[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents World War II Plus 70 Years: Seminar and Discussion Forum
First session: September 1, 2009. Last date to add: September 2, 2015.
Reading assignment: New York Times articles delivered daily to students on the 70th anniversary of original publication date. (Previously posted articles can be found by searching on keyword “realtime” Or view Homer’s posting history .)
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by freepmail. Those on the Realtime +/- 70 Years ping list are automatically enrolled. Course description, prerequisites and tuition information is available at the bottom of Homer’s profile. Also visit our general discussion thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Winston S. Churchill, The Grand Alliance

[PeterPrinciple]

From the article on taxation.

“Ability to Pay” stressed

Behind this great growth of the income tax as a revenue source the impetus generally has been the theory of congressional and other governmental leaders that it is the best application of the theory of taxation on the basis of “ability to pay.”

While some critics hold that there is no more equity behind this theory of taxation than behind the ancient one described as “plucking the goose where the feathers are thickest,” yet it has been so generally accepted by legislators that no more defense of it seems necessary to them than repetition of the ‘the ability to pay” slogan. The contrary theory that taxes should be collected on the basis of the benefits of government received by the taxpayers is scarcely ever heard.

Government experts generally agree that the social effect of the income levy has been a leveling down to some extent of disparity of individual incomes, but the emphasis is all placed on the other theory, - plucking the goose where the feathers are thickest, and thus getting as much revenue as possible. And this, by and large, is of the the basis of most Federal taxation.

---

This was a time when federal taxation was still a relatively new thing and before witholding was instituted.

[PeterPrinciple]

From the article on taxation.

“Ability to Pay” stressed

Behind this great growth of the income tax as a revenue source the impetus generally has been the theory of congressional and other governmental leaders that it is the best application of the theory of taxation on the basis of “ability to pay.”

While some critics hold that there is no more equity behind this theory of taxation than behind the ancient one described as “plucking the goose where the feathers are thickest,” yet it has been so generally accepted by legislators that no more defense of it seems necessary to them than repetition of the ‘the ability to pay” slogan. The contrary theory that taxes should be collected on the basis of the benefits of government received by the taxpayers is scarcely ever heard.

Government experts generally agree that the social effect of the income levy has been a leveling down to some extent of disparity of individual incomes, but the emphasis is all placed on the other theory, - plucking the goose where the feathers are thickest, and thus getting as much revenue as possible. And this, by and large, is of the the basis of most Federal taxation.

---

This was a time when federal taxation was still a relatively new thing and before witholding was instituted.