By: Lloyd “Sticks” Burt . When the founding fathers drafted the Constitution they made a very real decision to require all taxation be of equal percentages. They also intended for the Federal Government to be funded through import duties and tariffs.
There were many reasons for this but the main reason that they held for this decision was a progressive income tax (which was not a new idea at the time) gives politicians a powerful weapon that ultimately will be used against those in the middle income range. Because that’s where the real money in any society is. For every Jeff Bezos there are 10000 Joe Lunchboxes making $60000 a year. They have learned how to use the base emotions of greed and envy to manipulate millions of voters to believe that they are the protectors of the poor and middle class from those evil rich people. The truth is they are in the pockets of the very people they are claiming to protect you from. The Buffett’s, Bezos’ and Gates’ of the world have a saying that well should be understood, “Own Nothing Control Everything”.Through the charitable Trust they are able to control vast swaths of the economy and increase their wealth, completely without paying income tax.
Most people are completely unaware that the Rockefeller family through their charitable trusts owns enough stock to control major companies in the United States and abroad including Chase Bank. But I digress. When the focus should be on how equal standard of living is those politicians, seeking only to increase their power play the American people like a kitten and a laser pointer. They keep us roiled up and at odds with each by playing the class envy card. Using the powerful tool in order to glean votes. When in fact the United States has the most equal standard of living between all economic levels of any planet on earth.
The second reason an income tax was not permitted is that it changes the basic relationship between citizen and government. The government is supposed to be the servant of the people, but, when the government is able to confiscate the fruits of your labor, before you receive it, under penalty of imprisonment, it makes the citizen servant (slave) to the government. The United States operated for over 100 years without taxes on incomes. This was greatest period of growth in individual wealth in human history. While wages were modestly increasing the price of things, due to increased productivity, became less and less, freeing up disposable income for Saving and Investment. (And a few luxury items) against popular belief, people during this era were able to save and pay cash for homes and farms. The main reason people left Europe to come here was this was the first nation in the history of mankind where the common man owned land. But I again digress. During the 100 plus years with no income tax all basic functions of government were available. The United States had a military, roads, bridges, police and fire services. So why institute an income tax? It is a way to pick the pockets of the American people and, by taking their money then giving it back, buying votes. Additionally if every dollar a government receives is received as a “fee for service” payment the government is unable to have a welfare state. Another vote buying scheme. If the general public understood the scam that Social Security is there would be an uprising.
So, the next time a politician says we have to raise taxes on the rich take the time to think about why he (or she) is saying it.