Since before the United States was even a country, it has always been an American tradition to have a distinct dislike of taxes. From the Boston Tea Party in 1773 to the Bush Tax Cuts in the early 2000s, it's become part of the American mentality, part of American culture, to view taxes as something negative, something to hate. But should that be the case? Should we be inherently afraid of taxation and clamber constantly for tax cuts?

In short: No. In my experience, much of the negativity toward taxation is born of misunderstandings based on a few things: 1. American tax rates compared to the rest of the world. 2. The purpose of taxes. And 3. Where that tax money goes. In many cases, this isn't the fault of the average person. We have big name politicians and certain presidential candidates consistently spreading misinformation regarding the topic, and to anyone who might not know otherwise, I'm sure they seem pretty convincing.

But the truth of the matter is that taxes are absolutely and undeniably a good thing. They're an integral part of how a country functions and by proxy, how each and every one of us lives our lives. To more clearly explain my point, I'll address each of the above-mentioned misunderstandings.

Let's start with the comparison of American tax rates to other countries around the world. As I mentioned, a certain political figure recently claimed that the United States has the "highest tax rate anywhere in the world". Which even by a quick Google search, is little more than a blatant lie. Income tax in the United States ranges anywhere between 10-40 percent adjusted based on how much you make. At first glance, I'm sure that upper bracket seems pretty high, but keep in mind that only people making $415,000 are supposed to pay that much (and it never increases beyond that). According to PolitiFact, however, the United States only ranks 33rd when compared to 115 other countries when it comes to our tax rates with Chad and Côte d’Ivoire sitting at the top, their highest bracket being 60 percent. Even countries that are more frequently considered our peers, like Sweden and Denmark, have tax rates up to 57 percent. So, needless to say, the United States factually does not have the highest tax rate in the world. Not even close.

Second, I'd like to address the purpose of taxes. I've noticed a common misconception that taxes exist only to pay the government for doing what many perceive to be very little. And while that's somewhat true, that isn't the whole story. Yes, your taxes pay to keep the government running and its members paid. On top of that, however, tax money goes to the most basic systems and privileges that keep your towns and cities running smoothly and properly.

Which brings me to that third point. Another common thought people have is that the tax money they're paying doesn't come back to or help them. Of course, that's false. It's because of taxes that children can go to school. It's because of taxes that roads get plowed during the winter, that buses run and colleges get funding each year. Taxes are responsible for allowing people who rely on government aid to eat, to survive. The money you pay in taxes consistently and continuously comes back to communities all across the nation.

I'd also like to bring up an idea that has become increasingly more common over the last couple years. More and more, I've seen people echo the sentiment that "Taxation is theft!" With this, I have some issues.

The word "theft" implies that the act of taxation is somehow illegal, immoral, or both. The problem here is that it is absolutely none of the above. Taxation is clearly not illegal because it's written into and enacted by our laws. Laws that we all agree to just by being U.S. citizens. But most importantly, taxation is not immoral. So long as every part of the Union is being represented properly within the government (by a purely technical standard. Arguing the ethics and representation of more specific demographics is another conversation entirely.), it's far from unfair for them to be taxed. The "taxation without representation" that our Founding Fathers knew? That was immoral. And maybe it's just that some people disagree with where some tax money goes. That's okay. I don't like that taxes go to pay for an already too-large military that no longer represents what the country is or should be. And that's fine too. But it's also still a totally different issue not to be blamed on taxation itself.

What is immoral, however, is a desire to withhold your fair share of taxes: Money that helps hundreds of thousands of people live their lives each day. Money that helps children eat and families remain in their homes. If you want something immoral, look at the millionaires who cheat the system to pay no taxes at all and brag about it . If you want to see a lack of morality, if you want to see theft look no further than those among the One-Percent who openly admit to not paying taxes and claim it's because "they're smart." That is theft. That is immoral. And supporting that kind of activity is just as bad.

Taxation may not always be pleasant, but it is necessary. Each and every one of us relies on the things it pays for every day of our lives. You may not agree with the allocation of those funds. One could argue that no one ever does. But be sure to distinguish those issues from one another. Be sure you aren't blaming the wrong thing, the wrong people. Taxation isn't theft, but selfishness is.