Opinion and Commentary – January 31, 2025
Who knew that in the history of this country there were actually periods during our 250 year history that citizens were not taxed?
How was that possible?
Credit to the Ronald Reagan Library for this explanation: “Before an income tax was established, the majority of funds given to the federal government derived from tariffs on domestic and international goods. The short-lived Revenue Act of 1861 predated the Sixteenth Amendment as the first official federal income tax, but it was eventually repealed in 1872.”
Then from 1868 until 1913, 90 percent of all revenue came from taxes on liquor, beer, wine and tobacco. 1872 – Income tax repealed. 1894 – The Wilson Tariff Act revived the income tax and an income tax division within the Bureau of Internal Revenue was created.
It wouldn’t bother me in the least to just have taxes on liquor, beer, wine and tobacco. However, according to Pres. Trump, tariff’s from foreign countries may just ease the burden of income taxes if not eliminate them completely.
I’m convinced that our taxes are not used responsibly. There’s rarely accountability. Transparency? Forget it. I usually feel ripped off. From education to infrastructure and everything else we’re taxes on – I say our politicians and accountants are not doing a good job. Our public school kids can hardly read and our roads remain in poor condition.
Just look at your bills. Whether it’s utility bills, phone bills or DMV bills there’s always a little added tax for something or other.
Can’t wait for DOGE to take their red pencil and start to strike out one agency after another. If federal employees don’t want to go back to work in their office building, they’re being offered seven months of severance pay. More than equitable in my book.
Thanks, Pres Trump for thinking about eliminating the IRS and income taxes. Let all of us think about keeping more money in our pockets. I say it’s about time.