The path away from liberty is paved with bad taxes, and we trip over them, frequently.

The liberty Americans had in 1900 has been seriously eroded by a taking of our earnings that continually increases. Back then, little of that was done. Read the following list of current takings – and shudder:

• Accounts Receivable Tax 
• Building Permit Tax 
• Capital Gains Tax 
• CDL License Tax 
• Cigarette Tax 
• Corporate Income Tax 
• Court Fines (indirect taxes) 
• Dog License Tax 
• Federal Income Tax 
• Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) 
• Fishing License Tax 
• Food License Tax 
• Fuel Permit Tax 
• Gasoline Tax (42 cents per gallon) 
• Hunting License Tax 
• Inheritance Tax Interest Expense (tax on the money) 
• Inventory Tax IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax) 
• IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) 
• Liquor Tax 
• Local Income Tax 
• Luxury Taxes 
• Marriage License Tax 
• Medicare Tax 
• Property Tax 
• Real Estate Tax 
• Recreational Vehicle Tax 
• Road Toll Booth Taxes 
• Road Usage Taxes (truckers) 
• Sales Taxes 
• School Tax 
• Septic Permit Tax 
• Service Charge Taxes 
• Social Security Tax 
• State Income Tax 
• State Unemployment Tax (SUTA) 
• Telephone Federal Excise Tax 
• Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes 
• Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax 
• Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax 
• Telephone Recurring and Nonrecurring Charges Tax 
• Telephone State and Local Tax 
• Telephone Usage Charge Tax 
• Toll Bridge Taxes 
• Toll Tunnel Taxes 
• Traffic Fines (indirect taxation) 
• Trailer Registration Tax 
• Utility Taxes 
• Vehicle License Registration Tax 
• Vehicle Sales Tax 
• Watercraft Registration Tax 
• Well Permit Tax 
• Workers’ Compensation Tax 

Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world and had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids. With the increased taking of our earnings, more families now need two earners to meet expenses

Many still favor these takings despite the bad results, essentially buying the dogma of Karl Marx, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his need,” which forms the basis of the modern welfare state. Those who buy that seem not to recognize that when the government spends our earnings, we are precluded from spending them – or saving or investing them.

It should be apparent that despite all the political oratory, we citizens are the ones who pay the taxes under the current convoluted system, regardless of the supposed sources of the tax revenues (i.e., corporations). Any earnings tax shifts proposed will not change that.

It has been said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. When will we ever learn?

January 15, 2005