Taxes

[tommyt654]

Most have probably seen this,but just in case in memeoriam of the 15th, Tax his land,
Tax his bed,
Tax the table
At which he's fed.

Tax his tractor,
Tax his mule,
Teach him taxes
Are the rule.

Tax his work,
Tax his pay,
He works for peanuts
Anyway!
Tax his cow,
Tax his goat,
Tax his pants,
Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,
Tax his shirt,
Tax his work,
Tax his dirt.

Tax his tobacco,
Tax his drink,
Tax him if he
Tries to think.

Tax his cigars,
Tax his beers,
If he cries
Tax his tears.

Tax his car,
Tax his gas,
Find other ways
To tax his ass.

Tax all he has
Then let him know
That you won't be done
Till he has no dough.

When he screams and hollers;
Then tax him some more,
Tax him till
He's good and sore.
Then tax his coffin,
Tax his grave,
Tax the sod in
Which he's laid.

Put these words
Upon his tomb,
Taxes drove me
to my doom...'

When he's gone,
Do not relax,
Its time to apply
The inheritance tax.
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL license Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Excise Taxes
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax (currently 44.75 cents per gallon)
Gross Receipts Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Personal Property Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Service Charge T ax
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Tax
Sales Tax
Recreational Vehicle Tax
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise Tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service FeeTax
Telephone Federal, State and Local Surcharge Taxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge=2 0Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids again.

[chopnhack]

Agreed, taxed into poverty while the elected squander our hard earned money.

[cabinetman]

That's an incredible list.
.

[Alex Franke]

STILL THINK THIS IS FUNNY? Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom stayed home to raise the kids again.

No national debt? Really?

Too bad those folks in Pennsylvania didn't know there was no tax on alcohol or they could have saved our very first president some grief by not rebelling against it. ("It", of course, being the Whiskey Act, which I believe was passed by the very first congress for the purpose of paying down the national debt we apparently didn't have.)

Oh, and mom didn't always have to stay home and raise the kids, because millions of them were working 14 hours days in coal mines, textile mills, and even on the street corners. (Maybe that's why we were so "prosperous?") And wasn't "The Jungle" (Sinclair) written about 100 years ago? Hmmm... Rosy times indeed!

This is not intended to spark any kind of political discussion. I actually think it's clever and catchy. But I sincerely question its historical accuracy (at the very least the history it suggests). As much as I dislike them, taxes and debt have been a part of this great nation's history since day one. The original post pretty clearly suggests that they have not been.

[Kristofor]

and raise the kids, because millions of them were working 14 hours days in coal mines, textile mills, and even on the street corners. (Maybe that's why we were so "prosperous?") And wasn't "The Jungle" (Sinclair) written about 100 years ago? Hmmm... Rosy times indeed!

Hello, agricultural America... No need to head off to a coal mine when you can be slave labor at home. Well, that's if you lived until you were old enough to work...

This is not intended to spark any kind of political discussion. I actually think it's clever and catchy. But I sincerely question its historical accuracy (at the very least the history it suggests). As much as I dislike them, taxes and debt have been a part of this great nation's history since day one. The original post pretty clearly suggests that they have not been.

+1

[radhak]

This is not intended to spark any kind of political discussion. I actually think it's clever and catchy. But I sincerely question its historical accuracy (at the very least the history it suggests). As much as I dislike them, taxes and debt have been a part of this great nation's history since day one. The original post pretty clearly suggests that they have not been.

Ditto. Interesting and humorous, but not the truth; at least, not all the truth.

I am sure many of those taxes did not exist in 1910. But then, the US was not the most prosperous nation : Great Britain was, by a stretch, and it had all the taxes imposed on its dominions across the globe!

Even today, there are many nations that tax much less than the US, but you wouldn't want to live there. The last list from Forbes had said Qatar was the least taxed, followed by UAE. And places like Somalia et all don't make the list at all. I'm sure freedom from actually doing too many things for the populace frees the government from financial obligations!

And the most taxed? The 'best' places to live in - the nordic countries. The US is a happy middle.

Another point is - we didn't need all those taxes then. eg - Roads could be much worse than today and not be noticed : automobiles were just starting to happen! Individual rights were not guarded as much : a just-turned-teenager would have to follow the family 'job', and education be d***ed!.

And I'm not sure 'Mom at home' is an indication of progress, or the other way around; they had a phrase for it - 'barefoot and pregnant' !

But again, that list is impressive. Wonder if it is comprehensive or there's more.

[germdoc]

I don't like taxes either, but they seem to be a necessity of modern life.

Here's a thought--there's no law against becoming Amish. Contrary to popular belief, they do pay taxes, although probably less than almost any other group. They have to pay sales tax, income tax and property taxes but are exempt from SS taxes. Since most Amish do not generate much cash income, their income taxes should be quite low or nonexistent, although apparently on moral grounds many do not take advantage of tax credits they qualify for.

Of course when they drive on "English" roads, use public transportation or phones, use public hospital services, etc., they are taking advantage of public services established supported by tax revenue, but real life is complicated, ain't it?

[jackellis]

I'll quote the second law of thermodynamics, as explained to me by a college professor many decades ago, "There ain't no free lunch."

The first law, by the way, was explained as "Them that has, gets."

No one likes paying taxes, but everyone likes the goodies they provide.

Make me dictator for life and I promise to fix things

To start with, I'll sell off Air Force one, fly commercial, and carry my own bags.

[tommyt654]

That was actually sent to me by a friend who has a political agenda to change me. That,ll never happen, but I posted it because I found it to be humourous and thought it might provide some interesting banter here amongst our community. I never intended it to become a political statement so please disregard that if you are inclined to believe so. As far as it being factual in anyway that was not intended either. But it does provoke some curiousity as to when and how these taxes came about.

[Hoover]

Life 100 years ago: Decade 1910 http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade10.html

FACTS about this decade.
Population: 92,407,000
Life Expectancy: Male 48.4 Female: 51.8
Average Salary $750 / year
The Ziegfeld girls earned $75/week.
Unemployed 2,150,000
National Debt: $1.15 billion
Union Membership: 2.1 million Strikes 1,204
Attendance: Movies 30 million per week
Lynchings: 76
Divorce: 1/1000
Vacation: 12 day cruise $60
Whiskey $3.50 / gallon, Milk $.32 / gallon
Speeds make automobile safety an issue
25,000 performers tour 4,000 U.S. theaters

[vaking]

I cannot tell you how each individual tax came about but I can give you the short summary.
100 years ago the federal government was responsible for very few things, such as maintaining army to defend the country and maintaining judicial system. There were no social programs like unemployment, medicare, welfare, etc. Federal budget was never higher than 8% of Gross National Product - that means federal government was collecting less than 8% of national economy in taxes. Today we have all those social programs and that means that government collects money (usually in taxes) and redistributes that money back to the population in various forms, for instance by paying social security. Gross National Product is now called Gross Domestic Product but it still roughly means "all our economy". Federal Budget now is never less than 25% of Gross Domestic Product. Social programs, that are the main difference between our country today and back then, were developed as response to events like great depression although they were actually introduced to the economy gradually and with delays. They really started to make a difference after 1960 although theoretical foundations for most were developed in thirties. Today most people dislike taxes but not many are prepared to live without medicare or social security. Anybody suggesting to reduce taxes - should also suggest what social programs to drop or reduce to keep things balanced. Don't just critisize - make constructive suggestions.

[radhak]

That was actually sent to me by a friend who has a political agenda to change me. That,ll never happen, but I posted it because I found it to be humourous and thought it might provide some interesting banter here amongst our community. I never intended it to become a political statement so please disregard that if you are inclined to believe so. As far as it being factual in anyway that was not intended either. But it does provoke some curiousity as to when and how these taxes came about.

And you are right - this was fun to ruminate on...

Life 100 years ago: Decade 1910 http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade10.html

That's a great site! And seeing that we are talking about what had been achieved by then, I thought the decade 1900-10 would be a better guide : http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade00.html :

FACTS about this decade.

* 76,000,000 Americans in 46 states (by the end of the decade.)
* Policeman arrests woman for smoking in public
* $46,000,000+ in the U.S. treasury
* 8,000 cars - 10 miles of paved roads
* 1900 - Auto deaths 96; lynchings 115
* San Francisco Earthquake took 700 lives and cost over $4,000,000 in damage.
* Average worker made $12.98/week for 59 hours
* Life expectancy: 47.3 female, 46.3 male - 33.0 blacks
* Essay - Birth of the 20th Century

8000 cars on 10 miles of paved road...that must be a pretty congested road !

[germdoc]

I'm pleased that I've outlived my live expectancy--from 100 years ago!

Here is an interesting summary of where your federal tax dollars go:

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258

As you can see, 20% for defense, 20% for SS, 21% for MC/MA, 6% interest on debt, 7% federal worker and vet benefits--there's not much "discretionary spending" left.

[radhak]

Here is an interesting summary of where your federal tax dollars go:

http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1258

As you can see, 20% for defense, 20% for SS, 21% for MC/MA, 6% interest on debt, 7% federal worker and vet benefits--there's not much "discretionary spending" left.

Oh man, I wish you had not posted that! I get so upset whenever I see what Education gets - 3% ?!??!! At times I day-dream, like what if that was 10%, or even 20% ! We would be right on the path to a unbelievable greatness!

[mschrank]

That was actually sent to me by a friend who has a political agenda to change me. That,ll never happen, but I posted it because I found it to be humourous and thought it might provide some interesting banter here amongst our community. I never intended it to become a political statement so please disregard that if you are inclined to believe so. As far as it being factual in anyway that was not intended either. But it does provoke some curiousity as to when and how these taxes came about.

It was a cinch to spot that you copied and pasted...the person who originally typed it knew how to use the apostrophe rather than the comma!