HOUGHTON - Matt Kiilunen is upset not only that there are so many taxes in the United States, but also that the people who spend tax money aren't spending it well.
Kiilunen, who is from Chassell, attended a rally Wednesday put on by Taxed Enough Already Concerned Citizens of the Upper Peninsula, or TEA CCUP, to protest the American tax system and demand changes to the system.
A crowd of about 200 people, many carrying picket signs expressing their concerns about the tax system, gathered at the Houghton County Courthouse then marched to the Veterans Park to hear speakers. The gathering was part of similar events all over the country, many organized by the national Taxed Enough Already organization.
At the courthouse, Kiilunen said he thought the tax system was changing the country in a negative way.
"We have a gradual encroachment of the socialistic movement," he said. "I'm opposed to that."
Kiilunen, who is a former business owner, said it's also wrong corporations should be receiving so much money in the form of government bailouts.
"Nobody ever bailed me out," he said. "I had to live by my wits."
Marge Nyman of Dollar Nyman also expressed concern about the irresponsibility of the tax system.
"I think we need less government and the government we have should be more responsible with other people's money," she said.
As an alternative, Nyman said a flat-tax system would be more fair for all taxpayers.
"They penalize people in this country for trying to get ahead," she said. "We're heading real close to socialism."
At Veterans Park, the first speaker was Jim Hafeman, who is a former university criminal justice and government instructor and is currently in the security services business.
Hafeman said the average American pays about 50 percent of his or her wages in taxes, and although that's a problem, the bigger problem is how government officials use the money.
"It's not about taxes, it's about spending," Hafeman said.
Much of that spending is for regulations, which Hafeman said should be eliminated. Taxes on such things as alcohol and tobacco pay for those regulations, and for the most part, taxpayers don't have a say in that.
"We don't have representation," he said. "We have representatives spending money like there's no tomorrow."
Hafeman said although oil companies in the United Sates made $840 billion in 2007, the United States government also got rich from taxes on oil.
"The government made $1.3 trillion without drilling a well," he said.
After Hafeman spoke, Pete Mackin, freelance journalist and researcher and writer for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, spoke.
Mackin said state government can be as inefficient as the federal government when it comes to tax money.
"Our state government loses money the same way as the federal government," he said.
Inefficiencies occur with the state's general fund, which Mackin said isn't spent well.
"Having a general fund is like giving your kid a credit card and hoping he does the right thing at the mall," he said.
Mackin said rather than have a general fund, Mackin said a better system would be what he calls the Fix It Formula. That system would base taxes on what is needed in the budget to run the state.
However, Mackin said property taxes are necessary, but should be narrowly used.
"Property taxes should pay for fire, emergency medical services and roads, things property needs," he said.
Mackin said much of the problem with the tax system in the country is that most people aren't aware how tax money is being used.
"You don't know where your taxes are going," he said.
To help fix the tax system, Mackin said he would like to see a greater level of interest in the operation of government.
"You have a duty to get involved with government," he said. "I would like to see more people run for office."
Bob Byrnes of Ontonagon said he attended the rally because he wants people to understand that taxes are too high and government is unresponsive to the needs of the people.
"If we get enough people across the country, we can get the (House of Representatives) and Senate to vote for the people," he said.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
