Another Tax?

As if we are not already “taxed to death” here comes another one – at least from my perspective.

Transportation planners in Dallas-Fort Worth and other regions, who until just a few years ago were still planning to aggressively build and expand their HOV networks, are now quickly working to convert HOV lanes into hybrid toll lanes. Under that concept, the lanes would still be separate from a freeway’s main lanes, but drivers of single-occupant vehicles could use them by paying an electronic toll. (G. Dickson, Ft. Worth Star-Telegram)

I like HOV lanes when they are more than one lane of traffic. When they are not, I invariably find myself behind someone traveling 10-15 miles per hour below the speed limit while the main lanes are at full speed. That is hard on my spirituality!

As is always the case, however, the “authorities” have found a new way to tax folks; charge them to use the highway that was built with the taxpayers money in the first place.

We (the Church I attend) pay our preacher way to much to start with, but I have an idea – let me know what you think. We could charge a “per person tax” for shorter sermons – or even “more interesting” sermons. We could supplement the preacher’s income and have a little left over for extra dessert at Church Supper, or seat cushions for the folding chairs.

Here’s how it works. For every five minutes we get out of Church before noon, everyone pays a dime tax. So, if the sermon ends at 11:55am, and there are 200 people present, we raise $20. 11:50am and we are $40 to the good. Over the period of a month we are clearing $80 to $160. We could give half of that (of course he will want to negotiate) to the preacher and half toward those cushions or some Blue Bell Ice Cream for the All Church Picnic.

Of course we could raise that tax a good bit for “more interesting sermons.”