250 years ago, the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia. It didn't do any major new thing, but it marked a trend that was already pushing America toward independence.
One of the ironies of political thought is that Ayn Rand proposed that governments should not collect taxes, but should sell a form of contract insurance, without which contracts (including all verbal agreements) would not be legally enforceable—but no one would be compelled to pay it by criminal penalties or even civil suits. I don't think she realized that that was almost precisely the "stamp tax" that helped provoke the American War of Independence.
Hah! There were two big differences, though - books and newspapers were also required to pay the stamp tax, and people were compelled to pay it.
But yes, modern American taxes have increased so high that a return to British American tax rates would decrease rates! The argument is that we now have representation to go with the taxation. Whether that makes it worth it is, quite literally, debatable.
Great history lesson. Thanks
One of the ironies of political thought is that Ayn Rand proposed that governments should not collect taxes, but should sell a form of contract insurance, without which contracts (including all verbal agreements) would not be legally enforceable—but no one would be compelled to pay it by criminal penalties or even civil suits. I don't think she realized that that was almost precisely the "stamp tax" that helped provoke the American War of Independence.
Hah! There were two big differences, though - books and newspapers were also required to pay the stamp tax, and people were compelled to pay it.
But yes, modern American taxes have increased so high that a return to British American tax rates would decrease rates! The argument is that we now have representation to go with the taxation. Whether that makes it worth it is, quite literally, debatable.