.  In addition, Americans pay a host of license fees, including:  building permits, dog licenses, fishing licenses, hunting licenses, marriage licenses, and vehicle and boat registration fees.  You need either a license or a permit to do home repairs, open and operate a business, or do business in certain professions.

In 1774, Americans opposed the "Intolerable Acts", which extended royal control over the colonies and their citizens.  In 2010, Americans face a myriad of government regulations, such as zoning, state and local building codes, restrictions on the amount of water in toilets, and environmental requirements on gas and cars.  In addition, Americans pay a variety of fines and other fees, including:  parking meter fees, speeding tickets, traffic fines, and government late fees/penalties.  The new federal health care law mandates people buy insurance and imposes additional penalties for failure to do so.

In 1776, Americans declared independence, saying:  "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."  In 2010, Americans may need to ask themselves if we have these inalienable rights.