Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Let’s face it, people: None of us really likes paying taxes. We all work hard for the money we make. We pay our bills, our mortgages or our rent and we try to save some, too.

I’ve been self-employed for nearly 37 years, never declared bankruptcy, only deducted my business expenses and never lost other people’s money.

Our tax dollars pay for a lot of different things. Federal taxes pay for our elected politicians who, by the way, get to vote on their own pay raises and health care. I don’t care much for that.

Our taxes pay for our military and our national defense. It paid for my weapon and the plane that flew me to Vietnam, and the plane that brought me back home. I was one of the fortunate soldiers.

Our taxes pay for our national landmarks, treasures and parks, highways, bridges and more. Our federal dollars will also be helping our fellow citizens who were affected by Hurricane Matthew.

So maybe I’m not smart like some peop...