by Rob Pue, New American Prophet, ©2025
(Aug. 25, 2025) — It turns out we live in a totalitarian police state, and most people don’t even realize it. They’ve become so accustomed to the ever-expanding laws, rules and regulations that Big Government has imposed on us all. Today, there is virtually nothing we can do without being extorted by government and obtaining their permission first — and of course, paying the associated fees. As one person put it, we’re living on a “tax farm” as “free range humans.”
A few examples: we must ask the government’s permission now to collect rainwater, plant a garden, go fishing, own a property, start a business, build a home or do any type of home improvement, own a dog, drive a car, get married, own a weapon, go hunting, hold a rally and even set up a lemonade stand.
As for the fees, here are just a few: property tax, sales tax, state and federal income tax, marriage license fees, local school taxes, vehicle registration fees, estate taxes, waste management taxes, dog license fees, driver’s license fees, gasoline taxes, gift taxes, social security taxes, unemployment taxes, fishing license fees, highway and bridge tolls, hotel taxes, license plate fees, parking fees, self-employment taxes, sewer & water taxes, and tire taxes. If the Leftists and Globalists get their way, they’ll soon be imposing a tax on even the air we breathe, in the form of a “carbon tax.”
I understand that government needs funding to operate, but things are out of control. We’re not getting back even close to a reasonable return on ours-called “investment.” It’s flat-out extortion in many cases. And I’ll reiterate what I’ve asked so many times before: why does the government need our money at all? Most government entities operate at a staggering deficit, yet any time they like, they simply take out another credit card in our name and continue their spending binge. How many times have we heard of yet another crisis, with a “government shutdown” looming, and then, suddenly, another “continuing resolution” is passed?
Our government pulls money out of thin air any time they like, never intending to reconcile the books. The crushing taxes and fees we all pay just to live our daily lives are a mere drop in the bottomless bucket compared to the financial abuse, waste and fraud our politicians see as their normal way of life. Then, these same politicians have the audacity to send out appeals for donations to help fund their next campaign so they can keep on doing what they’ve always done. They’re totally unaccountable, and that’s totally unacceptable.
I had some hope when we saw, a while back, the Department of Government Efficiency uncovering absurd wasteful spending, and slashing it. We heard of billions of dollars being saved and reclaimed for the American people. A step in the right direction, I thought. Finally. But it seems that was short lived, and it all ended abruptly, with not much change at all. And so far, in the new Trump administration, we’ve heard nothing about easing the tax burden on the American people.
Speaking of government overreach, let me tell you the story of a young man here in rural Northern Wisconsin. Max McKinney lives in Spooner, Wisconsin. He’s 15 years old and should be an inspiration to all young people. Max is an ambitious and enterprising young man. He holds three jobs and is wisely saving his money for the future. In what was to be his fourth job, he took the initiative to build a 6’ X 15’ shed, built on “skids” and opening his own bait shop at the end of his grandfather’s driveway.
According to AgWeb.com, “McKinney is a workhorse: No lounging in a bedroom playing video games or scrolling an iPhone. He handles three summer jobs as a canoe rental crew member, little league umpire and babysitter. A bait stand was supposed to be his fourth job.”
“I started planning for summer and thought a bait stand on the farm would be perfect to work on the weekends and maybe make a little money,” McKinney says. “I want to be a doctor in the future, and I’m willing to work hard and save money any way I can.”
Late last fall, he began raising worms in his parents’ garage, and building his shed, which he pulled to the end of his grandfather’s driveway, in time for the opening of fishing season. Along with the bait, he also added snacks, water, sold several kiddie fishing poles, along with T Shirts printed with his logo: “Spooner Lake Bait Store.”
Read the rest here.