Back to the twilight zone…

New York Gov. David Patterson has proposed a few interesting new taxes, including those on non-diet soda, digitally delivered entertainment services and haircuts, but the one that is sure to raise a few eyebrows is the $10.00 fee for filing your state income taxes on a paper return.

ALBANY — Gov. David Paterson’s proposals to tax non-diet soda, iTunes downloads and even haircuts are well known by now. But did you know he wants to tax your tax filings, too?

Tucked into the governor’s 2009-2010 budget proposal is a plan to levy a $10 fee for income taxes that are filed on paper rather than electronically. State budget officials believe the paper filing fee could generate $6.8 million during the next fiscal year.

Am I crazy or is the idea of paying what amounts to a tax for paying your taxes patently absurd???

While Patterson’s proposal would only effect people filing New York state tax returns it highlights a problem with government… In the eyes of the governing class, we the great unwashed masses are not citizens. We are either dependents of the of state or a source of revenue.