To: oped@nytimes.com
Re: The German word for "tax" is "Steuer" which also means "rudder", i.e. a means of steering
Date: Thursday 12 August 04

The German word for tax is "Steuer", which also means "rudder", from which the verb "to steer" is derived. The wholly negative connotations of the word "tax", meaning nothing but a burden, are thus avoided in German. 

Steuer (tax) is not just a means of rising revenue for the government, but also a means of "steering" society, particularly the economy, towards desirable goals, such as sustainability (or, more to the point, steering it away from undesirable developments, such as the rapid depletion of natural resources and disruption of our planet's climate and life-supporting ecosystems.

For example, taxes could and should be used to steer us away from our dependency on and irresponsibly extravagant use of fossil fuels, because they are a non-renewable resource, the consumption of which is largely responsible for global warming. Most of the revenue raised should be used to promote the development and use of renewable alternatives, including - most importantly - sustainable transport systems (on a global scale, which would be at least 6 times what it is now, individual motorisation and frequent air travel are utterly unsustainable; their continued expansion can only have catastrophic consequences).

Also, if taxpayers could see their contributions being sensibly levied and used, as in the above example, they would be far less resentful (some, like myself, even happy) about paying them.

Sounds simple enough - and it is. The difficulties and resistance arise from all the vested interests which would be affected. Unfortunately, most people's jobs, dividends and familiar ways of life are still more important to them than how their children and grandchildren are one day going to cope with depleted resources, a degraded natural environment and disrupted climate and ecosystems.

I am hopeful that as awareness of the crime we are committing against our own children and coming generations increases, priorities will change and people will be prepared to make (and encourage government to make) the radical changes necessary for achieving sustainability on our imperilled planet.

However, we do not have a lot of time. Leaving the matter of sustainability for our children and coming generations to sort out will be leaving things too late - something for which they will never forgive us. Ignorance will not be accepted as an excuse. If we fail them, they will have every reason to curse and damn us.