[rollo tomasi]

The “American Experiment” came to an abrupt end when all three Presidential hopefuls endorsed the income tax in 1912. After the ratification of the 16th Amendment, “it” all just became window dressing. The flood gates of government spending to oblivion were open due to the evolution of the progressive income tax along with the Federal Reserve.

[lentulusgracchus]

The “American Experiment” came to an abrupt end when all three Presidential hopefuls endorsed the income tax in 1912.

No, earlier. Lincoln crushed the States and destroyed any idea of States' rights and the People as sovereign. Now the Plutocracy is sovereign, joined within the last two generations by the New Class, and Government is their towel-boy, henchman, and knucklecrusher.

Remember, Lincoln introduced an income tax and made people pay it -- and kept the money -- without a scintilla of law on his side, as a political-strongman act. He was a dictator, and he achieved his dictatorship by setting the People at each others' throats.

[caddie]

Good point. The three legs of the stool, so to speak: MC, SS, Income Tax.