Here’s something that’s been on my mind. You know how when you’re young, you’ve got all this energy and enthusiasm, like a brand new Duracell battery right out of the pack? Well, there are some folks out there, big corporations, government bodies, sneaky intelligence agencies, who look at that energy and think, “Hmm, how can we get these batteries to power our remote control?”

Suddenly, young people start chanting slogans, convinced they’re part of some grand revolution. Like they’re the new Beatles, except instead of singing “Love Me Do”, they’re humming corporate jingles. You know, stuff like “Just Do It” or “I’m Lovin’ It”. It’s a weird version of a revolution that fights the power by buying a new iPhone and conforming to every message authority manufactures for kids to repeat in hopes of gradually dismantling civilization.

And the crazy thing is, these young folks, they’re all revved up, thinking they’re changing the world. They become loyal hamsters running on a wheel, convinced they’re winning a marathon, eagerly breaking a sweat with their hearts pumping but not actually getting anywhere.

It’s a sad thing, really. Because there’s something beautiful about that youthful spirit, that drive to make a difference. They think they’re participating in some kind of progress, but they are just following the programming created to ensnare them, like many other millions who have been duped.

And those main actors – the corporations, the governments, the intel agencies – they’re happy as clams, man. Because while the youth are busy chasing shadows, they’re pulling the strings, molding the world to their whims, while the puppets think they’re free and their support for powerful organizations is somehow improving the lot of humanity rather than destroying everything good.

Here’s the thing about taxes. It’s like going to a restaurant with a group of friends. The richest friend, let’s call him “Top 1%”, he’s sitting there ordering the lobster and champagne, but he doesn’t mind picking up most of the check. In the United States, this guy is paying almost 40% of the total federal income tax bill.

And then there’s the friend who orders the steak and a nice bottle of wine, he’s not going as crazy as Mr. Top 1% but he’s doing pretty good. We’ll call this guy “Top 10%”, and he’s contributing around 70% of the total bill.

But then, you have your friend who only orders a salad and a water. This friend, let’s call him “Bottom 50%”, he’s not really able to afford the expensive stuff. When the bill comes, this guy is only covering about 3% of the total.

When you see the real numbers, you realize there’s a distraction happening here. While everyone’s busy watching the rich guy and his giant stack of tax bills, the government’s in the background, spending money like a drunk sailor.

• The top 1% of taxpayers contribute around 40% of the total federal income taxes
• The top 10% of taxpayers pay more than 70% of the total federal income taxes
• The top 50% of taxpayers pay nearly 97% of the total federal income taxes
• The bottom 50% of taxpayers pay around 3% of the total federal income taxes

https://www.taxfoundation.org/summary-latest-federal-income-tax-data-2020-update/

And it’s not even like they’re buying cool stuff, man. It’s more like they’re buying votes, paying off constituencies with public money like they’re trying to win a popularity contest. Meanwhile, the rest of us are left scratching our heads, wondering why the pot’s empty when we were promised gold.

See, the real trick is this: the government could have a surplus, man. They could have money in the bank, a high standard of living, a real first-world set-up. But instead, they’re out here playing the blame game, pointing fingers at the rich while they spend like there’s no tomorrow.

So, at the end of the day, it’s like the rich friend is the one picking up most of the check, while the rest of the table is fighting over who’s going to cover the tip. But hey, you gotta remember, everyone ordered something, everyone’s gotta pitch in. Even if some people are only tossing in a couple of bucks, that’s their salad and water covered.

You notice that the folks who aren’t paying much, or anything at all, are quick to say, “Hey, why don’t the rich guys pay more?” They’re the same guys sitting on the couch, eating potato chips, and asking someone else to do your sit-ups for you.

Now, there’s this idea floating around, that maybe people should pay for what they use. Like, if you go to a buffet, you pay for the buffet. You don’t ask the guy at the next table to cover your all-you-can-eat shrimp just because he’s spent decades developing a successful career.

That seems fair, right? But then, that’s not how it’s working now. Right now, it’s like there’s a buffet where a few people are asked to pick up the tab for everyone else. They’re stuck with the check, while the others are walking out with doggie bags.

“Tax the rich,” they say. But that’s just the slogan, man. That’s the bumper sticker. It’s easy to say, but hard to understand. And the ones shouting it the loudest, they’re the ones who’ve been fooled the most.