Taxes and Timing

[manbearpig]

This might belong in some other thread but I would really like to get the forums opinion on this.

I am of the opinion that the majority of US citizens are unaware of the amount they give to government every year. I mean, I think people have a general idea (too much!), but when it comes down to it they dont really know and dont really care.

I think the problem lies in how taxes are collected. By being directly siphoned out of paychecks, or tacked on to buying this or that, taxes become this unavoidable cost of life. You never even see 25+% of your paycheck every two weeks. It is easy to not miss what you never had.

What kind of uprising would we see against government spending and taxation if every citizen had to write a check at the end of every month or year for the same amount that is right now just taken from them?

I would predict a much different political landscape than the one we have now.