I came across an interesting video produced by Walt Disney studios during the second World War. Since we just got done with tax day, it seemed appropriate. It essentially showed how paying taxes was a duty of the citizen and spending it on themselves was evil and helped the Axis powers. Certainly, they needed tax dollars to fund the war, but I found it interesting how the government molds its citizens now. Back then, the debate was between giving to the government and spending.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqMVpcbhpqw&feature=player_embedded
Today, the government still makes the case that we should give them a large percentage of our income since it is unpatriotic not to do so. After all, they only have the best interests of the collective at heart. But, the government is also trying to get us to spend our money frivolously at the malls and auto lots. In fact, they often talk about how patriotic it is to spend. By spending, we are dutifully keeping our economy strong.
So unlike the 40s when paying taxes was patriotic, now we should recklessly spend along with paying a large share of our wealth to the government. If you plan to swim upstream to wealth, you need to avoid both of these expenses. Find ways to legally lower your taxes and avoid needless spending. The government doesn’t want you to be wealthy so you have to take care of it yourself.