The phrase was central to American identity in the 1700s and to the eventual Revolutionary War, and it described a concern a lot of colonists had. They argued that they were paying taxes to the government, yet the government was a foreign power (English) in Europe. It had no full knowledge of the colonies or of what was best for Americans. It also was not formed by American citizens in American land. Americans did not feel represented and they argued that taxes should not be paid if the government was not fully representing them.
Even though the government nowadays is formed by Americans in American soil, the phrase remains relevant because it highlights the importance of accountability.
Accountability: The fact that taxes are paid to the government for the fulfillment of its duties creates an agreement between government and citizenry. Because taxes are provided, Americans expect the government to use them to the benefit of the country, and are entitled to complain and protest when they are not. This is an essential mechanism in American democracy and remains an important part of American identity.
