See other Dead Constitution Articles
Title: How did they manage to scrape by?
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.gastongazette.com/articles/editorial-45974-scrape-by.html
Published: Apr 15, 2010
Author: editorial
Post Date: 2010-04-15 06:44:22 by Ada
Keywords: None
Views: 78
Comments: 2
Imagine opening your newspaper or Web browser and seeing the following headline: “Supreme Court declares income tax unconstitutional.” (Now imagine cleaning up the mess you made after reading this headline and doing a vaudeville “spit take” with your coffee.) It probably seems farfetched, but America’s court of last resort dropped this very bombshell in 1895. The legal battle represents just one chapter in the story of the federal income tax, which began in the Civil War era. Congress approved a version of the income tax in 1861 but neglected to set up the actual mechanics of collecting it. An unnamed staff historian for the Internal Revenue Service who researched the income tax’s history several years ago wrote that “the original deadline for filing income tax returns of June 30, 1862, established by this law came and went with no tax returns filed nor any tax collected.” We must assume that had it existed in 1862, not even the IRS would’ve undertaken the task of prosecuting every single American for tax evasion. Nevertheless, the government pressed forward. Shortly after the 1862 deadline expired, Congress passed a law requiring taxpayers to make a “return of the amount of his annual income to the assistant assessor of the district in which he or she resides” by the first Monday in May. In 1872, however, all income taxes enacted during the Civil War period expired and the government went back to customs revenues and excise taxes as its main sources of money. Officials tried to revive the income tax in the 1890s, leading to the aforementioned rejection by the Supreme Court. It took the passage of the 16th Amendment, which allowed the government to tax incomes without regard to equitable distribution among the states according to population, to answer the questions about the tax’s constitutionality. The amendment became part of the Constitution on Feb. 25, 1913, and on Oct. 3 of that year the 1040 form was born. So, in case you were wondering, Washington operated without the benefit of income taxes for nearly 150 years. During that time, the federal government somehow managed to build and maintain a legislative and legal framework for a developing country, plus fight a few wars. Of course, the folks who regard taxes as some sort of cover charge for democracy might respond, “Yes, but think about how much bigger the government is now — it has its hands in everything from education to health care.” Exactly. We’re not saying Washington could or should turn back to clock to a previous century. We’re simply suggesting that a government that concentrated on the core responsibilities intended by the Founders would require far less operating capital — by which we mean your capital. And, on that note, Happy April 15. May the lessons of history not be lost upon us, including the history of the income tax.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Ada (#0)
The redistribution of wealth on a national and international basis that has become accepted by many is communism that has led us into a police state, the Constitution notwithstanding. Politics has become a very deadly game in America and the losers are liberty, privacy and a sense of patriotism based upon all of the proper conditions existing between the State and the people that created it. The conditions of freedom aren't ever changing nor are they dependent upon a majority vote. In America they were embedded in the founding documents that weren't perfect to begin with but when adhered to left the people alone to enjoy a life pretty much free from FEDERAL interference. "WARS" have been the primary tool of change agents to effect the centralized command and control system we're getting fed up with today. Everything about it is repugnant to a freedom lover but the 1st choice of thieves.
"April 15th is really April FOOL'S DAY." Thomas Jefferson had NO REASON to make this statement -- So I did !!! Doug Scheidt /APRIL 1, 2010 / Year of the 2nd REVOLUTION.
and the government went back to customs revenues and excise taxes as its main sources of money. Sounds like a damn good plan to me. We’re not saying Washington could or should turn back to clock to a previous century. Why not?? Do away with the Federal income tax, the IRS and the Federal Reserve and watch this country revive itself.
_________________________________________________________________________Of course, the folks who regard taxes as some sort of cover charge for democracy might respond, “Yes, but think about how much bigger the government is now
#2. To: Ada (#0)
Obama is the miscegenated bastard child of a white communist whore. True story.
-Schweizerische Schuetzenzeitung (Swiss Shooting Federation) April, 1941
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest