Hey, Does Anyone Remember Why The U.S. Declared It's Independence?
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana
The above quote, no matter how cliche, couldn't be more appropriate considering the fiscal times we live in today. You may have been listening to the John Gambling Show this morning and heard our segment on who doesn't pay Federal Income Tax
http://www.wor710.com. The segment reminded me of a couple of events that transpired just this last year in the United States.
Remember the billion dollar Bank and Auto bailouts? (Newspapers are trying to hitch up to that bandwagon now as well.) Stimulus Bills funded by hard working Americans? Two-front war campaigns running for close to a decade? This all during a time that his been labeled the worst economic situation since the great depression! All of these things are funded and paid for by the taxes siphoned by a Government issued straw out of our paychecks.
Ever take a look at some of the taxes that we as Americans pay? Here's a partial list:
Accounts Receivable Tax, Building Permit Tax, Capital Gains Tax, CDL license Tax, Cigarette Tax, Corporate Income Tax, Court Fines (indirect taxes, Dog License Tax, Federal Income Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA...), Fishing License Tax, Food License Tax, Fuel permit tax, Gasoline Tax, (42 cents per gallon), Hunting License Tax, Inheritance Tax, Interest expense (tax on the money), Inventory tax, IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax), IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax) Liquor Tax Local Income Tax Luxury Taxes Marriage License Tax Medicare Tax Property Tax Real Estate Tax Septic Permit Tax, Service Charge Taxes, Social Security Tax, Road Usage Taxes (Truckers), Sales Taxes, Recreational Vehicle Tax, Road Toll Booth Taxes, School Tax, State Income Tax, State Unemployment Tax (SUTA), Telephone federal excise tax, Telephone federal universal service fee tax, Telephone federal, state and local surcharge taxes, Telephone minimum usage surcharge tax, Telephone recurring and non-recurring charges tax, Telephone state and local tax, Telephone usage charge tax, Toll Bridge Taxes, Toll Tunnel Taxes, Traffic Fines (indirect taxation) ,Trailer registration tax, Utility Taxes, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Watercraft registration Tax, Well Permit Tax, Workers Compensation Tax...
The moral of the story? Let us not forget The Stamp Act of 1765 and the Townshend Acts of 1767, taxes levied on the Colonies by Great Britain in order to fund war campaigns the motherland was fighting against the Baltic nations, and how the founders of this country reacted to them. Lest you forget that the the colonists deemed the act violated the rights of the people thus prompting a declaration of our independence from England 233 years ago:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
I want to do my part as an American citizen and I do pay my taxes. But, I, WE still hold these truths to be self evident. I believe we just need to remind ourselves of them from time to time and when we see them being violated, we must act upon them.
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