Representation without taxation is backward

To the editor:

After seeing that the Tea Party was having a gathering Thursday I was struck with the irony of the messages presented by the Tea Party movement.

The concern of the original tea party participants was taxation without representation. It appears that the current Tea Party movement is concerned about representation without taxation. That is, wanting representation (only a certain kind of representation) and not wanting to pay taxes at all, period, no way, and not for any reason.

As I was perusing my hymnal (”Hymns for the Family of God,” 1976) the other day I came across a quote from Billy Graham called, “The Social Obligation of a Christian.”

The Bible teaches that the Christian should be law-abiding. The Bible also teaches loyalty to country. A loyalty to country does not mean that we cannot criticize unjust laws that may discriminate against special groups. The Bible says that God is no respecter of persons. All should have equal opportunities. The government of God is to be our model.

The Bible also teaches that we are to co-operate with the government. Jesus was asked, “Is it lawful to pay tribute?” Jesus set the example forever by paying taxes. It takes money to run a government and to maintain law and order. The tax dodger is a civic parasite and an actual thief. No true Christian will be a tax dodger. Jesus said we are to “render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s.” We ought to be more than taxpayers. To be simply law-abiding is not enough. We ought to seek and work for the good of our country (p.691).

Sarah Welton

Wasilla