or　money；　that　is　what　life　is　like　for　many　people；〃　said　rich　dad。

〃And　how　did　you　feel　when　Mrs。　Martin　dropped　three　dimes　in　your　hand　for　three　hours'　work？〃

〃I　felt　like　it　wasn't　enough。　It　seemed　like　nothing。　I　was　disappointed；〃　I　said。

〃And　that　is　how　most　employees　feel　when　they　look　at　their　paychecks。　Especially　after　all　the　tax　and　other　deductions　are　taken　out。　At　least　you　got　100　percent。〃

〃You　mean　most　workers　don't　get　paid　everything？〃　I　asked　with　amazement。

〃Heavens　no！〃　said　rich　dad。　〃The　government　always　takes　its　share　first。〃

〃How　do　they　do　that。〃　I　asked。

〃Taxes；〃　said　rich　dad。　〃You're　taxed　when　you　earn。　You're　taxed　when　you　spend。　You're　taxed　when　you　save。　You're　taxed　when　you　die。〃

〃Why　do　people　let　the　government　do　that　to　them？〃

〃The　rich　don't；〃　said　rich　dad　with　a　smile。　〃The　poor　and　the　middle　class　do。　I'll　bet　you　that　I　earn　more　than　your　dad；　yet　he　pays　more　in　taxes。〃

〃How　can　that　be？〃　I　asked。　As　a　9…year…old　boy；　that　made　no　sense　to　me。　〃Why　would　someone　let　the　government　do　that　to　them？〃

Rich　dad　sat　there　in　silence。　I　guess　he　wanted　me　to　listen　instead　of　jabber　away　at　the　mouth。

Finally；　I　calmed　down。　I　did　not　like　what　I　had　heard。　I　knew　my　dad　plained　constantly　about　paying　so　much　in　taxes；　but　really　did　nothing　about　it。　Was　that　life　pushing　him　around？

Rich　dad　rocked　slowly　and　silently　in　his　chai