Friday, December 10, 2010
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?
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Great title to this piece. Really provides a phenomenal hook.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the government should have the right to raise taxes during a time of war. One reason that justifies this measure by the government is that it states in Article One of the Constitution that it gives Congress to "raise and support armies", which I interpret to include raising taxes for the military. But the appropriation must be for less than 2 years; so the taxes that go to this war must not go on for more than that amount of time
Skinner-
ReplyDeleteDo you think George W. Bush's tax cuts during wartime were permissible? Or should taxes always be raised to support the war?