Updated

Assuming you have finished filing your taxes, I want you to do something: I want you to look at your return.

I want you to look at your return closely.

Don't look at your refund, if you're lucky enough to get one. I want you to take a look at the line just above it  - what you paid the government. I bet it's a staggering figure.

The National Taxpayers Union Estimates most Americans will end up paying a third "or more" of what they make to the government. I'm including federal, state and local taxes. Throw in real estate taxes and that figure is actually closer to 40 percent, and up to half for more high-income inviduals.

Think about that. A third of what you make, to taxes.

A third.

That's two-thirds to you, a third to them. Two-thirds to pay your bills, a third to pay theirs.

Whose bills are more important? Yours or theirs?

I figure I've gone on and on about this, so let me cut to the simplest argument for a tax cut: It leaves them with less. And it leaves you with more.

Think about that the next time you're scrounging for the money for your kid's education. Or for the family mortgage. Or maybe just your family's vacation.

And I don't care how rich you are. Or how poor you are. Just that you are a taxpayer. And by my math, you pay too much.

For years, we have all learned to do with less as the government takes on more. I say it is high time we flipped things around and demand of our government: You try doing with less.

You try making your budget, just like we try making ours. And I don't care if the economy's weak, or strong, or in between. We shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get our own money back.

It's quite the opposite. Now, more than ever, it's high time Uncle Sam jumped through hoops for us. Because it's not his money.

And it never was.