School supplies and peripheral elementary school needs for our twins’ 5th grade matriculation can be acquired without paying any tax this weekend.
As a family, we have the means to pay the tax on the items.
If we elect to shop this weekend, it’s fully legal for us not to pay any tax, but is it somehow reprehensible or “wrong” for us to do so? Can we ask—should we ask—the stores to accept our tax offerings regardless?
Whether we shop this weekend or not, we make a practice to purchase supplies for groups collecting them for students’ families who don’t have the needed means. If we do maximize the tax-free option, and use some or all of the “savings” to assist others, does that rationalize our behavior—ends justifying the means—or are we “cheating” the system regardless?
If Double Daddy or I were to run for office 10 years from now (please don’t worry, we won’t), would there be mandated records to provide, receipts to reveal, donation documents to share? Should there be?
Thoughtful, non-argumentative comments and insights welcome.
[*Extra credit if you can express your feelings without using the names Romney and Obama, or the assignations Republican, Democrat, conservative, liberal. Please use your non-accusatory words.]
