Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 8/23/84; site ucbcad.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!decvax!ucbvax!ucbcad!faustus From: faustus@ucbcad.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Re: Socio-economic cancer Message-ID: <15@ucbcad.UUCP> Date: Wed, 12-Dec-84 14:36:37 EST Article-I.D.: ucbcad.15 Posted: Wed Dec 12 14:36:37 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 15-Dec-84 02:44:20 EST References: <739@oliven.UUCP> <7@ucbcad.UUCP> <257@ssc-vax.UUCP> Organization: UC Berkeley CAD Group, Berkeley, CA Lines: 31 > We managed to avert a revolution in the US for so long because the level > of taxation was low for much of our history. But in the 20th century > the trend was and is upward: > % of GNP > Federal All Govt. > 1940 10.0 -not available- > 1950 16.1 24.5 > 1960 18.5 29.8 > 1970 20.5 33.9 > 1976 18.9 36.7 > 1984 25.1 -not available- > > Decide what your personal tax revolt point is -- 50%, 60%, 90%, and > figure out when those trends get there. I guess that as always, people's foremost concern is their pocketbooks. I think it's too bad that the biggest threat to domestic stability now seems to be high taxation, but that's human nature. What you have to ask yourself is what the best way to reduce taxes is. Lately illegal means of avoiding taxation have become very popular, such as quoting the 5th amendment as justification for not filling out tax forms, mail- order ordinations that let people claim religous exemptions, and in a few cases violent resistance. I would think that in America people could find more reasonable ways to reduce taxation, like through political action. Many of the proposals that libertarians have brought up (short of disbanding the government entirely, of course) would certainly reduce taxes, and I hope that Reagan is able to push through his tax reform programs in the next few years. Violent rebellion, though, is not the answer. Wayne