Exactly why is it that we pay taxes? Aside from the bloated government and ineffectual speeding programs, taxes enable government on the local, state and federal level to provide certain services to protect its citizens. Services such as police and fire as well as the courts and even the military are provided through exorbitant taxes we pay to multiple levels of government.

If one’s house burns to the ground, the local fire department does not send a bill to residents for rescuing them.

If a citizen calls 911, they aren’t required to pay a user fee for police services.

But apparently if the US military has to rescue one of its citizens from a war torn region of the world prepare to get your credit card ready. At present the US and other western countries are evacuating its citizens from Lebanon as war rages (again) between Israel and Hezbollah militants. Initially, the US announced that it was preparing to charge those rescued for the cost incurred during the air and sea operation.

The US government is airlifting its citizens to Cyprus (for which they were to be charged $150), where they must then find they’re own means back to the US. How is it that the US government who spends billions each year in aid to Egypt and Israel and billions more wasted in Iraq cannot come up with the sums needed to save its own citizens?

If charged, are these citizens entitled to an income tax refund equal to cost incurred due to the US airlift? Such a formula would seem entirely proper.

Apparently, however, the White House has decided to back down. Secretary of State Rice has ordered the fees to be waved in this particular scenario (how sweet), our fellow Americans are still on their own for the journey back to the US however.
Link to New York Newsday article

Read more at the Hammer of Truth
http://hammeroftruth.com/2006/07/17/us-to-bill-americans-evacuating-lebanon/