We'll always have Amtrak...

From the editorial board today:

The average American might look at the phrase "Tax Freedom Day" and think, oh goodie, a day without any taxes.

No such luck.

Tax Freedom Day actually is a project of the nonprofit Tax Foundation, which puts a great deal of effort into calculating how many days a person has to work to satisfy all of his or her federal, state and local tax obligations.

So, a better name might be "The Day You Finally Get All your Taxes Paid Day."

The average worker has to put in a few hours behind the desk or shovel to pay all of his or her taxes. This year, the federal Tax Freedom Day falls on April 26, which means it takes 77 days to fulfill your federal tax obligation. Paying off state and local taxes will require another 39 days of labor.

It differs from state to state, because states have different tax structures, but in California, Tax Freedom Day doesn't occur until April 30, based on the Tax Foundation's computation that Californians devote 10.9 percent of their annual incomes to paying taxes.

This year's Tax Freedom Day comes three days later than it did last year, because of taxes tacked on between 2005 and 2006 - and despite President Bush's tax cuts.

It's still not as bad as it was in 2000, a boom year, when Tax Freedom Day didn't arrive nationally until May 3. And we're certain you'll be comforted by the fact that the average American's tax burden is a greater drain on their income than food, clothing and housing combined.

But at least we have Amtrak, a true national treasure!