Nice Furniture. Where’d you steal it from?
The income tax reminds me of a story.
Many years ago, when I was a young lieutenant in the United States Air Force stationed in Denver, Colorado, a security policeman told me how he got into big trouble with the First Sergeant for being involved with “stolen furniture.”
“The First Sergeant calls me in his office and then reads me my rights! I had no idea what I was doing there; what I was being charged for; what I’d done wrong?” He blurted out.
The security policeman kept talking; I kept listening intently. “He asked me if I was at Joe’s party on Saturday night. I said ‘Yes’. Then he asked if I knew all the furniture in Joe’s apartment was stolen? Course I said, ‘No!’ I had no idea. Then the First Shirt got half way up out of his chair and leaned over his desk and yelled at me ‘Well, you should have known!'”
Then the upset security policeman asked me rhetorically, “How was I supposed to know Joe had stolen furniture at his place?
Finally, he expressed his feelings most eloquently exclaiming, “What was I supposed to do, walk into Joe’s house and say, ‘Hey nice furniture, WHERE DID YOU STEAL IT FROM?'”
The security policeman’s story has left me traumatized. Now, whenever I walk into someone’s house and see nice furniture I have all I can do keep from asking, “Hey, your furniture is very nice. Is it stolen? I have to ask otherwise I could be an accomplice to a crime. That’s of course if it’s stolen, but it probably isn’t … you didn’t steal it right?”
What does this have to do with income tax?
Everything.
Nice Income. Where’d you steal it from?
To me, the income tax is like the government coming into your house and snooping through all your possessions and at every turn asking, “Where did you get this from?” “Is this stolen?” “Where’s the receipt for this painting; this vase; this piano?”
Does the government come into my house snooping around?
No. Not yet.
But, they do something even worse.
They snoop through all my personal and business financials. When does this happen? Every year when I fill out my income tax return.
I have to divulge my entire financial situation. Essentially, I have to lie down financially prostrate before the the government as they pick through my pockets – to see if I’m hiding any money. I’m getting this picture of Uncle Sam turning me upside down and shaking me to get every last coin to drop out of my pockets!
“Ok, you got me, I was saving that coin to buy a gift for my daughter!” I plead to my overpowering Uncle.
“How dare you try to hide money from the government? You’re a tax cheat. Do you know I can have you arrested and seize all your assets for what you just did?” Says my scolding all-powerful Uncle.
Talk about vulnerable! Talk about intimidating! Talk about fearing for your financial life!
Is this what the founding fathers meant by freedom? Do you think the founding fathers thought a nation of free citizens should be cowering before a government agency as powerful as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)?
I don’t think so.
I guess my basic question is this … who thought it was a good idea to give the federal government the power to pry into the personal financials of ordinary citizens?
Got to have an income tax … right?
I can almost hear the objections now, “How’s the government supposed to get money to operate? They have to tax you; how are they going to run the government?”
Well, let’s see. Let’s look for an example where a government has operated quite successfully without any income tax. Hmmmm … wonder if we can find such an example … let me think here … Oh yeah – got one!
The United States.
That’s right. The United States of America operated for over 130 years without an income tax!
Ok, the US did introduce an income tax during the civil war from 1861-1865. But, that was a temporary wartime emergency measure. When the war ended, the tax ended. The federal government didn’t have the authority to invoke an income tax; they had to slip it in by declaring it a wartime necessity.
There were other attempts to invoke an income tax but they all sputtered because Congress didn’t have the authority to make it happen. The constitution didn’t have a provision for this power.
I wonder why?
Maybe the founding fathers knew something we don’t. Maybe the founding fathers felt an income tax would lead to an over-powerful centralized federal government. Maybe they felt it would lead to an over-powerful government tax collection agency like the IRS. An agency that has the power to seize citizen’s personal assets.
When the founding fathers created the constitution, do you think they envisioned the formation of the IRS? Do you think they had the IRS in mind when they discussed personal freedoms, limited government and democracy?
US Income Tax is Born
The income tax became a permanent part of american life in February 1913. The 16th amendment to the constitution gave congress the power to tax the people – directly.
The US income tax was born. It started off as a small child – only applied to the very wealthy – incomes over $500,000. In today’s dollars that might even exempt Donald Trump from paying any income tax! In 1913 very few Americans were affected by the new tax. After all, it only applied to the super-super wealthy. Now, the income tax has grown into a massive throbbing blob that gobbles up all Americans. Now everyone gets to fill out a tax return and declare their personal financials to the all powerful Uncle Sam.
It took an act of congress – a change to the constitution – to make income tax the law of the land.
Well, this income tax law – how’s that working out for you? Do you like it? Are you happy with the way the all-powerful centralized federal government is spending your money?
And, how excited would you be to receive a letter from the IRS saying, “… can we stop by your house for a cup of coffee and discuss your last 3 tax returns?”
I didn’t think so …
So, here’s something to consider. If the income tax thing isn’t working out very well, why not get rid of it?
Yeah, that’s right, why not just admit it was a bad idea and end it; put it to bed; kill it?
Income tax = POWER and MONEY!
Well, it turns out this thing called income tax can be a great tool! A great tool if you’re on the receiving end; if you’re the government. It’s one of the biggest power levers a government can have.
The income tax gives the government GOBS of money! And, once the government has GOBS of money, it can start handing it out – to people they like; to people who think the way they do; to people who vote for them.
The income tax gives the government GOBS of power! Yes, whoever controls the money, has the power. Give all the money to the federal government and you’ve just given them all the power.
- With both power and money, the government is free to roam; free to do as it pleases; free to walk all over your freedoms.
- With power and money, the government can start wars whenever convenient.
- With power and money, the government can shut people up who don’t agree with their policies.
- With power and money, the government can bail out big business.
- With power and money, the government can make up the rules as they go along.
- With power and money, the government can buy votes.
- With power and money, the government can toss the constitution in the trash can.
Income tax reminds me of stolen furniture
Now, every-time I fill out my tax return I’m reminded of the stolen furniture story and my security policeman friend. I feel like the government is coming into my home, snooping through all the rooms, opening all the cupboards, drawers and closets. I picture this big man, dressed in a black suit and tie carrying around a clipboard with a scowl on his face. “Where did you get this? I’ll need receipts for all of these. You better be able to prove where you got that cash! Why didn’t you declare your daughter’s stamp collection? I can have you arrested for that!”
Can you tell … I feel the income tax is a bad idea? Perhaps it’s an idea whose time and usefulness have come and gone. Perhaps we gave the government too much power with this income tax thing. Perhaps we made a mistake.
So, here’s a suggestion … Let’s get rid of it!
When? How about right now?
Maybe it’s time to get the government out of our financial living rooms. I figure it’s only a matter of time before I get a knock on the door and the big IRS guy barges into my house, lifts his clipboard and pen and with a big grin yells out, “Hey Dave, nice furniture – where’d you steal it from?