The professions that people most commonly celebrate are teachers, nurses, artists and…the tax assessors?  Maybe I’m mistaken.  Perhaps it’s simply a matter of being born in the wrong century to fully appreciate and love the tax assessor.  Let’s step back, way back.    

In ancient Athens the city treasurer had many duties, including assessing and collecting property taxes.   Around 530 B.C. a man named Aristides stepped onto the scene as city treasurer.  His ability to judge fairly and impartially shone through his reforms and he became well loved in the city.  He gained the nickname “The Just” and that came from the people he taxed.  A monument was dedicated to him in the city and he has often been looked to as a pillar of what tax officials should be.  Perhaps this might give the taxman hope and the taxed a slightly different perspective.