I am happy to pay my taxes. In fact, I would gladly pay more to help out those who don’t have the luxury of choosing how to spend their money. If higher taxes means that more children are educated in competent schools, I can cut back on some trips to Target. If everyone has health care, I can take a less-fancy vacation. If everyone has enough to eat, safe neighborhoods and the right to dignity in their old age, then I can eat out a few times less. Cutting back on luxuries does not equal poverty. I choose to believe our country (one of the richest in the world) can be better. We can tighten our upper middle class (and SuperRich) belts a little for our neighbors and friends who are less fortunate. I believe that a better educated population benefits all of us. I believe none of us can feel secure until no one is homeless or hungry or living their old age in poverty. The safety net is for everyone. If one day Mr. A becomes disabled or loses a job or some other catastrophe happens to our family, I want to know there is a safety net there waiting for us too. I want to know that being down on my luck doesn’t mean I have to lose my dignity and my humanity.