You misunderstood (and I didn't do a good job of stating my position). I am NOT saying that taxation is wrong or that we should not pay taxes. We have to pay

You misunderstood (and I didn't do a good job of stating my position). I am NOT saying that taxation is wrong or that we should not pay taxes. We have to pay for the cost of running everything you listed and more. What I am saying is that waking up every day to a new tax on something else someone pulled out of their ass is wrong. And that using taxation to influence behavior is also wrong. One tax. That's it. Clean. Clear. Transparent. Full accountability. Things have devolve to the point where nobody can truly understand how much money we are handing our government in the way of taxes. So many taxes, from so many angles. It ultimately means less money in your pocket and more government waste. They are not accountable for anything at all. And pecking at your money from a million little angles make that easier. Look at the roads in California. Now they are saying we don't have enough money and have to raise taxes. Really? Where did all of that money we pay at the pump (probably the highest taxed gasoline in the nation) go? I'll be if we look it went into ridiculous pension plans and benefits. So, they've had a party on our dime and now that the roads are falling apart they are going to make us pay for it AGAIN while they all retire on the fat pensions they got with our tax money. Government has devolved into something sick and disgusting. While we are all busy earning a living they take sweet rides on our backs. Next they are going to tax our farts just so they can throw nicer holiday parties.