The last few days have, as is tradition, been aflutter with tax-time stories. It’s almost as if the press think Americans will forget to pay taxes absent this annual barrage.

I, for one, don’t really mind paying taxes. Of course, when Uncle Sam cashes my check, it hurts. But then I keep thinking, this interstate highway system is pretty nifty, isn’t it?

The context I wanted to offer is this: The successful collection and redistribution of taxes help separate the U.S. from developing countries. A strong, but limited, federal government gives us the framework in which we generate wealth. America seems particularly adept at this, in comparison to other countries.

Note this article by the BBC. One third of Brazilians live on less than $1 a day. “Less than a cup of coffee,” as Sally Struthers used to say.

The article also includes this item: Brazil has a higher income per head than China, India and almost all of sub-Saharan Africa. If the reporting is right, by my estimate, that’s about 3 billion people living each month on what I spend casually at Starbucks.

Whether Lula de Silva is succeeding in Brazil is a matter of controversy. But, I think he has the vision to succeed.

“It is time to call peace by its true name: social justice,” he told the 58th U.N. General Assembly.

He understands the wealth discrepancies felt as hunger pains in South America, Africa and other regions. Many of these areas lack the framework for enterprise — the spirit of which drives the U.S.

Taxpayers need to remember that taxes help make this land of privilege possible.

Of course, critiques of the government’s priorities with taxpayers’ cash are an entirely different matter.

I don’t mean to play the alarmist, but shouldn’t we be alarmed?

As far as I can tell or recall, our Homeland Security Advisory System hasn’t nudged from yellow in months (at least weeks). Does everyone still feel elevated?

This morning, I see this. The State Department has asked non-essential U.S. citizens to leave the Kingdom of Saud. The nut graph: “The U.S. Government has received recent and credible information indicating that extremists are planning further attacks against U.S. and Western interests.”

I know, Saudi Arabia is never the safest place for a U.S. citizen. Still, tensions have escalated across the board. Spain saw its own tragedy. Iraq’s in a handbasket. (Though I agree with Whatever that it’s not quite the quagmire Vietnam was.) Our president just offered a major concession to Israel, further enraging or alienating the millions of Palestinians and those sympathetic to them. Osama bin Laden’s still living large, and getting great press.

Still feeling yellow?

Kind of makes you wonder what “U.S. and Western interests” means. Does the “chatter” all focus on Europe and the Mideast? I doubt it.

We can have 9/11 hearings until we’re blue, but the fundamental question is, are we safer? The support for a “no” answer seems to grow by the day.