Why do people pay taxes?

Explain to me why the citizens of the United States Of American have to pay for taxes? Give me a complete list/essay/paragraph with full details.
Additional Details
Please and thank you!

The short answer is we need taxes for the same reason we need government: to collectively, consensually and communally address issues that could not be done individually.

No one individual or small group could provide the services or infrastructure that provides so much of our quality of life without which our lives would be very much poorer.
Roads, hospitals, legal protection, welfare security, environment preservation are all possible for our enjoyment.
The varying levels of government all address differing levels of our immediate concerns from local to broader national concepts so all their areas of responsibility need to be funded -- unless you want to do it all yourself (an impossible task).

Taxes are great!
Taxes permit individual citizens to divest themselves of responsibility for many issues by simply payng a small proportion of their income to a central body who undertakes to administer projects on the citizen's behalf.
Many people would gladly pay MORE taxes IF they thought the taxes were wisely and appropriately spent and they were receiving perceived value-for-money.
Unfortunately many people have differing agendas of what policies of tax expenditure should be pursued. Because they have differing priorities, many folk figure that spending on areas that are not important or relevant to THEM is tax wastage.
This is called selfishness.

Some times tax spending WILL occur in areas not truly required. There can be wastage, corruption, addle-mindedness.
This will always occur -- to some extent -- as long as governing tax expenditure involves people: it's human nature to err.
In a democracy the citizens ARE the government: They elect the government and determine it's policy priorities on Tax disbursement.

To claim onerous taxation is to admit disengagement with government involvement and an abrogation of citizenry responsibility for the betterment on the community and your place within it. To be uninvolved it to de facto authorise unrestrained erring to continue unaddressed. Citizens have an obligation to ensure governments represent their interests and not pursue their own bearaucratic agendas. This is not done merely by checking a ballot box once every so many years but by being constantly engaged -- a process not many are willing (through disinterest or inertia) to undertake. Those who DO engage in government (through petition or lobbying) frequently get what they want -- including tax expenditure.

Another way to consider the value of taxes: What would happen if ALL taxes (of whatever source) were no longer paid?
Societies would disintergrate, nations crumble and primitive tribalism ensue. Is this preferred?
Complain not ABOUT taxes and thier levels, BUT about HOW they are utilised and become engaged in the process of ensuring preferred outcomes. To do other wise is to be myopically selfish and deminish communal and individual benefits.

Taxes go to the government so that they can have money to spend in our states, cities, etc.

Roads, Public Schools, Police.
Your question sounds like it's your homework.
Don't cheat..it's not good learning that way
If you always ask... you'll always rely on yahoo answers

Give you an essay with full paragraphs? Do you think that you are my teacher?

People pay taxes to cover all the infrastructure, social security, etc.

we pay taxes because that money goes to the government. the government then spends it on whatever it has to. some money goes toward the fire and police etc departments to pay their salary, and some goes towards war. others go toward paying off our national debt which is so high and i doubt it will ever be gone.

Everywhere has taxes. The Government needs money to support itself and its people.

its like pennies
if every1 in the u.s. gave sum1 a dollar theyd be rich!
but y u pay it is becuz the goverment needs money to take care of us
like if we had a hurricane
the goverment would need money to help clean up the envirment
but at the same time you wonder since the goverment controls the u.s.
they dont need money they can just like order sum1 in a $ making factorie to make u some?
i dont get it
but to no the answer to that youd have to ask the president

As much as I'd love to write your civics paper for you, we pay taxes to support the government. Law enforcement, health care, social security, and many other amenities we enjoy are paid for with tax dollars.

Taxes are a form of income for the government so that they can pay for socialized services within your country. Services such as health care, pension funds, welfare, homeland security, war, etc.

Because it's the law. It can't get more simple than that.

to pay for my meals in prison

cheater!

taxes pay for everything the govt does. parks, libraries, police, fire dept, roads, wars, the military, public schools, social security, etc etc

Well I can't put it in essay form with details. School work sucks!

People pay taxes so they can maintain a streamlined government. That way their lives will be safer with public safety. Roads and Rails would make our transportation easier. Better education services with public schools and libraries. People Need a government for a well balanced life in America.

It's basically like paying rent to stay in such a wonderful country.

I agree with you bearr41. Good answer

u didnt say plz so NO

Sounds like this should be under "homework help".

because the government are greedy -.-

The government obligates it's citizens to pay for their keep--nay, citizenship, in the USA. Thats why the illegal immigrants don't pay taxes, yet the law-abiding legal residents do. Sorry I cant give you more, I'm writing a 10 pg research paper on the smoking ban due tomorrow..

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