Triumph of the PRA Argument

[fortinbras]

Frankly, before 1916 and the adoption of the 16th Amendment and the first internal revenue code, the US did (1) use something other than income tax to fund the govt and (2) have a lot fewer programs than it has now. Prior to the legitimization of the income tax, the principal source of federal funding was high tariffs on imports. This encouraged foreign govts to retaliate with high tariffs on US goods. The result was that US was not doing very well in international trade as either a buyer or a vendor. At the same time, the govt was doing a lot less than it does now; it wasn't insuring bank accounts, it wasn't doing quality inspections of meat, it wasn't doing much to promote new developments in agriculture or business, it wasn't regulating broadcasting, the FBI was run by Andy and Barney, etc, etc.

The income tax enabled the US to drop its tariff barriers, which in turn enabled the US to become an economic powerhouse. It also enabled the govt to be something more than a dreary hodgepodge of fileclerks mired in 19th century technology.

[bmielke]

No Nikki.....I will never leave.....

Oh good because life was so boring before you came.

I will pound the TRUTH into you and you will see the real light.

To each there own I always say. But I for one don't think you need to be pounding anything into anyone here.

By the way, to fund federal highways....hmmmm.....I do believe there is a tax for that called the GAS TAX...... not the income tax.

Gas Taxes can not possibly pay for all Federal Highway spending. It is 18.4 cents a gallon. in 2008 the budget was $40.3 Billion see:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/budget/fy2008/section1.htm 15.44 cents goes to the Highway trust fund see:http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/gastax.cfm We use 9 million barrels a day which according to wiki answers works out to 142 Billion gallons a year. See for data on usage:http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/twip/ ... tml#demand That works out to (according to my calcuator) about $26 Billion a year. Of which only $21.9 Billion goes to highways.

Keep calling me names for in the end you will reap what you sow.

I am pretty sure you called us communists lang before anyone called you names. If not then sorry you are so easily offended it's what happens when you throw around fake arguments and expect people to accept them as the gospal truth.

[bmielke]

TS67, like many of his predecessors, came here with the thought athat he could reveal the TRUTH to us and demonstrate how we are all lackeys of the NWO, Communist, Socialist, powers behind everything to oppress WE THE PEOPLE.




Unfortunately, he -- like all those who came before him -- wilted in the glaring light of facts.

He has returned to Sooey, LoserHeads, or whatever inane gaggle of self-avowed freedom loving lunatics he came from. The only way to tell will be to see where he counts coup for venturing into the lion's den and emerging unscathed, if not victorious.

The unfortunate aspect is that he will continue with his soverignoramus actions without any benefit of reality.

No Nikki.....I will never leave.....I will pound the TRUTH into you and you will see the real light. By the way, to fund federal highways....hmmmm.....I do believe there is a tax for that called the GAS TAX...... not the income tax. Keep calling me names for in the end you will reap what you sow.

If your not part of the SOLUTION, you are part of the PROBLEM

Could you explain this one to me TS67? You replied to your own post so are you part of the problem because I don't see you offering any solutions.