top of page
Search

Every dollar of tax revenue is rooted in human effort

ree

In 2024, full-time employed Americans averaged about 8.4 hours of work on weekdays and 5.6 hours on weekend days when they worked. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) But many workers go far beyond that: some exceed 40 hours per week, and when people routinely work 55 + hours weekly that over-time comes at a real human cost—studies show as much as a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of heart disease, compared to standard work-weeks. (World Health Organization)


Here’s what our hardworking taxpayers give up:

  • Time with family, friends, and community—hours spent laboring are hours not at the dinner table, not mentoring a youth, not engaged in civic life.

  • Physical and mental well-being—overwork raises stress, limits time for rest, preventive care, and healthy habits.

  • Opportunity cost—when someone has to work long to pay taxes, they’re often unable to volunteer, innovate, or build local social capital.

  • A sense of fairness—they pay into a system with the hope of shared benefit, yet many feel their contributions are taken for granted or directed away from their immediate needs.


Why we must respond with passion for the taxpayer: Taxpayers are the foundation of sustainable public policy. Their labour, productivity, and trust are the fuel that keeps public systems running. If we expect those systems to be legitimate, fair, and enduring, we must honour the sacrifice behind every tax dollar. That means listening to their burdens, protecting their rights, and ensuring their contributions aren’t undervalued or overlooked.



Your Call to Action:

  • Acknowledge the workforce behind tax revenues: When policies are crafted, let us recognise that each tax dollar is backed by someone’s hours, effort, time away from home.

  • Commit to transparency and impact: Ensure that when taxpayers fund public services, those services are visible, effective, and accountable.

  • Advocate for balance and health: Recognise that overwork is not just a personal issue—it’s a public policy concern. Support measures that protect worker health, prevent burnout, and sustain long-term productivity.

  • Engage the taxpayer as partner, not just payer: Open avenues for meaningful input into how their money is used, how services are prioritized, and how burdens are distributed.

  • Celebrate their contribution: Let us make it a norm to express gratitude—because a society that honours its citizens’ work is more likely to keep them invested in the common good.


Let’s shift the narrative: Taxpayers aren’t just revenue sources—they are the bedrock of our public life. When we treat them with dignity, we strengthen our Republic.

Here are suggested hashtags for your “Passion for the Taxpayer” call to action — blending civic pride, economic awareness, and compassion for working Americans:







 
 
 

Comments

bottom of page