Death and Taxes...
Wednesday August 5, 2009
As Benjamin Franklin said, "In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes." On August 5, 1861, the United States was introduced to something against which American Patriots so vigorously fought in the American Revolution: a direct tax. In fact, the first national income tax was introduced on that day to help fund the Civil War. Just as today, the tax was a progressive tax with those earning more paying more. However, the income tax was not made fully Constitutional and part of the tax structure in America until the passage of the 16th amendment in 1913.
Comments
Death and Taxes?!
God decides when we will die, and our Godly-like government think they know best how to spend our money. The greatest stimulus I can think of is to cut taxes, or temporarily suspend taxes, allowing people to take home more money. People will spend the extra money and stimulate the economy. How easy is that?!!
Unfortunately, politicians feel the need to tax us so they can give money to their constituents so they can get re-elected every few years.
Cut taxes and install term limits on all politicians??!!! – I just solved all the country’s problems!
The Founders did not fight against a direct tax, but against the loss of their rights as British citizens. One of those rights was not having a tax levied without its having been voted on by one’s representative. As the colonies did not have representatives in Parliment, they felt that this tax violated their rights.