Burning Beneath

I bought an old van—a 2013 model—something that’s been passed from one owner to the next until it eventually landed in my hands. A simple transaction, right? But the moment I went to transfer the title, reality hit: taxes.

Of course, I expected to pay something. But then I started wondering—how many times has this vehicle been taxed? Every time it changes hands, the government takes another cut. But why? The van was already taxed when it was first purchased brand new. Every new owner isn’t getting a fresh, untouched product; they’re inheriting something depreciated, worn, and often sold at a loss. So why does the government keep dipping into the same product over and over again?

And it doesn’t stop there. When transferring the title, I was told I needed new plates. The van already had a perfectly good license plate, yet instead of just transferring ownership, I had to buy a whole new set. What happens to the old plates? Waste. Just another arbitrary rule forcing people to spend money where they shouldn’t have to.

Then came the sticker fee. And then, of course, insurance. This is where the real scam begins. If you’re young, they say you lack experience, so they jack up your rates. If you’re older, you might get a small discount—but only if you fit into their neat little categories. The entire system is structured to ensure that you pay more while they take less responsibility.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Think about your paycheck. Almost half of it is gone before it even reaches you. Income tax. Healthcare deductions. Employment insurance. Pension contributions. All these deductions add up. Then, when you finally get to spend what’s left, you’re hit with sales tax. Your already-taxed paycheck is taxed again when you buy food, gas, clothing—everything.

And what’s worse? Even with all these taxes, basic services still feel underfunded. Roads full of potholes. Healthcare systems with wait times stretching for months. Schools needing more funding. Where does all the money go?

It makes you wonder—when does it end? How many times can a dollar be taxed before there’s nothing left? How long do we accept a system that never gets questioned, never gets revised, and yet keeps demanding more?