Taxes

Imagine everyone in your town bakes one giant, yummy cookie. It smells so sweet and warm. If every single person shared just one tiny crumb, all those little crumbs could come together to make a whole new cookie. A special cookie for everyone to enjoy. I am like that little bit of sharing. I am the small piece from everyone that helps build big, wonderful things for the whole neighborhood to share. It is like a big hug from everyone to everyone.

Hello. My name is Taxes. It’s a funny-sounding name, isn’t it? I am a very, very old idea. Long, long ago, in a warm, sunny place called ancient Egypt, around the year 3000 BCE, people didn't use coins like we do. Farmers grew lots of golden grain to make bread. They would share a little bit of their grain. That was their way of being me. All that shared grain helped them build the giant, pointy pyramids that touched the bright blue sky. It also made sure everyone had enough food to fill their tummies. Later, in another place called ancient Rome, I helped build long, strong roads so people could travel and visit their friends far away.

I am still helping our world sparkle today. The money I gather from grown-ups helps our communities in so many ways. I help build happy schools where you can learn and play with your friends. I help build fun parks with tall, swirly slides and big, high swings. I help fill our libraries with colorful books full of amazing stories. I also help pay for the brave firefighters who keep us safe from fires and the kind police officers who help us when we are lost. I am the special way we all chip in to make our towns and cities happy, safe, and wonderful places for everyone to live and play together.