Put your money where your mouth is

Tax day is almost upon us -- and with it come the justifiable complaints about the government money grab.

But from some quarters, you might hear a different lament: That Washington doesn't take enough of our money -- that it needs even more to provide all the "services" necessary to take care of us from cradle to grave.

For those who embrace such a perspective -- which apparently includes both the remaining Democratic presidential contenders, who oppose the renewal of the Bush tax cuts, thus endorsing the largest tax increase in American history -- Rep. John Campell, R-Calif., has a proposal especially for you.

Rep. Campbell has introduced the Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is Act, which would amend current tax forms to include a line allowing individuals to make additional contributions to the Treasury, above and beyond their actual tax obligations.

"If the bill passes, it will be easy to send extra tax dollars to Washington, where everyone knows they will be wisely spent," said a tongue-in-cheek Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste. "More money could be spent on important priorities like hops research, lobster and sheep institutes or olive fly research."

Of course, Rep. Campbell's legislation stands no chance -- although it's unclear why his Democratic colleagues wouldn't put it on the fast track.

Perhaps it would be too embarrassing for the forces of Big Government to admit that most Americans wouldn't be clamoring to participate.

It brings to mind the modest DMV rebate most Nevadans received a few years back when the state had a budget surplus. More than one left-leaning pundit expressed great indignation over the plan, arguing that state bureaucrats could make far better use of the money than those who actually earned it.

Of course, those conscientious objectors immediately returned their $275 stipends as soon as they arrived in the mail, no?

What do you think?