[A Formerly Proud Canadian]

In the past, government revenue was ‘earned’ from tariffs and customs duties. Lincoln introduced a form of progressive income tax to pay for the US Civil War in 1861. Income tax continued until 1873, as it was viewed as a war-time measure. Except for the brief period of the Wilson-Gorman Act, there was no income tax until the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified in 1913. The government has continued to depend on that Amendment, for thr legislators, it remains the most popular Amendment.

In Canada, the government supported itself successfully through tariffs and customs duties until WW1. After three years of war, the government introduced income tax to support the war, as a ‘temporary measure’... ... Ninety-nine years on, it remains, so to the government, ‘temporary’ means something different than to the average citizen!

[Gay State Conservative]

After three years of war, the government introduced income tax to support the war, as a ‘temporary measure’... ... Ninety-nine years on, it remains, so to the government, ‘temporary’ means something different than to the average citizen!

Except for my time in the military I've lived my entire life in Massachusetts.Here one of the many running jokes about state politicians is that they're thinking of raising or expanding a "temporary" tax that was enacted 50...75...or 100 years ago.

[ml/nj]

there was no income tax until the Sixteenth Amendment was ratified in 1913.

ML/NJ