Is there a grammatical reason for people saying “I pay my taxes” instead “I pay the taxes”?

  • Triumph@fedia.io
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    17 hours ago

    Definitely a thing in the US, and the subtext is “so I am deserving of whatever government services I use”.

    The subtext to that is that if you’re poor enough to not have to pay income tax (never mind sales tax, fuel tax, property tax, etc.), that you don’t deserve the government services you use, and that you are a freeloader at best, criminal at worst.

    It’s the kind of phrasing assholes use.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe
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      17 hours ago

      Not sure why you’re assuming that subtext.

      The taxes one pays are the obligation one has, therefore “my tax obligation”.

      Not yours, not another person’s, mine. You don’t pay my tax obligation, I don’t pay yours.