Congratulations, citizens. This week you earn the distinct honor of directly participating in your government. Unlike voting, where you just have to show up and fill in some bubbles and make an informed choice, on April 15 you put some real skin in the game.

Holy Alexander Hamilton! That’s right, Betsteroids. Wednesday is the day we’ve been looking forward to all year, the day we send off our income tax returns. It’s the day we pay our fair share to keep this grand experiment in democracy running.

Intercept Russian Bear bombers? Build and repair highways? Arrest bad people? Patrol vast wilderness? Rescue mariners at sea? Buy fancy furniture for our fine Congressbeings? Yup, the United States doesn’t run on bake sales, you know. Someone has to pay for all that stuff, and that someone would be us.

Yeah, the Betster gets that some people think government has gotten too big and should be pared back to the essentials, like — well, there’s the rub, eh? Even the most strident anti-government libertarian no doubt has some precious program he just can’t do without. Some people even want to raise taxes, or at least raise taxes on the rich.

We can agree to disagree on the nature and scope of government and how we should fund it. The Betster won’t hazard an opinion, because we’re supposed to be having fun here, right? The Betster merely wants to note that for many of us, this weekend will be spent tracking down stray W-2 forms, 1099-MISC forms and that one little receipt you’ll find out next Friday slipped behind the desk and got eaten by dust bunnies. Oh joy.

When you’re done, though, take pride in being a good citizen. Know that you’ve done your duty to your country. Know that the IRS won’t be knocking on your day this summer with a court order to seize your Subaru. And when you’ve mailed off that tax return or filed electronically, get out and celebrate, perhaps with these Best Bets:

BEST AS LOCAL AS IT GETS BET: You can’t get any more local in politics than an emergency service area board, so if you’ve wondered how things are going with Kachemak Emergency Services, check out the board meeting at 7 p.m. today at the McNeil Canyon Fire Sstation, Mile 12 East End Road. The agenda is posted at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Annex on Pioneer Avenue and at the fire hall.

BEST BIG BREAK BET: Support your local Veterans of Foreign Wars Saturday with the big Ken Wardwell pool tournament at the Anchor Point VFW. Start the evening with a chicken dinner at 5 p.m. and then play in the tournament at 7 p.m. To make a reservation, call 235-4101 or 235-5582.

BEST BEE THERE BET: It’s an old fashioned quilting bee in spirit but a big art project, too. Bunnell Street Arts Center Artist in Residence Abigail Kokai visits for April, and from noon-4 p.m. Sundays she does quilting workshops. While true to the craft, Kokai sees her quilts as stories and this project as community art. The workshops are free.

BEST WALK ON BET: Dedicated volunteers have been working to make Homer a safer, better place to walk. Hear about the latest efforts and plans for the future when Adele Person speaks about walkability in Homer for the noon Tuesday Homer Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center’s luncheon at Don Jose’s.