Following Joe Biden's logic is not always easy.

Recently, he told Americans that paying more in taxes is the "patriotic" thing to do; that Jesus supported higher taxes; and that he is heeding — selectively, on the issue of taxes — Catholic social doctrine.

Let's start at the beginning.

There's nothing remotely patriotic about raising taxes — especially income taxes. Income taxes are nothing more than legalized theft. The only reason people pay them is they are forced to do so. Not paying them means going to jail. The most truly patriotic thing Americans could do would be to deprive the federal government of as much money as possible — to stop feeding the irresponsible beast that is wrecking the American economy and turning a once-free people into a dependency class of serfs.

Anyone who actually believes giving more money to the federal government is patriotic is, of course, free to do so at any time — voluntarily. If Joe Biden believed it, he would overpay his tax bill. He never has done so — not once. Nor am I aware of any other prominent politician — Republican or Democrat — voluntarily overpaying his taxes because he believes the government knows how to spend his money better than he does. Please tell me if I am overlooking anyone.

Given that Joe Biden always has paid the bare minimum in taxes demanded by the government, can we assume he is not patriotic? If paying more in taxes suggests patriotism, why would anyone need to be forced to pay more? Why is Joe Biden waiting for Congress and the president to tell him he needs to pay his fair share? Why doesn't the man who wants to be vice president of the United States show some leadership? Why doesn't he lead by example and voluntarily pay more of his income to Washington?

Next, Biden dares to bring Jesus into his argument. Suffice it to say the notion that Jesus supported man-made governments forcibly extracting excessive amounts of wealth from citizens cannot be found in Scripture. And please don't cite the "render unto Caesar" line as proof. That response from Jesus came in answer to a question from the disciples as to whether it was lawful to pay tribute to Rome. Jesus' response was: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's."

What is Caesar's, and what is God's?

I know this: Everything is God's. The question of what is Caesar's is still up for grabs.

And that brings us to Biden's newfound faith in Catholic social doctrine. Isn't this the same guy who has disputed all the major bishops of his church by rejecting the belief that life begins at conception? Why is it that this so-called Catholic feels free to deviate from his church's social doctrine on a matter of life and death but feels compelled to prostitute Christian teachings about charity to justify the government's seizing of private property by threat of violence?

"Catholic social doctrine as I was taught it is, you take care of people who need the help the most," Biden semi-articulated.

Does Biden take this teaching to heart in his own life? The evidence strongly suggests the answer is no.

Biden not only does not pay the government any more than the bare minimum required to keep him out of the pokey to "take care of the people who need the help the most" but also gives next to nothing to charities — Catholic or otherwise — to demonstrate his own commitment to this principle.

Biden's tax returns show that during the past 10 years, he and his wife have given, on average, $380 a year to charity. That's a microscopic 0.2 percent of their income, or only 10 percent of the national average.

Who is Joe Biden to lecture Americans about helping the less fortunate, about Christian charitable ethics or about patriotism when he has proved to be the living embodiment of a modern-day Scrooge?

Joseph Farah's newest book, "None of the Above: Why 2008 Is the Year To Cast the Ultimate Protest Vote," is available now. To find out more about Joseph Farah and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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