“Observations”©

Donald S. Conkey

Date: April 3, 2008 - # 8814 - Tax Day History (804)

For taxpaying Americans America’s most dreaded day, April 15, is upon us again. It’s that time to pay the government again – in addition to that which they had already withheld from our paychecks.

       What a change our current income tax structure is from the one visualized by the Founders, and the consumption tax they installed in the Constitution as the means for America to pay its bills. I think the Founders might be rolling in their graves given that America’s first revolution began over taxes. I even wonder if Samuel Adams would lead another revolution against our current oppressive tax system.

       How America gave up its ‘FairTax” system for our current system is a Ripley’s ‘believe-it-or-not” saga. The Founder’s ‘FairTax’ program is outlined in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution. This system prevailed, except for a few years following the Civil War, from 1787 until1913 when the sixteenth amendment was ratified.        

The sixteenth amendment basically discarded the Founder’s ‘FairTax’ and instituted the current graduated tax system. It reads: “The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever sources derived, without apportionment among the several states, and without regard to any census or enumeration.” Payroll deductions were added In 1943 by Roosevelt to pay for World War II. Like other tax measures, once installed payroll deductions became permanent.  

       A major negative of the new amendment was how it nullified that part of the fourth amendment “against unreasonable searches and seizures.” And the slogan used to pass this amendment was “Soak the Rich,” a divisive slogan that continues to be used today by those bent on perpetuating class warfare in America. It is one of their most divisive weapons between the haves and the have nots.

       House Resolution 3321, passed on October 3, 1913, included a section that allows the superrich to protect their wealth by establishing non-taxed foundations. All foundations today qualify under this clause. And that is not likely to change.

Why won’t it change? Because, as Jefferson pointed out in the Declaration of Independence “Mankind are more disposed to suffer, while Evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the Forms to which they are accustomed.” Jefferson was right.

We see this principle of truth in application today here in Georgia, even here in Cherokee County. How heavy will our taxes have to become before another Samuel Adams rises up to lead Americans to revolt and go to war over excessive taxation?

The Tribune’s March 22 editorial cartoon suggests this open warfare might be sooner than later. The cartoon’s words, “Obama Inc., Bridge Building,” suggests that Obama, if elected president, will be adding huge new taxes to cover the cost of new Federal Programs to ‘heal’ this country’s “Racial Divide.” It was a powerful truth embedded cartoon. But it won’t work. America has been trying “secular counseling” for three generations it doesn’t work. It has led to our current welfare state. What is needed is a good old fashion “spiritual transformation,” a greater reliance on God, and God’s laws.    

During the current legislative session proposed tax legislation caused heated debate statewide, even here in Cherokee county. When the county’s legislative delegation introduced property tax stabilizing legislation the Cherokee County School Board President, speaking for the school board, vehemently opposed the legislation.

This issue has provided a good look at our county’s attitude on taxes. The people complain about taxes but when a tax restraint is offered they talk against it. That’s double talk. The current tax system, based on presumed increasing property taxes, is like the payroll deductions Roosevelt instigated. Because property values have increased money has been bountiful. And that is dangerous. Excess money often gets spent unwisely and once a new program begins it seldom ever ends.  

Have our elected officials become too “content” with the current hidden tax increase system that increases taxes without voter approval?  Many think they have. Many programs begin as short term help programs but end up entitlement programs – never ending and always increasing the tax burden. Other programs begin because there is a surplus of cash on hand. Again once begun a program seldom ends.

And when a system is wrong it should be changed. A recent letter to the Tribune pointed out the Cherokee water board is appointed by the county grand jury. How absurd. I too served on the grand jury and no one, absolutely no one pays any attention to its recommendations. When the water board is borrowing millions it should be responsible to the voters, not to a quarterly turn-over grand jury.

Taxes and death are a certainty.             Excessive taxation  due to uncontrolled spending, like uncontrolled family debt, is a form of self-destruction, and when a nation does not heed spending restraints it will self-destruct and lead to either chaos or tyranny. It has happened before and it can happen again.

       Now smile as you mail your tax return.