Uncle Sam wants your money, not your opinion.

As seen in The Oakland Press

April 26th, 2026

Uncle Sam wants your money,

not your opinion.

by Ken Morris

I work with people that come from diverse backgrounds and express a wide variety of opinions. When the subject of politics comes up, I tell them I don’t view myself as being either red or blue. As a financial advisor, I work to help you achieve your goals and objectives and keep you in the green.

This year, after the war began, it’s been a challenging time for investors. Many stock prices have decreased, and bonds have also been volatile, especially with the uncertainty regarding the direction of interest rates. At the beginning of the year, most experts anticipated the rates to fall, but now many economists are wondering if rates might actually increase.

In other words, experts wouldn’t be surprised if the financial markets stumbled even further. Or, at any sign of normalcy, the markets could quickly spike back up. It’s times like these when investors need to brace themselves, remain levelheaded and keep their emotions in check.

Just prior to the tax filing deadline, I had a casual discussion with a person who wanted my opinion regarding his intent to withhold a portion of his upcoming tax payment as a protest to recent events in Minneapolis. My response was simple and straightforward. Don’t do it. One of an advisor’s objectives is to avoid self-inflicted problems. Protesting through the IRS is not a good idea.

Owing the IRS money for any reason will likely cost taxpayers a lot of money. The IRS doesn’t care about your views. Its only concern is the money you owe, and if you fall behind on payments, you can also be charged interest and penalties in addition to the money owed.

Over the years, I’ve encountered many people upset at how their tax dollars are spent. They complain about everything from military spending and green energy programs to social policies that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs.

There’s not a box on a tax return form that you can check to indicate where you want your tax dollars applied. Nor is there one that lets you express how you don’t want your tax dollars to be used.

The IRS is simply a collection agency. They want the money you owe regardless of your personal and political beliefs. But there are ways you can invest in accordance with your beliefs, opinions and values. The investment world has a wide range of investments that might accomplish that for you.

For example, there are green energy funds that invest in companies involved in solar, wind and clean water. At the other end of the spectrum, there are funds that invest in military defense and traditional oil companies. For those that have strong social beliefs, there are funds available that provide socially conscious investments that might coincide with your moral convictions. Naturally, all investments carry risk and require due diligence.

If you want to support a specific cause, check with your financial advisor for availability. You might even want to cut your tax liability by making a donation to your favorite cause.

Regardless of your views, there will always be periods of uncertainty. Be patient and keep your emotions in check. And above all, please pay what you owe to Uncle Sam without comment. Not paying causes stress. And you don’t want to mess with the IRS.