Let’s be honest: nobody jumps for joy when tax season rolls around. But here’s the thing—paying taxes doesn’t have to feel like a government-mandated grift. In fact, it’s one of the best investments we can make in, well, not living in a pothole-ridden, polluted mess with a crumbling NHS. Hard to imagine, but true.

Look at Scandinavia (Yes, The Land of Skiing and Punctual Trains)

Consider this: countries with higher taxes—think Scandinavia, where people ski to work and public transport is actually on time—have well-funded healthcare, top-notch education, clean rivers, and minimal air pollution. Meanwhile, in the UK, the prevailing wisdom seems to be that if we just keep our taxes low enough, we’ll somehow enjoy all the same benefits without footing the bill. Erm…that’s not how it works.

Taxes Aren’t a Grift; They’re an Investment in Not Living in Chaos

Let’s talk infrastructure. Everyone loves a good train delay or a road that doubles as an obstacle course. And sure, we could keep our taxes as low as possible and keep that British charm. Or we could pay a bit more and have trains that show up on time and roads that don’t give us haemorrhoids. If we want clean streets, good schools, and hospitals where the doctor has time to actually look at you, we need to pay up. Yes, really.

The “Low-Tax” Myth and Why We All End Up Paying Anyway

The current narrative, often pushed by those who have the privilege of avoiding tax altogether, is that “tax is theft” and regulation is the enemy of freedom. But take a closer look, and what they’re really saying is “paying taxes is for suckers.” If we all buy into that, we end up with underfunded services and leaders proudly waving the “Greed is Good” banner. Except we’re the ones missing out, not them.

Imagine a UK Where Clean Air, Good Schools, and Functional Hospitals Exist

Imagine a UK where paying a bit more in taxes means hospitals with the funding to function, clean public spaces, public transport that doesn’t require a prayer, and a generation growing up well-educated enough to understand what a win that actually is. Yes, higher taxes mean less in your pocket upfront, but they also mean more of the things that make our communities liveable—and, dare I say it, even pleasant.

The Takeaway: Taxes Are a Bargain for a Society That Doesn’t Feel Dystopian

So here’s the takeaway: taxes aren’t the enemy. They’re a smart investment in things we’d all love to have—like clean air, educated youth, and a healthcare system that’s, you know, functional. And if that means each of us giving up a bit more? Well, I think that’s a price worth paying for a society that doesn’t resemble a dystopian film.