The latest budget reports have marked a steady decline in Kaboomlandia's monthly income. A study initiated by your treasurers has revealed that many of your nation's citizens are not paying their taxes.
The Debate
"Damn right we're not!" exclaims Xu al-Zahawi, one of many citizens protesting in front of your office. "Your oppressively high taxes are picking our pockets and robbing us of our livelihood. No more, we say! The government may call us tax cheats, but that's just because it's afraid to call us the PATRIOTS that we are! Cut the tax rate, and we'll think about paying again."
"Kaboomlandia can't survive when people don't pay their taxes!" retorts Doris Smith, the head of Kaboomlandia's Revenue Bureau. "Citizens may feel that they need to keep all of their Endorsements, but the government needs it too! Without taxation, how can we build roads, schools and hospitals? How can we protect the people from themselves? We need to give the police broad powers to lay down the law on these tax-evading scum until they pay up."
"Scum is such a harsh word. Everyone has something worthwhile to contribute, as my mother always said." says Peggy Calgary, controversial social theorist and fountain of homespun folk wisdom. "Even if they won't pay their taxes, folks ought to have other ways to pay back into society. They could spend some time with the civil service or military reserve, for example. And goodness knows, blood and organ donation rates aren't as high as they could be. A pint of blood or a good kidney ought to pay a tax bill right proper."
