Why do people who still work for the government (mainly police officers) have to pay taxes?

Question

A family member of mine is a police officer and that's considered a job from the government. Why does he still have to pay taxes? He's putting his life out there on the line. Why are other jobs paying higher when all those people do is sit around at a desk? And if you have anything to say about police brutality or law enforcement putting you down, STFU. They only do their job. Sure, they're a couple idiot cops who shouldn't even be in the brotherhood of law enforcement, but it doesn't mean all of them are like that. All of them are human, and if you ever had someone die to a drunk driver, you'd understand that it's hard to stand back and watch instead of take action.

Thanks to the first two who gave me an honest answer, but to the third person...Do you really think that officers get to do whatever they want? They don't. He'll get a ticket if he does speed or whatever. My family member runs into a drunk a$$, violent criminal all the f*cking time.

Oh, and the only breaks he takes are when he doesn't get a run. And believe me, there are plenty of runs in one shift. And when you're sleeping in your cozy little bed, in your nice clean town...there's still crime. You just don't see it becasue you don't want to.

Answer 1

Its every citizen's duty to pay a fair share of tax, regardless of their occupation. I retired from 27 years of law enforcement and never questioned paying taxes, except the amount. I would like this country to adopt a standard flat tax for everyone to pay equally. EVERYBODY, from the richest to the poorest should be held responsible to pay an equal percentage for the maintenance of our government. If that rate is 4% and you only made a dollar, you pay 4 cents. If another made a million dollars, they should also pay their fair 4%. Taxes are inevitable, how much we should pay is debatable, how much we do pay is controlable.

Answer 2

Everyone living in america should pay taxes - even the president does, and I'm sure he considers himself more important than a police officer. I pay taxes, therefore, I help pay their salaries, for the nice cars they drive for free, the gas they put in it, etc. trust me - there are a lot more than a couple of idiots in law enforcement!

Answer 3

Police officers still use other areas of the government, right? Their kids go to schools, they drive on the roads, they use the water and the fire system. They benefit from our military. Taxes go for ALL of these causes (plus many useless and disgusting ones) from which we all benefit. Thus, police officers need to pay their fair share too, espeically considering that the rest of us are paying to have police around.

Answer 4

Being a cop is a privelage. He can boss people around, speed, run lights, and take a break any time he feels.

And if he lives in a small town, he has no risk of running into a violent criminal.

Cops should pay more in taxes lol

Answer 5

I don’t necessarily believe that he shouldn’t have to pay taxes just because he is a police officer. I do believe that for efficiencies sake he shouldn’t have to pay taxes to the government level that he works for. For example, if he is a city cop then he shouldn’t have to pay city taxes. When he does pay taxes it is simply creating a lot of overhead to collect, process, and give him back his tax money. This would work for almost all government jobs.

Answer 6

well, to pay your salary, you have to pay taxes. youre paying your own wages! brilliant, isnt it?

like the military, if you are in a combat zone, you are tax exempt. surely some cities are combat zones.

drunk driving is a very terrible thing. i wish there was no such thing.