Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/3/84; site aluxz.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!aluxz!mrh From: mrh@aluxz.UUCP (HUDOCK) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: knee-jerk libertarians Message-ID: <182@aluxz.UUCP> Date: Tue, 9-Oct-84 11:27:25 EDT Article-I.D.: aluxz.182 Posted: Tue Oct 9 11:27:25 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 10-Oct-84 04:14:44 EDT References: <1704@inmet.UUCP> <2722@ucbcad.UUCP> <459@unmvax.UUCP> <2726@ucbcad.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Allentown, PA Lines: 37 > > Remember, the US went from 1789 to 1913 with no Constitutional authorization > > for income tax. I do believe that when the income tax amendment (++yes, the > > Constitution had to be *amended* {Article XVI I believe}) was being ratified > > that some congressmen thought a ceiling should be included, lest in the future > > we might face a tax as HIGH as 3% (three percent). Of course popular thought > > at that time believed a ceiling unnecessary, because Americans wouldn't stand > > for such larceny. > > Things have changed a great deal since then. Perhaps 3% income tax was good > enough in 1913 for the government to do what it was supposed to be doing, > but after the '30s and the liberal programs created then, there was a basic > change in the understanding of what things are the responsibility of the > government -- besides the regulation of the economy, to make sure that people > don't starve. This costs money, and the fact is that most people are willing > to pay a substantial fraction of their income in taxes for this. Libertarians, > who seem to be unwilling to do so, are clearly in the minority, and since > everyone benefits from this sort of "safety-net" program, including people > who don't want it, they will have to pay for it whether they want to or not. > It's the rule of the majority, and there's nothing you can do about that. > > Now, aside from these vague ideas, there are many details that can be debated. > How much money should be spent on social programs, how much should government > regulate the economy, etc... But first you have to agree that it is basically > ok for the government to collect taxes and spend them for these things. > > Wayne Wayne The basic problem is you and the majority believe someone else should be responsible for you. Mike