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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
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> > 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