[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Where and how did the goverment get their monies to run the country before the income tax?

[LS]

Two sources: 1) land sales and 2) import tariffs. Until the late 19th century, land sales were STILL the biggest money maker and could be today. Who is the largest landowner in the country? Uncle Sam. You say, "Well, if the government sells all its land, it won't have any to sell later." But the market adjustment of prices would dictate that with each new sale, the price of the next would be higher, until theoretically the government could literally sell a few hundred acres and make lots of money.

Given that, I don't think it's a realistic choice and I think the real alternatives are a flat income tax and a national sales tax. I favor the former.

I don't like the notion of making businesses into tax collectors. At least with the IRS, there is ONE AGENCY that everyone can hate. It helps keep it in line. But I'm afraid that a sales tax would become quite insidious and much easier to increase.

[DeaconBenjamin]

Tariffs. Note that the first income tax was sold as a tariff reduction measure.

As we all know, no legislature would ever impose a tax without reducing other taxes.

[tymesf]

We didn't need any income tax. We didn't have all the military infrastructure. Without the income tax we surely would have lost the arms race with russia.

Also, there is debate over whether the 16th amendment was properly ratified. Even if it wasn't, We need the income tax or something similar to maintain our standing army, navy, and air force, not to mention our nuclear arsenals, government research laboratories, and other sensible interests.

What should not be allowed is income tax (or any other taxation) that is used for funding government raids based on nothing but possession of prohibited objects and free speech. I also don't recall anything in the Constitution giving the government authority to develop systems to pay for other people's retirement or medical bills, but that's just me.

I'd happily pay more taxes than I pay now if it was all necessary for defense spending, legitimate government upkeep, and reasonable research.