WE ALL NEED TO ABIDE BY THE SAME RULES AND REGULATIONS

The first quarter of 2009 is now behind us, and unfortunately the vital signs of the economy are not showing improvement. To date, the prescription written by Congress and approved by our current administration had no effect on stabilizing this infectious economic virus.

Adding insult to injury, as we begin this first month of the second quarter, Uncle Sam has his hand out for the payment of federal taxes. This is a hard pill to swallow. When money is being passed out at unprecedented levels, we're required to shell out or face the consequences.

Part of me is saying to pay these taxes without complaining and be thankful that I'm in a position to be able to pay them. In fact, as I think about it, some day we'll probably look back and think we got off easy with our 2008 tax bill. The writing is on the wall. From this year on, we will all be paying Uncle Sam far more tax money, as will our grandchildren and great grandchildren, just to pay down the federal deficit created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.

And as I contemplate that thought, there is a part of me saying maybe we shouldn't pay our federal taxes but rather invest the money we owe to the government in our IRA or 401k, both of which reflect significant losses. Then if we get audited, we can apologize and request a bailout. After all, if the banks, the automobile industry, and even the NBA can ask for bailouts, why can't we do the same? There should be some funds set aside for ordinary tax payers like us. In any event, if we can't get any bailout funds, I would think the government would treat us in the same manner that Tom Daschle, Al Franken and Timothy Geithner were treated. We can declare it was an oversight and then pay the taxes without any penalty. However, should the government decide we're not in the same league as these other guys and decide to penalize us by freezing our checking and/or savings account, or placing a lien on our home, we can ask for a special audience with Charlie Rangel. Since the tax code is Rangel's responsibility, I'm sure he could advise us on how to avoid problems with unreported income. After all, the federal government voted to table an investigation into his unreported income and asset disclosure in hopes that it would be forgotten.

The vast majority of us are too honest to do something this low. We understand the difference between a mistake and a tax cheat. So, like good citizens, we'll pay our taxes.

Vice President Joe Biden stated that paying taxes is patriotic. It's rather interesting that he never mentioned anything about it being a responsibility and duty. Obviously, our public officials are more in tune with Leona Helmsley's philosophy that only little people pay taxes.

Sooner or later, our political leaders must learn that the same rules and regulations that apply to us also apply to them. It's up to us, the tax payers, to determine how long it will take. We need to remember that we voted these hooligans into office, and we can certainly vote them back out.