Perilous Dimes

I've been hearing a lot about the possible extension of the Bush tax cuts. I piece I heard on NPR's All Things Considered I found particularloy interesting. The title of the segment was "A History of the Income Tax". The expert they interviewed was Steven Weisman, author of The Great Tax Wars. Weisman focused on the relationship between taxes and war saying, "[The income tax is] always accepted more at a time of war and sacrifice. The income tax was a perfect way to appeal to the egalitarian spirit and the spirit of sacrifice". The parallel can be drawn between taxes and civil liberties during times of war. Americans may be more willing to sacrifice their civil liberties as well as their money when they believe it is directly supporting the war effort. Should the government have the right to raise the income tax during wartime?