This past weekend marked America's 250th birthday, and it's worth remembering that without taxes, the country might not exist in quite the same way. As Forbes' Kelly Phillips Erb writes, the American Revolution was driven by a struggle over political power, economic control and representation—but taxes were the spark. Colonists had no say over the Stamp Act, the Townshend Acts or the Tea Act, making "taxation without representation" more than a slogan. It ultimately led to the First Continental Congress in 1774 and, two years later, the Declaration of Independence.

Two hundred fifty years later, taxes remain part of nearly every aspect of American life. The difference is that today's tax policies are shaped by elected local, state and federal officials who can, in turn, be held accountable by voters. (For the most part, that is.) The debates may have changed, but the connection between taxes, representation and public policy remains as relevant as ever.

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The job market continues to grow slowly, according to reports last week. June employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed little change from May. The unemployment rate held fairly steady at 4.2%, and the number of unemployed people remained roughly the same at 71 million. A total of about 57,000 nonfarm jobs were added last month, which the report notes is roughly the same as the average monthly increase over the last 12 months, with business and professional services accounting for the bulk of those new jobs, adding 36,000 positions.

Private sector employment also continued slow growth, according to new data from payroll processing firm ADP. Total payrolls were up 98,000 in June,........

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