What will they tax next?
To the editor:
Oliver Wendell Holmes called taxes “the price we pay for civilization.” A lot of conversation has recently taken place at the national, state, county, and city levels about “revenue enhancement.” We appear to have large budget deficits at all levels of government. I suspect today we are fortunate our current crop of legislators never crack open a history book or we could be anticipating some exceptional new ways to increase government revenue.
When legislators assemble to levy more taxes, the first thing they do is to denounce taxation, huge budgets and deficits. Once that charade is over, they get down to the business of increasing government revenue, permanently.
We have all learned to accept some forms of taxation as not even being a vehicle of taxation. For example, hunting, fishing, driving, automobile, and of course marriage licenses are all a form of revenue gathering devices – taxes! Imagine that, the act of getting married is taxed. More than a little outrageous if you think about it. Some say the government taxes the act and the act taxes your patience- a form of double taxation!
One of the most devious methods to tax us is a so called “temporary” tax. Temporary income taxes came about during World War I and the payroll provision a few decades later during World War II. Both wars were used as a distraction to justify taxes. Looking back in history, the first tax evader on record was imprisoned by Roman Emperor Constantine in AD 306. The first tax revolt in English history occurred in 1381, when Richard II imposed a poll, or head tax. We all know about the Revolutionary War about taxation without representation in 1776. A mere 10 years later, against our newly formed government, the Shay’s Rebellion of New England farmers against property taxes happened. How about the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791 (against liquor taxes), a mere five years later?
During the French Revolution in 1789, all tax collectors were rounded up and had their heads chopped off. In spite of this strong message, governments continue to tax all citizens to and beyond the limit. Here is one tried several times – a bachelor tax. It was tried by Julius Caesar in 18 BC, by England in 1695, and by Russia in 1702. The Spartans also tried it around 250 BC, and let us not forget the great state of Missouri gave it another shot in 1820. Wm. Pitt the Younger (British P.Minister) levied a wig powder tax. The result of this tax was a change in dress style. Most men stopped wearing wigs.He then levied a window and a chimney tax. This old boy had a real imagination.
On June 30, 2006, our government stopped collecting the 3 percent long-distance phone tax enacted to help pay for the Spanish-American War – in 1898. Are we prompt or what??
I am anxiously awaiting for the Treasury Department to read a history book, then promptly levy taxes on body functions and all of the above. We will all have flushing meters on our commodes, haircut taxes, mouth and nose meters to measure our eating and breathing habits, pedometers permanently installed on our legs at birth, TV meters, and for certain motion sensors mounted to our couches and bed to tax the good stuff- sleep. When this happens, I will move!
Robert E. Workman
Cape Coral