Everyone wants lower taxes. Having more money in one’s pocket is nice. In a society where not everything is fair and just and never will be, the people rely on the government to provide goods and services. Some of these goods and services help everyone while some do not. The government helps provide for underserved individuals like the elderly.

To help these individuals the government cannot run like a business. Some people think it should be run like a business, but the government does not work like this. It works for the people, not to make a profit. While not everyone will ever agree on how exactly government funding is split up, helping those in our nursing homes should be a top priority. Iowa’s population skews older and with more Baby Boomers entering the part of life where assisted living and nursing homes becomes a realistic possibility, we should support them as much as possible.

While Governor Reynolds pushes for lower taxes in the state of Iowa, government services across the board pinch pennies to make ends meet whether it is public education or nursing home facility inspections. With the elimination of taxing retirement income, Iowa is trying to keep more people in the state, but the Hawkeye state is not doing its best at keeping its citizens comfortable towards the end of their lives.

According to the Des Moines Register, the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging released a report on fiscal year 2022 data which found Iowa ranks 49th in the nation in terms of its ratio of inspectors to care facilities. The report notes “inspection delays endanger nursing home residents.” One way to not endanger these residents is by raising more revenue to hire more inspectors.

With Iowa’s older population, some citizens will have the money to seek out the best situation for them while others do not. The Baby Boomer generation has benefited from a progressive federal tax rate. This generation started in 1946 and in 1944 and 1945, the United States had its highest marginal income tax rate at 94% according to the Tax Policy Center. These high rates stayed above 70% until the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981 providing this generation a great chance to accumulate wealth with more government subsidization like lower college tuition rates.

I have heard people talk about how wonderful things used to be including these Baby Boomers and maybe part of the reason was these high-income tax rates which gave the government the ability to better serve its citizens. Today’s rate is 37% which is nowhere near the 70%, let alone the 94% rate. Raising these rates could help provide these Baby Boomers with a better life as they enter assisted living and nursing homes. Not all of them benefited or did as well as others, but they still should live out the end of their life in the best way possible. Whether it is providing more inspections or more government resources, this will help the residents in these facilities. Sometimes, lower taxes should not be the answer. At the end of the day, the government must protect its citizens.

Sean Dengler is a writer, comedian, farmer, and host of the Pandaring Talk podcast who grew up on a farm between Traer and Dysart. You can reach him at sean.h.dengler@gmail.com.